MS GERDA VERBURG, UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL, COORDINATOR, SCALING UP NUTRITION (SUN) MOVEMENT

In March 2016, United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Gerda Verburg from The Netherlands, as Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General. Ms Verburg holds extensive and broad experience from politics and international cooperation. In 2007 to 2010, she served as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality for the Government of the Netherlands. In 2008, she was elected Chair of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 17). From 2011 to 2016, she served as Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the UN United Nations Rome-based agencies: FAO, WFP and IFAD. In 2013, she was elected Chair of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS). In 2014 she was appointed Chair of the Agenda Council for Food and Nutrition of the World Economic Forum (WEF). In 2021, during Year of Action for Nutrition, she also served in the following roles: Advisory Committee of the United Nations Food Systems Summit; Nutrition for Growth Advisory Group; Private Sector Guiding Group for the United Nations Food Systems Summit (led by World Business Council for Sustainable Development); Global Nutrition Report Steering Group; World Economic Forum, Stewardship Board on Food Systems; Food and Land Use (FOLU) Coalition Ambassador. As part of her SUN Coordinator role, she serves as a member of the SUN Movement Lead Group – the SUN Movement’s governance body.

PROF. ROCKSTRÖM, POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE IMPACT RESEARCH, GERMANY 

Prof. Dr. Johan Rockström is the Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at Potsdam University. Rockström is an internationally recognized scientist on global sustainability issues, who led the development of the new Planetary Boundaries framework for human development in the current era of rapid global change at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. He is a leading scientist on global water resources, with about 25 years of experience from applied water research in tropical regions, and more than 150 research publications in fields ranging from applied land and water management to global sustainability. In addition to his research endeavors, which have been widely used to guide policy, Rockström provides strategic scientific guidance as a member of the European Commission’s Expert Group ‘Mission Board for Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal Transformation’ and the ‘Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ and consults several governments and business networks. He acts as an advisor for sustainable development issues at noteworthy international meetings, such as the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC). Furthermore, he chairs or co-chairs the advisory board for the EAT Foundation, the Earth Commission, and the Earth League, is Chief Scientist of Conservation International, member of the European Investment Bank Advisory Group, and elected member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

PROF. ZHANG FUSUO, CHINA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, CHINA 

Zhang Fusuo (PhD, 1989, Hohenehim University) is professor and Dean of the Institute of Green Agricultural Development; President of National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, China Agricultural University. He is member of Chinese Academy of Engineering and International Eurasian Academy of Sciences. His prizes include National Award of Nature Science, National Award of Science and Technology Advance, Science and Technology Award of Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation, TWAS Prize in Agricultural Sciences; IFA International Crop Nutrition Award; Outstanding Achievement Award of Hohenheim University and GCHERA World Agriculture Prize. He holds honorary degrees, scientist appointments and professorships from 15 universities, including Wageningen University and Lancaster University. He is a member of International Plant Nutrition Council,Scientific Panel for Responsible Plant Nutrition, International Society of Root Research, Chinese Society of Soil Science, Global Partnership of Nutrient Management Steering Committee-UNEP, Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Science.

ALZBETA KLEIN, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER ASSOCIATION (IFA)

Alzbeta Klein joined the IFDC board in 2021 and is the CEO/Director General of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA). In her role, she is leading the global fertilizer industry towards creating and supporting productive and sustainable agriculture systems that contribute to a world free of hunger and malnutrition. In her previous roles, Ms Klein led IFC/World Bank Group’s Climate Business, positioning IFC as a lead investor in green/ESG investments in emerging markets. Prior to this, she led IFC’s Agribusiness investments, Industrial investments, and managed IFC’s $50bn investment portfolio in emerging markets. Ms Klein received a master’s degree in economics from the University of Ottawa, Canada, where she also studied for her doctorate; engineering degree from Prague University, Czech Republic; and executive education from Harvard Business School and INSEAD. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. She served on the boards of several agribusiness companies including Grupo Los Grobo in Argentina, HMH in South Africa, LAAD in Latin America, as well as the New York University Center for Sustainable Business Advisory Board, CFA Society Russia and currently serves on the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board.

GRACE KANGARA, ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH, UNITED KINGDOM

Grace Kangara is a Soil Scientist in Climate- and Nutrient-Smart Agriculture at Rothamsted Research in the Department of Sustainable Soils and Crops. She holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Soil Science, Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, all from the University of Zimbabwe – UZ. Grace worked as a Research Fellow within the Soil Fertility Consortium for Southern Africa Research Group at UZ promoting Integrated Soil Fertility Management and conservation agriculture for soil fertility, crop yields and crop nutrition improvement in smallholder farming systems. She conducted a series of surveys and on-farm experiments to assess effects of different soil fertility management options including use of locally available organic nutrient resources and micronutrient fertilizers, on grain micronutrient concentration of staple cereal and grain legume crops. Grace’s recent work included coordinating a UKRI funded multi-disciplinary project on “Supporting policies to reduce mineral micronutrient deficiency in Zimbabwe” while working at the University of Nottingham with partners in the UK, Malawi, and the University of Zimbabwe.

VINISA SAYNES SANTILLAN, FAO GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP 

Vinisa Saynes Santillan, international consultant on soil fertility and nitrogen at FAO Global Soil Partnership, is a biologist specialized in carbon and nitrogen cycling in the plant-soil-atmosphere system of agricultural lands forestry systems. She joined the GSP to support the activities in Pillar 1 (Soil Management) associated with CO2 and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation in agriculture. She is also supporting the implementation of The international Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers. She holds a PhD. in Soil Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

27 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | INNOVATIONS FOR SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT

28 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT AND BIOFORTIFICATION: ALLIES TO COMBAT MALNUTRITION

29 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | INTEGRATED SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT: LOOKING AHEAD

27 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | INNOVATIONS FOR SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT

28 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT AND BIOFORTIFICATION: ALLIES TO COMBAT MALNUTRITION

29 JULY | PLENARY PANEL | INTEGRATED SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT: LOOKING AHEAD