About

Sorghum in the 21st Century: Resiliency and Sustainability in the Face of Climate Change is a conference that will connect the broader global sorghum community in identifying key solutions to some of the most urgent challenges facing agriculture and food security today.

This will be the second convening of the Sorghum in the 21st Century conference series, with expected participation from every major sorghum-producing region in the world. The conference will facilitate exchanges around research, development, market opportunities and sustainability and the role that sorghum has to play in responding to the impacts of global climate change.

Organized by the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) and a consortium of global research and development institutions, this conference will draw together worldwide competencies on numerous topics, including:

  • Genetics and genomics
  • Plant breeding
  • Production systems management
  • Sustainable farming systems
  • Post-harvest solutions
  • Product development and markets

The conference will target both private and public sector researchers as well as agribusinesses and rural development specialists from around the world. Sorghum’s unique role as a solution and tool in responding to the global challenges presented by climate change will drive the discussions and transfer of knowledge throughout the conference. 

Key session themes will include:

  • Capturing sorghum’s genetic potential in responding to climatic and environmental challenges
  • Optimizing sorghum production techniques to minimize loss and maximize on-farm returns
  • Defining sorghum’s role in regenerating soil health and enhancing the sustainability of global farming systems
  • Strengthening value chains, seed systems and trade opportunities to build a more resilient and profitable sorghum industry
  • Exploring new horizons in market development and high-value product creation