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Ag Scholars Gain Global Understanding of Agriculture at Agricultural Economics Society Conference
The Farm Foundation Agricultural Scholars recently travelled to the Agricultural Economics Society (AES) annual conference at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. The conference took place March 18 to 22, 2024, and brought together researchers from around the world to discuss agricultural economics.
The conference featured a plenary address by Spiro Stefanou, administrator of the USDA Economic Research Service, and Bob Chambers, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Maryland. Their session, titled “How to Better Inform Policy on Sustainable Productivity Growth: The Triptych of Global Agriculture.” The conference covered a wide range of topics, such as agricultural trade, food security, and climate change.
Beyond participating in the conference, the Ag Scholars also had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience through farm visits. They visited Upper Nisbet Farm, where they learned about Scottish production agriculture from Robert Neil. They also visited Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Easter Howgate Beef & Sheep Research Center, where they explored the Green Cow Project, which is focused on measuring methane emissions in cattle.
Attending the AES 98th Annual Conference was a valuable experience for the Ag Scholars. It gave them a global understanding of agriculture and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. Their experience is an example of how Farm Foundation works to promote understanding of agriculture on a global level.