Development Through Inclusive Agriculture & Food Systems - Our Shared Futures with Purvi Mehta

Perspectives in Global Development Seminar at Cornell University

Abstract: This talk will highlight agriculture and food systems as a continued lever for development — as a key source of food and nutrition, livelihoods, economic and social security in many parts of the world. While highlighting some key achievements of agriculture to bridge the gaps, the talk will also focus on the need for transformative and inclusive growth with a focus on two key challenges: COVID-19 and the climate crisis. The talk will use real life examples, evidence and perspectives from the speaker’s close association with the development sector in Africa and Asia, with a focus on shared solutions rather than further diagnosis of the problems.

About the speaker: Dr. Purvi Mehta is the Deputy Director for Agriculture Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where she also leads the Foundation’s climate adaptation programs globally.

She has her formal education, up to PhD, from M.S. University (India), Tokyo University (Japan) and North Carolina State University (USA). Dr. Mehta has worked with the CGIAR, as head of Asia for the International Livestock Research Institute and as head of South Asia Biosafety program (IFPRI, USAID), and brings a blend of Asia and Africa experience.

She is on the board of several organizations, including International Alliance for Ecology and Health, International Centre for Rural Agriculture, Independent Director on Board of National Commodity Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX), and World Food Prize. She is an honorary professor at Amity University (India) and visiting faculty at Cornell University (USA). She has been closely associated with several agriculture and nutrition policy platforms in India, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa, and serves on several committees and advisory panels. She has over fifty publications and two books to her credit.

About the seminar series: https://cals.cornell.edu/global-devel...