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29May
2019

International research executives to lead the Global Institute for Food Security at USask

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) is pleased to announce that Marco Ferroni, an expert on international agriculture and sustainability, has joined the GIFS Board of Directors effective immediately.  From 2007 to 2017, Ferroni served as Executive Director of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, a product and solutions incubator for farm sectors in lowincome countries and Emerging Markets. He has held managerial and senior advisory positions at the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank in Washington DC, and currently advises clients on strategic choice as a member of advisory councils and boards.

Ferroni has a doctorate in agricultural economics from Cornell University and recently completed terms as an Adjunct Professor in agriculture and environmental sciences at McGill University.  

He also chairs the System Management Board of CGIAR and is an Ex-officio member of the CGIAR System Council. CGIAR is a global research network offering crop and livestock improvement solutions, sustainable natural resource management options and policy analysis on food systems, nutrition and agricultural development and growth. 

“Marco brings a wealth of knowledge in so many areas to the GIFS Board, and his involvement with CGIAR will be especially valuable,” said Alanna Koch, Chair of the GIFS Board of Directors. “His deep experience in emerging international markets, and global experience in research, sustainability, policy, nutrition and development will add to the depth of our existing board in so many ways, and we are excited to have him join the Board.”

“I am delighted to be associated with GIFS as a board member,” said Ferroni. “GIFS is a young but already well-established organization with enormous potential to benefit Canadian and global agriculture and food security through science-based innovations that improve plant attributes, productivity, resilience and sustainability.