Start Meet the speakers and moderators

Meet the speakers and moderators

Here you can discover all the speakers of the GFFA. We will keep you up to date on the participants and let you know who will be at the next Global Forum for Food and Agriculture.

Speaker

Cem Özdemir

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Former Federal Minister

Panelists in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Claudia Müller

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Former Parliamentary State Secretary

Keynote Speaker in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Speaker in Opening Event

Qammar Abbas

Pakistan

Panelists in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Olaide Aderibigbe

National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)
Director of Research

Panelist in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Dorcas Sanginga Alame

Speaker in Science Slam

Rommel Arnado

Municipality of Kauswagan / From Arms to Farms
Mayor / Founder

Keynote Speaker in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Noel Banville

Ireland

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Gunther Beger

UNIDO
Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation

Panelists in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Prof Dr Raimund Bleischwitz

Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)
Scientific Director

Panelists in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Prof Joachim von Braun

Bonn University, Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Professor

Moderator in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Panelists in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Moderator in The Converging Climate and Bioeconomy Agendas in Africa

Jeppe Bruus

Ministry for Green Transformation, Denmark
Minister

Keynote Speaker in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Panelists in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Benedikt Bösel

Gut & Boesel and Finck Foundation
Managing owner and founder

Keynote Speaker in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Panelists in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Benedetta Camilli

Eni SpA
Head of Agri Feedstock Initiatives and Programs

Panelist in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Dr Elizabeth Carabine

UN Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to the Horn of Africa
Climate, Peace and Security Advisor

Panelist in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Dr Christine Chemnitz

Agora Agrar
Director

Panelist in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Julie Collins

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Panelist in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Fernando Mattos Costa

Uruguay (JIA)
Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries

Panelists in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Cecilia D'alessandro

ECDPM
Deputy Workstream Head of ECDPM's Sustainable Food Systems Workstream and a member of the Climate Action and Green Transition Team

Panelist in The Converging Climate and Bioeconomy Agendas in Africa

Marcella D'souza

Watershed Organisation (WOTR), India
Director

Panelist in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Kanjana Dangrungroj

Bureau of National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Deputy Secretary General

Panelist in Promoting sustainable development through agro-ecological and regenerative approaches - Examples from South-East Asia

Caroline Delgado

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Solna
Director of the Food, Peace and Security Programme

Panelist in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Anila Denaj

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Albania
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Panelist in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Prof Dr Axel Don

Thünen Institute
Deputy director of Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture

Panelists in Cultivating a greener future – toward sustainable use of biomass for carbon sequestration

Marnix Doorn

IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH
Team Leader

Panelists in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Ben Durham

National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation in South Africa (DSTI)
Chief director on bio-innovation

Panelists in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Panelists in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Juan Echanove

FAO
FAO Right to Food Team Leader

Panelists in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Dr Julius Ecuru

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Leiter des „BioInnovate Africa“-Programms

Panelists in Eröffnungsveranstaltung

Panelists in The Converging Climate and Bioeconomy Agendas in Africa

Keynote Speaker in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Julius Ecuru

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Principal Scientist

Panelists in Eröffnungsveranstaltung

Dr Alan Elizondo

FIRA
Director General

Panelists in Financing the Bioconomy transformation

Jochen Flasbarth

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
State Secretary

Keynote Speaker in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Ana María Suárez Franco

FIAN International
Permanent Representative in Geneva

Panelist in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Thomas Freimuth

Speaker in Science Slam

Xiaotian Fu

World Resources Institute China Office (WRI)
Director of Food and Natural Resources Department and Director of Sustainable Investment and Financing Department

Peter Gerhardt

denkhausbremen
Politischer Geschäftsführer

Moderator in No bioeconomy without agroecology, planetary boundaries and right to food as guard rails

Oliver Gierlich

Bayer Ltd. in Kiew
Managing Director & CFO

Panelists in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Dr Nina Grassnick

Thünen Institute
AgriDENZ project coordinator

Moderator in Cultivating a greener future – toward sustainable use of biomass for carbon sequestration

Prof Dr Harald Grethe

Agora Agrar
Director

Panelists in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Clark Halpern

Speaker in Science Slam

Phillip Harleß

Germany

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Theresa Heering

Welthungerhilfe WHH
Project Lead Food Security Standard

Keynote Speaker in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Oliver Hendrickson

New Zealand Permanent Mission to the EU in Brussels
Agriculture Counsellor

Panelists in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Dr Jan Henke

Meo Carbon Solutions
Director

Keynote Speaker in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Dr Frans Hermans

IAMO

Keynote Speaker in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Dr Ariane Hildebrandt

BMZ
Director-General, German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development,

Panelist in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Hao Hong

China Association of Rural Energy Industry (CAREI)
Deputy Director of CAREI

Panelists in Innovative Biomass Energy Technologies and their policy implications

Jasmin Hundorf

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Head of Sector Project Resilient Rural Areas

Moderator in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Dr Minna Huttunen

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research & Innovation (DG RTD)
Policy Officer

