THEMATIC SESSION 2:

NEXT-GENERATION CROPS

Advancing crop innovations to boost climate resilience, cut agriculture’s footprint, and enhance ecosystem health. From advanced breeding and seed technologies to agronomy and adoption pathways, these sessions take us on a journey to uncover what it takes to bring next-generation crops from lab to field.

Innovation Track

Next-Generation Crops: From Innovation to Adoption for Climate-Resilient Food Systems

Session Overview:

Climate change and biodiversity loss are pushing food systems to their limits, while farmers, especially smallholders, face mounting challenges.

Next-generation crops offer a way forward: new advances in breeding, seed technologies, and crop science can deliver varieties that withstand drought, heat, and salinity, while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs, improving nutrient uptake, and cutting emissions.

This session will explore how to move these innovations from lab to field – boosting resilience, reducing agriculture’s footprint, and enhancing ecosystem health.

Advancing Breeding Strategies

Chaired by Novo Nordisk Foundation

Welcome to Session 1, ‘Advancing Breeding Strategies for Low-Input, Low-Emission Crops: From Laboratory Research to Agricultural Implementation, with a Focus on Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI)‘. This session will explore crop innovations and breeding strategies—crucial first steps in the farm-to-fork value chain. These approaches are needed both to help crops adapt to climate change and to position them as part of the solution. The session will examine opportunities, including recent methodological and technological advances, to bring next-generation crops from lab to field. Discussions will highlight solutions that reduce agriculture’s climate footprint, increase resilience, lower reliance on synthetic inputs, improve nutrient uptake, safeguard biodiversity, and strengthen long-term agro-ecosystem health.

Time	Agenda
14:35-14:40	Opening Welcoming notes Thomas de Bang Senior Scientific Lead, Sustainable Agriculture, Novo Nordisk Foundation
14:40-15:00	Abstract presentations 3x 5 min presentations. Followed by a 5 min Q&A. Binod Ghimire Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives, Lumbini Province, Nepal Ellen Tanus Rangel & Daiane Guimarães Federal University of Goiás UFG
15:00-15:15	Expert Keynote Leveraging advanced breeding strategies to bring low-input crops from lab research to farmer fields. Flavio Breseghello Global Wheat Program Director, CIMMYT
15:15-15:45	Dialogue & Voting Open discussion where participants get to share their views on two crucial questions. The participants get to vote which topics should be continued the next day in Session 2.
15:45-16:00	Deal announcement & closing Announcing the deal. Wrapping up learnings, closing the session Thomas de Bang Senior Scientific Lead, Sustainable Agriculture, Novo Nordisk Foundation

Enabling factors and pathways for adoption

Chaired by International Rice Research Institute & Global Methane Hub

To continue our journey, this interactive session will focus on the enabling factors essential for getting new seeds into farmers’ hands and onto their fields—an experience that won’t leave you cold. Drawing on the latest research and real-world case studies, our speakers will explore how agronomic innovations can accelerate the scaling and adoption of next-generation crop varieties, with a special focus on low-methane rice. We will examine the roles of diverse stakeholders in supporting farmers to overcome production challenges and cultivate the food of the future. At the heart of the session are concrete, actionable steps—moving beyond broad calls to action by exploring tangible pathways for advancing next-gen crops.

Time	Agenda
11:30-11:40	The Cold Open & The Hot Take Summary of Day 1 Outlook Day 2 Warm-up Bjoern Ole Sander Senior Scientist II, Climate Change Country Representative Thailand, International Rice Research Institute
11:40 – 12:00	Keynote plus Hard Talk: Bridging the Gap Switching on the telly: VIdeo message on moving new crop varieties from research into farmers’ fields with Sandra Milach Hard Talk: A rapid-fire interview with Ana Maria Loboguerrero. Dr. Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach Chief Scientist, CGIAR Ana Maria Loboguerrero Director, Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems, Gates Foundation
12:00-12:15	Field Test Fast Track 2x 7 min – Abstract Presentations Carlos Ramos Venâncio Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Brazil Ellen Tanus Rangel & Giovana Arruda Federal University of Goiás UFG
12:15-12:25	The Core Concept Rice fields in Sweden? Lessons from Low Methane Rice Project. Jens Sundström Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
12:25 – 12:50	The Policy Pitch: The Future is Now Panel where speakers spanning policy, finance and private sector explore scaling factors for low-emissions rice systems. Chiwimbo Mwika World Bank Laurence Jassogne Olam Agri Adriano Castro Embrapa
12:50 – 13:00	Deal & final words Presentation on Rice Academy program Wrapping up learnings, closing the session. Chiwimbo Mwika World Bank Hayden Montgomery Program Director Agriculture, Global Methane Hub