The fourth edition of the OpenAg Symposium focuses on the complex and interdependent relationship between agriculture, energy security, and water security within the framework of sustainable agriculture. This session will delve into how agricultural systems are deeply intertwined with multiple facets of security—food, water, energy, and economic stability. The goal is to explore the role of agriculture in addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and economic inequality while ensuring the sustainability and resilience of our food systems. Across three panels, the event will explore how agricultural practices affect national security with a focus on water and energy security.

The plenary panel will discuss the broader theme of the changing food systems and their relationship with security, and two breakout panels will focus on water security and energy security. Each panel will feature a mix of guests from academia, policy, industry, and NGOs moderated by a global expert.

Speakers:

Plenary Panel: How does Agriculture Relate to Different Forms of Securities

Mr Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), UK Government.

Ms Usha Rao-Monari.

Former Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator UNDP.

Mr. UnniKrishnan Divakaran Nair, Associate Director of Climate Change, Commonwealth Secretariat.

Dr Caspar Chater, Senior Research Leader at Royal Botanic Gardens.

Prof. John Ingram, Food Systems Programme Lead, ECI. [Moderator].

Breakout Panel 1: Water Security and Agriculture (Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre, SBS)

Dr Carole Dalin, Associate Professor in Sustainable Food Systems, UCL.

Dr Celso Moretti (virtual participation), President of Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Cooperation).

Mr Rupert Simons, Partner at SYSTEMIQ.

Dr. Timothy Foster, Professor at the University of Manchester.

University of Oxford. Prof. Daanish Mustafa, Professor in Critical Geography, KCL. [Moderator].

Breakout Panel 2: Energy Security and Agriculture (Rhodes House Lecture Theatre, SBS) Ms Juliet Davenport, President of the Energy Institute.

Ms Sabrina Rajan, Senior Director, Sustainability, McDermott.

Ms Aruna Chandrashekhar, Environmental Journalist, Carbon Brief [virtual participation]

Prof. Radhika Khosla, Associate Professor at Smith School, University of Oxford. [Moderator]