Moderator in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Gregory Jaffe

The US
Former USDA Senior Advisor and Bioeconomy Expert

Keynote Speaker in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Panelists in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Dr Marion Jansen

OECD
Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate

Moderator in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Nosipho Nausca-jean Jezile

Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and Ambassador in Rome, Italy, and Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations Agencies in Rome
Ambassador of South Africa in Rome, Chairperson of CFS

Moderator in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Monika Jones

Moderator in Eröffnungsveranstaltung

Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr

Philippines
Secretary of Agriculture

Julia Lernoud

Argentina

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Max Jürgens

Cattwyk Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
Senior Associate

Panelists in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Irene Kadzere-forichi

Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
Senior Scientist and Action Research Advisor

Panelist in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Roselyn Kasunda

Malawi

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Antonio de Carvalho Kaxinawá

Nova Olinda community, Brazil
Agroforestry agent and indigenous leader

Liza Vernyuy Kengran

Cameroon

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Jutta Kill

World Rainforest Movement
Freie Mitarbeiterin

Panelist in No bioeconomy without agroecology, planetary boundaries and right to food as guard rails

Prof Dr Kanyawim Kirtikara

Thai Academy of Science and Technology
Senior VP for Research and Innovation and President

Panelist in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Michael Kitetu

Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) Expert & Lead Auditor

Panelists in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Ide Kohei

Japan

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Vitaliy Koval

Ministerium für Agrarpolitik und Ernährung der Ukraine
Minister

Panelists in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Maryna Kovalova

SmartFarming Group
Chief Marketing Officer

Panelist in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Sarah Talea Kretschmer

German-Thai Agricultural Cooperation (GETHAC), founded by BMEL
Innovation and Network Specialist

Panelist in Promoting sustainable development through agro-ecological and regenerative approaches - Examples from South-East Asia

Dr Lena Kuhn

Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)
Senior Researcher

Moderator in Innovative Biomass Energy Technologies and their policy implications

Dr Caterina Ruggeri Laderchi

Food System Economics Commission
Director

Panelist in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Guido Landheer

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Deputy Director General for Agriculture

Keynote Speaker in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Christine Lang

International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB)
Co-chair

Panelist in Eröffnungsveranstaltung

Panelist in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Moderator in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Marina Godoi de Lima

Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA), Brazil
Deputy Executive Secretary

Panelist in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Panelist in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Daniel Lodetti

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil
Deputy General Coordinator for Sustainable Development

Panelists in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Prof Dr Vincent Logah

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Head of Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

Panelists in Cultivating a greener future – toward sustainable use of biomass for carbon sequestration

Rik Kutsch Lojenga

Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT), The Netherlands
Executive Director

Panelists in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Pia Lorenz

4C
Sustainability Manager

Panelist in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Prof Dr Hermann Lotze-campen

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Department Head Climate Resilience

Moderator in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Dr Sophia Lüttringhaus

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
Project Coordinator

Moderator in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Maria Emilia Macor

Argentina

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Mologadi Madisha

South Africa

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Dr Nalisa Mangwala

University of Namibia
Lecturer

Dr Sam Mcnally

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
Senior Researcher

Panelists in Cultivating a greener future – toward sustainable use of biomass for carbon sequestration

Dr Leonard Mizzi

European Commission
Head of Unit, Directorate-General (DG) for International Partnerships - Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries

Panelists in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Christopher V. Morales

Philippines
Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Panelists in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Dr Gérardine Mukeshimana

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Vice President

Panelist in Promoting sustainable development through agro-ecological and regenerative approaches - Examples from South-East Asia

John Anthony Mulongoti

Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia
Permanent Secretary

Panelists in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Martin Murray

Australia

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Nyaradzo Mutande

Zimbabwe

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Prof Dr Michael Nelles

Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ)
Wissenschaftlicher Geschäftsführer

Panelists in Innovative Biomass Energy Technologies and their policy implications

Pedro Neto

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Secretary of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperativism, former G20 Chair and COP30 Chair

Panelists in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Dinh Viet Nguyen

Vietnam

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Swantje Nilsson

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
Head of the Directorate-General for EU-Affairs, CAP, International Cooperation and Global Food Security

Keynote Speaker in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Fabrice Nimpagaritse

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Director

Moderator in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Stuart Nyanzi

Uganda

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Prof Dr Michael Obersteiner

University of Oxford, UK
Director of the Environmental Change Institute

Keynote Speaker in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Morgan Ody

General Coordinator of La Via Campesina
General Coordinator

Panelist in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Panelist in No bioeconomy without agroecology, planetary boundaries and right to food as guard rails

Peter Oei

Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature
Program manager

Panelists in The promise and challenges of the new sustainable bioeconomy – learning from country experiences

Manuel Otero

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
Director General

Moderator in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Prof Dr Lena Partzsch

Freie Universität Berlin

Panelist in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Dr Dirk Pauschert

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Head of Section on Global Food and Nutrition Security

Moderator in Promoting sustainable development through agro-ecological and regenerative approaches - Examples from South-East Asia

Richard Piechocki

Rabobank
Lead Financing the Bioeconomy

Panelists in Financing the Bioconomy transformation

Carina Pimenta

National Secretary for Bioeconomy. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil
Secretary

