6th Annual Agroforestry Symposium

Written by · January 5, 2015

The MU Center for Agroforestry will once again welcome the public to the 6th Annual Agroforestry Symposium on Jan. 8, 2015. The free event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Jesse Wrench Auditorium in Memorial Union, located on the MU Campus in Columbia. This year’s theme, “Climate-Smart Agriculture: the Role of Agroforestry,” will feature informational talks on topics about silvopasture, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, development of climate-smart soybeans and restoration agriculture in how trees can help.

The day will conclude with a landowner discussion panel featuring Missouri producers and a poster session in the nearby Eyler Room.

Symposium Schedule

8:30 a.m. — Registration, coffee, pastries.

9:00 a.m.  —  Introduction: Dr. Shibu Jose, Director, The Center for Agroforestry

9:05 a.m. —  Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Dr. Marc Linit, Senior Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

9:15-10:00 a.m. —  Keynote: Agroforestry for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Dr. Thomas Sauer, Assistant Director of the Midwest Climate Hub, USDA ARS, Ames, Iowa.

10:00-10:30 a.m. —  Perennial Grains: Climate-Smart by Design, Dr. Lee DeHaan, The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas

10:30-11:00 a.m. —  Silvopasture: Creating Climate-Smart Pastoral Systems, Dr. Robert Kallenbach, Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri.

11:00-11:30 a.m. —  Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Agroforestry Way, Ms. Janet Chappell, North Carolina State University, Raleigh; Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, USDA ARS, Raleigh, North Carolina

11:30-12:00 p.m. —  Developing Climate-Smart Soybeans: Dr. Babu Valliyodan & Dr. Henry Nguyen, National Soybean Biotechnology Center, University of Missouri

12:00-1:30 p.m. —  Lunch, on your own.

1:30-2:00 p.m. —  Restoration Agriculture: The Role of Trees, Mr. Mark Shepard, Restoration Agriculture Development, Viola, Wisconsin

2:00-2:30 p.m. —  The Human Dimensions of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Dr. Jere Gilles, Division of Applied Social Science, University of Missouri

2:30-3:30 p.m. —  Landowner Panel Discussion: Mr. Bill Stouffer, Napton, MO; Mr. John Buchanan, ValleyFalls, KS; Mr. Eric Reuter, Harrisburg, MO; Mr. Brian Tomazi, Cuba, MO; Moderator: Dr. Mike Gold, Associate Director, The Center for Agroforestry