Governor’s ag forum to highlight innovation

DENVER – The 2013 Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture next month will focus on the role of innovation in U.S. agriculture’s future, CSU said Thursday.

The public event will run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Denver Renaissance Hotel and will include a number of talks and breakout sessions. The Colorado Department of Agriculture and CSU co-host the forum annually.

A renewed national commitment to agricultural innovation is essential to meeting U.S. and global food and security needs, according to a December report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

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“Innovation is a key to our future in agriculture as we consider the challenges ahead,´ said Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar. “All of us, from producers to policy-makers, play a part in advancing innovation.”

Calls for agricultural innovation come as farmers and ranchers are challenged to double food production by 2050 in order to feed a world population expected to top 9 billion people, while also conserving environmental resources and improving food safety.

Speakers during the morning session of the forum include:

• Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper;

• Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar;

• CSU President Tony Frank;

• Ajay Menon, Colorado’s chief innovation officer and dean of the CSU College of Business;

• Michael Raynor, director of Deloitte Consulting;

• Leann Saunders, president of IMI Global, Inc.

The forum costs $100 per person, including continental breakfast and lunch. The deadline to register is Feb. 4 and is available online at colorado.gov/ag/forum.