A special Cabot Institute talk by Professor Achim Dobermann, Director of Rothamsted Research.

Abstract

Sustainable development has three interconnected pillars: economic development (including ending poverty), social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. A fourth pillar, good governance, cuts across all those. New Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing these four dimensions, their concrete targets and specific indicators for the post-2015 era still need to be agreed on by the global community. Achim will provide an overview of the ongoing global process and discuss in detail the role of agriculture within the new sustainable development framework. Science and technology will play an important role for achieving transformative changes in all countries. Achim will discuss examples for early action as well as innovations that require long-term thinking and action. The academic community should actively engage in the ongoing discussion and through new initiatives champion the principles of sustainable development and contribute to practical problem solving.

Biography

Professor Achim Dobermann is the new Director and Chief Executive of Rothamsted Research - the longest running agricultural institute in the world.  He joins Rothamsted from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, where he was the Deputy Director General for Research.  Achim is also member of the Leadership Council & Co-Chair of the Thematic Group on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN, unsdsn.org).

Professor Dobermann is a soil scientist and agronomist with 25 years’ work experience in all world regions. He is recognized internationally as an authority on science and technology for food security and sustainable management of the world’s major cereal cropping systems. After studying for a PhD in Soil Science, Professor Dobermann joined IRRI as a soil and plant nutrition specialist in 1992. His expertise and passion for the subject quickly established him as a team leader for soil and water sciences. In 2000, he joined the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska as Associate Professor and later full Professor in Soil Science and Nutrient Management. He re-joined IRRI in 2007 to lead its largest interdisciplinary research programme, focusing on developing environmentally sustainable rice-based agricultural systems. His rapid success led him to becoming Deputy Director General for Research in 2008.

Further information and booking

This event runs from 6 pm - 7.30 pm.

This event is open to all and free to attend but you must register.