We are excited to announce and host the upcoming M.E. John Lecture, featuring Richard J. Sexton, Ph.D., to present, Challenges to Feeding the World in the 21st Century. If you are unable to join us in person, we highly encourage you to participate virtually. Attached is the flyer for more detailed information. Looking forward to seeing you there!
ME John Lecture 2026. R. Sexton.
- https://aese.psu.edu/events/m-e-john-lecture-2026
- M.E. John Lecture
- 2026-04-17T14:00:00-04:00
- 2026-04-17T15:00:00-04:00
- We are excited to announce and host the upcoming M.E. John Lecture, featuring Richard J. Sexton, Ph.D., to present, Challenges to Feeding the World in the 21st Century. If you are unable to join us in person, we highly encourage you to participate virtually. Attached is the flyer for more detailed information. Looking forward to seeing you there!
When April 17, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where Nittany Lion Inn—Mt Nittany Room (or Zoom)
Richard J. Sexton is distinguished professor emeritus in the Agricultural & Resource Economics (ARE) Department at UC Davis. Sexton served as chair of the ARE Department at Davis from 1994-98, from 2011-16, and as co-editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics from 1998 – 2000. He is a Past President of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and was designated as a Fellow of the AAEA in 2004. Sexton's teaching and research program at UC Davis has focused upon issues in applied microeconomics, industrial organization, and agricultural product marketing. His recent research focuses on the rapidly changing landscape of agricultural markets, including high levels of market concentration, increased emphasis on multifaceted dimensions of product quality, attempts by sellers at all market stages to differentiate their products, and close vertical coordination within the supply chain. His new book, Food Fight: Misguided Policies, Supply Challenges, and the Impending Struggle to Feed a Hungry World, discusses the challenges of adequately feeding the world in the 21st Century.
Challenges to Feeding the World in the 21st Century
Adequately feeding its population may be society's most basic obligation, yet it is one that remains unmet based on UN statistics that show 673 million people faced hunger in 2024 and 2.6 billion could not afford a healthy diet. Feeding a growing and wealthier world population is likely to become more difficult in the face of climate change, pest resistance to traditional treatments, a slowdown in agricultural productivity growth, increased use of agricultural products to produce biofuels, and support for production methods known to reduce yields, such as organic and non-GMO. The presentation will document challenges to feeding the world in this century and chronicle the ways contemporary food policies enacted in much of the world imperil food security and exacerbate environmental challenges associated with food production. The presentation concludes by identifying "win win" strategies that will forestall future hunger and environmental degradation.
Zoom: https://psu.zoom.us/j/95667288570
Passcode: 647453
*3:00-4:00 - Please join us for a reception in the 1855 Lounge following the lecture. Light refreshments provided.
