FFAR Executive Director on Ag’s Next Breakthrough

“Bold research on food and agriculture challenges.” That’s how Saharah Moon Chapotin defines the work of the organization she leads. 

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, which brings taxpayer dollars together with private funding, covers issues involving crops and animals to soil and water to the impact of agriculture on human health.

FFAR was a key backer of the AIM for Climate Summit, where Chapotin caught up with The Point Cloud for an exclusive interview on agriculture innovation.

The Point Cloud is Agerpoint’s interview series featuring leaders at the intersection of climate, agriculture, nature, and technology. Watch and read highlights from the conversation below. You can also hear the full interview as an audio podcast on your favorite platforms.

The Next Breakthrough

Agriculture has a history of life-altering breakthroughs. Chapotin says the next breakthrough could be about convergence among disciplines like crop breeding, animal science, and data science

“I think there's really a new philosophy around converging all these different research disciplines together,” she says.

“You Want It, We’re Going to to Deliver It”

FFAR, says Chapotin, is in a position to help businesses address consumer demand for sustainable food.

“The companies have made commitments. They say, ‘you want it, we're going to deliver it.’ And now the companies are trying to figure out how to deliver that.”

“And that's where FFAR’s research can really support the food system,” she says, “helping those companies really deliver on those commitments they've made to consumers.”

“Changing the Dynamic Around Agriculture”

On the road to COP 28, Chapotin is optimistic about agriculture’s role in the conversation.

“Last year at COP [27], agriculture started to get on the agenda,” she says. “This year, I'm hopeful that it will really be on the agenda.”

Chapotin believes AIM for Climate Summit conversations can set up a “game changer” - progress toward “changing the dynamic around agriculture being actually one of the solutions that can get us to an improved climate.”

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