Keynote Speaker in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Panelist in Frameworks for sustainable bioeconomy: Innovations from indigenous knowledge and science with nature based approaches

Fernando Garcia Pintos

Uruguay

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Dr Narumon Pinyosinwat

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperative
Minister

Zinaida Plamadeala

Moldova

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Drew Portnoy

Helen Pörtner

Germany

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Dr Virginia Pravia

National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), Uruguay
Associate Researcher in the national program of pastures and forages

Panelist in Cultivating a greener future – toward sustainable use of biomass for carbon sequestration

Luis Planas Puchades

Spain
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food

Panelists in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Lisa Marie Pyka

Meo Carbon Solutions
Project Manager Human Rights

Moderator in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Ruilong Ren

China

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Rafael Riedel

Brasil

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Dr Jürgen Ritter

Sino-German Agricultural Centre
Managing Director

Keynote Speaker in Innovative Biomass Energy Technologies and their policy implications

Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko

African Union Commission
AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)

Panelist in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Aidarbek Saparov (tbc)

Agrarministerium der Republik Kasachstan
Minister

Panelists in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Tilman Schachtsiek

German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture
Responsible for the implementation of the German National Bioeconomy Strategy

Panelists in Enhancing global bioeconomy coordination and monitoring, with a focus on food security and nutrition

Dr Rafaël Schneider

Welthungerhilfe
Deputy Head Policy and External Relations

Keynote Speaker in Aligning biomass production with HRDD and local food security: practical approaches

Shobha Shetty

World Bank
Global Director, Agriculture and Food Global Practice

Panelist in FLW reduction by advancing a sustainable and circular bioeconomy: what we know and how we can transform the future.

Moderator in Financing the Bioconomy transformation

Bertha Shifeta

Namibia

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Orsolya Frizon Somogyi

European Commission DG AGRI, in F2 unit
Deputy head, responsible for agricultural, forestry and rural innovation and research

Keynote Speaker in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Dr Joachim H. Spangenberg

Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND)
Vorsitzender des Wissenschaftlichen Beirats

Panelists in No bioeconomy without agroecology, planetary boundaries and right to food as guard rails

John Steenhuisen

South Africa
Minister of Agriculture, G20 Chair

Panelists in From Diversity to Action: Global Collaboration to Achieve a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Agriculture

Bohdan Stoliarenko

Ukraine

Speaker in International Young Farmers' Forum

Dirk Stratmann

German Agribusiness Alliance
Ländersprecher Ukraine/Zentralasien

Moderator in Bioeconomy and global food security - Challenges seen in an international perspective

Barbara Sturm

Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)
Scientific Director

Keynote Speaker in Unlocking Systemic Innovations for a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Ushasree Sunkari

Speaker in Science Slam

William Sutton

World Bank
Global Lead for Climate and Nature and Lead Agricultural Economist

Panelists in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Prof Dr Nesli Sözer

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. FI
Research Professor of smart and sustainable food production

Panelist in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Dr Getaw Tadesse

AKADEMIYA2063
Director, Operational Analysis

Panelists in The Converging Climate and Bioeconomy Agendas in Africa

Firew Tegegne

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute
Deputy Director General

Panelists in Financing the Bioconomy transformation

Paulo Teixeira

Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Brazil
Minister

Dr Helga Flores Trejo

BAYER AG
Vice President and Special Envoy of Multilateral and Sustainability Affairs

Panelist in Promoting sustainable development through agro-ecological and regenerative approaches - Examples from South-East Asia

Anne Beathe Tvinnereim

Kingdom of Norway, Oslo
Minister of International Development

Panelist in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Éliane Ubalijoro

Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry
CEO

Panos Varangis

International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Principal Operations Officer and global lead in agricultural finance

Panelists in Financing the Bioconomy transformation

Marije van Velthoven

Agrarisch Jongeren Kontact (Agricultural Youth Contact) and BBB Jong (Farmer Citizen Movement Youth)
Farmer and masters student

Panelist in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Shaji Krishnan Vimalanandavally

National Bank for Agriculture and Development (NABARD), India
Chairman

Panelists in Ready for a joint take-off? Bioeconomy and the Transformation of Agriculture and Food Systems.

Dr Peter Wehrheim

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Head of Unit for Bioeconomy and Food Systems

Panelists in The future role of agriculture and forestry in a sustainable food system and bioeconomy

Moderator in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security

Dr Michael Werz

Munich Security Conference
Senior Advisor for North America and Multilateral Affairs

Moderator in Sowing Peace: Entry-Points Through Food and Climate Security Efforts

Michael Windfuhr

German Institute for Human Rights
Deputy Director

Keynote Speaker in Securing Land Tenure Rights: Key to fair framework conditions for advancing the right to food

Dr Min Hao Wong

Singapore Institute of Food and Biotech Innovation, Agency of Science and Technology Singapore and Research Affiliate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Director (Strategy, Business Development and Project Management)

Panelists in The future is here – sustainable bioeconomy solutions for food security