Charlotte Hebebrand is the Director of Communications and Public Affairs. She has extensive experience researching as well as writing and communicating about food and agricultural policy topics.
Charlotte served most recently as Director General of the Paris-based International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), a 500+ member association composed of different companies in the fertilizer value chain and other organizations with an interest in plant nutrition, with some two-thirds of the membership based in emerging and developing economies. During her tenure, she worked to modernize the governance structure of the association, to update the market intelligence and conference offerings, and to strengthen outreach to UN agencies and other international organizations. Working closely with the membership and external stakeholders, she led a strategic review that resulted in a major pivot to sustainability/ESG in IFA’s work program. She was formerly the President of the Washington, DC-based International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council, a membership organization composed of former trade negotiators, academics, and private sector players dedicated to the pursuit of an open and fair trading system for food and agricultural products.
Charlotte began to work on food and agricultural topics at the EU Delegation in Washington, where she held positions in the Development, Trade and Agriculture & Food Safety divisions. She presently serves on the Board of the International Fertilizer Development Center, and on the advisory board of ag tech start-up Phospholutions. She is a former member of the Independent Steering Committee of CGIAR’s Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security and previously served as a member of DuPont’s Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity for the 21st Century. She holds an MA in International Relations and Economics from the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
Speaker: Rajesh Veeraraghavan (Georgetown University)
Responsible AI is a widely discussed topic these days, but what does it really entail? In this session, Rajesh Veeraraghavan, a recently tenured Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an affiliate of the Massive Data Institute, will explore this question. He will offer a comprehensive overview of responsible AI, focusing on the ethical challenges and design complexities of AI systems. Rajesh’s ICT4D research focuses on creating technology solutions that are not only advanced but also ethically responsive to the needs of global, often marginalized, populations.
Moderator: Jawoo Koo (IFPRI)
Panelists: David Spielman (IFPRI), Jona Repishti (Digital Green), Patricia Zambrano (IFPRI), Caitlin Corner-Dolloff (USAID)
AI holds exciting potential for addressing challenges faced by agriculture. However, regulatory frameworks are needed to ensure that AI does not inadvertently harm farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. While the concept of responsible AI is frequently emphasized, there is no universally accepted definition or clear implementation guidelines. Panelists in this session will explore what it means to develop and use AI solutions responsibly in agriculture, particularly for small-scale producers in the global South. They will also discuss how to balance fostering innovation with safeguarding stakeholders from potential risks.
Moderator: Charlotte Hebebrand (IFPRI) Panelists: Andres Ferreyra (Syngenta), Rui Benfica (IFPRI), Jeehye Kim (World Bank)
The potential of AI in agriculture is very promising, but will AI actually help farmers increase their income, and if so, how? This session will address unanswered questions about AI’s prospects for enhancing farm income, particularly in light of the declining profitability of agriculture globally in recent years. Can advanced technologies, especially AI-powered ones, reverse this trend? Panelists will share their experiences working with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders, highlighting the areas of farming where AI can potentially reduce costs and improve profitability over the next 5 to 10 years. Additionally, they will discuss the risks associated with technology failures, including the implications of AI liability and the necessary safeguards.
New Delhi, India
Texcoco, Mexico
Washington, D.C., United States
