Transforming leadership to adapt how food is grown, managed and distributed is vital to ensure global food security, according to agricultural and food policy specialist Professor Glenn Denning.
The Professor of Professional Practice and founding Director of the Master of Public Administration in Development Practice (MPA-DP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) will be the first of six plenary speakers at the TropAg 2025 Conference in Brisbane.
Professor Denning said there is no quick fix to ensuring everyone enjoys a healthy diet derived from a sustainable food system.
“Transformation needs to take place all along the food value chain — from production to consumption,” Professor Denning said.
“There is scope for innovation in technology and policy everywhere you look.
“Artificial intelligence and other advanced digital technologies are emerging as game changers almost everywhere in the food system.
“But these advances are not being shared equitably, and we need to reach low-income consumers and smallholder farmers, among others who are marginalised.”
Professor Denning said a shared vision is needed from a new generation of transformative leaders.
“We cannot wait for a miracle to occur,” he said.
“We need a new generation of leaders with the know-how and the do-how to inject change into the public, private and NGO sectors.
“We are making progress on many fronts but failing on others.
“India has transformed from a country suffering famine to the world’s largest rice exporter, but we have food crises continuing around the globe caused mainly by climate and conflict.”
Professor Denning is the author of Universal Food Security: How to End Hunger While Protecting the Planet (Columbia University Press, 2023).
He’s advised governments and international organisations on agriculture and food policy in more than 50 countries over 40 years, has been honoured by the government of Cambodia and Columbia University and was named the Global Australian of the Year in 2023. In 2024, he was named Alumnus of the Year by The University of Queensland.
The TropAg conference will be held from 11 to 13 November 2025 at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane.
TropAg is hosted by The University of Queensland and backed by sponsors including the Australian Council of International Agricultural Research, the Food and Beverage Accelerator and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Media: TropAg media, Natalie MacGregor, n.macgregor@uq.edu.au, +61 409 135 651, tropag.com.au.
The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland established with and supported by the Department of Primary Industries.
