International agriculture expert joins Global Institute for Food Security board
SASKATOON - Lutz Goedde, a leading expert in strategies to improve agricultural productivity around the world, will join the board of directors of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), effective today.
Goedde is a partner in the Denver office of McKinsey & Company, where he is a leader in the firm's agriculture/food and social sector practices. He has worked with agriculture and food companies, governments, and NGOs in North America, India, Europe, and Africa to improve agricultural productivity and efficiency, increase food availability and supply chains, and reduce poverty and hunger. He has also structured a number of public-private partnerships for economic development in Africa and Asia, including advising the government of Nigeria on private-sector investment strategies in agriculture, which has helped to create an environment that attracted $4 billion in new investments in that country.
"GIFS is focused on transformative discovery research in agriculture that will benefit both the developed and developing world and on creating strategic national and international partnerships to fund this research," said Lorne Hepworth, chair of GIFS' board of directors. "Dr. Goedde's experience with solving strategic problems related to growth and development, creating food security and global agribusiness strategies, and developing partnerships and investment strategies will be invaluable to the board in helping GIFS address the global issue of food security."
Goedde has also assisted the world's leading agricultural technology, seed, and chemical companies in developing new growth strategies. He was part of the leadership team that built the global and agricultural development program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During his tenure, the Gates Foundation committed over $2 billion to development efforts in Africa and Asia to improve smallholder agriculture.
"I am very excited to join the GIFS board and contribute to the very important agenda of the institute," said Goedde, stressing that feeding the global population continues to be a critical issue.
"If current trends continue, by 2050, caloric demand will increase by 70 percent, and crop demand for human consumption and animal feed will increase by at least 100 per cent," he said. "At the same time, more resource constraints will emerge. Already, more than 20 per cent of arable land is degraded. Such resource scarcity could lead to continued significant food shortage. Agricultural technologies and research that raise productivity and welfare even in difficult growing conditions are required to meet societal needs in Canada and globally."
Born in Germany, Goedde is fluent in English, German, and Spanish. He received a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Bonn in Germany and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
About GIFS
GIFS was established in December 2012 through the collaboration of its founding partners - PotashCorp, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). With initial commitments of $35 million from PotashCorp and $15 million from the Saskatchewan government over seven years, the Institute addresses the increasing global demand for safe, reliable, and nutritious food. Located at the U of S, the Institute facilitates research that will result in much needed technological, economic, nutritional and environmental improvements to the food supply system both at home and around the world. Visit www.gifs.ca for more information.
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For more information please contact:
Sara Alexander
Director of Marketing & Stakeholder Relations
Global Institute for Food Security
306-966-3704
sara.alexander@usask.ca
"GIFS is focused on transformative discovery research in agriculture that will benefit both the developed and developing world and on creating strategic national and international partnerships to fund this research," said Lorne Hepworth, chair of GIFS' board of directors. "Dr. Goedde's experience with solving strategic problems related to growth and development, creating food security and global agribusiness strategies, and developing partnerships and investment strategies will be invaluable to the board in helping GIFS address the global issue of food security."
Goedde has also assisted the world's leading agricultural technology, seed, and chemical companies in developing new growth strategies. He was part of the leadership team that built the global and agricultural development program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. During his tenure, the Gates Foundation committed over $2 billion to development efforts in Africa and Asia to improve smallholder agriculture.
"I am very excited to join the GIFS board and contribute to the very important agenda of the institute," said Goedde, stressing that feeding the global population continues to be a critical issue.
"If current trends continue, by 2050, caloric demand will increase by 70 percent, and crop demand for human consumption and animal feed will increase by at least 100 per cent," he said. "At the same time, more resource constraints will emerge. Already, more than 20 per cent of arable land is degraded. Such resource scarcity could lead to continued significant food shortage. Agricultural technologies and research that raise productivity and welfare even in difficult growing conditions are required to meet societal needs in Canada and globally."
Born in Germany, Goedde is fluent in English, German, and Spanish. He received a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Bonn in Germany and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
About GIFS
GIFS was established in December 2012 through the collaboration of its founding partners - PotashCorp, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). With initial commitments of $35 million from PotashCorp and $15 million from the Saskatchewan government over seven years, the Institute addresses the increasing global demand for safe, reliable, and nutritious food. Located at the U of S, the Institute facilitates research that will result in much needed technological, economic, nutritional and environmental improvements to the food supply system both at home and around the world. Visit www.gifs.ca for more information.
- 30 -
For more information please contact:
Sara Alexander
Director of Marketing & Stakeholder Relations
Global Institute for Food Security
306-966-3704
sara.alexander@usask.ca