Podwal 9/5/23

Bruce Podwal Seminar Series

Technological innovation for climate resilience in agriculture

Dr. Ajay K Jha, Ph.D., MBA

CEO, Institute for Global Agriculture & Tech Transfer

& Founder InnoP Global Accelerator

12:30– 1:30 pm, Tue., Sept. 5, 2023

Civil Engineering Department, Room 105, Steinman Hall

https://ccny.zoom.us/j/85839128635?pwd=YXQ4TW9VY1RncVF1UjN4R1g0MkhFQT09

Abstract   Population growth, climate uncertainties, and rising living standards have pressured globally limited water, food, and energy availability. It is estimated that 70% more food will be required by 2050 to feed 9 billion, 40% more water needed by 2030, and 50% energy by 2035, which triggers more worries to reduce global hunger and eradicate poverty. Climate change causes temporal and spatial shifts in precipitation and irrigation water availability that will impact crop yield and food production and is likely to worsen water shortages, particularly in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Hence, the need is to innovate climate-adaptive innovative technologies, methods, and processes for the farm-to-market value chain (food production, value addition, and distribution), conserving water through efficient management, including cleaning rivers and recycling water of municipal and industries. Integrating proven technologies, hands-on applied field research, and collaborative partnership with multidisciplinary expertise and in-country stakeholders may provide a resilient and scalable climate-smart solution to balance the nexus and bring prosperity to smallholder communities worldwide.

Biography: Dr. Ajay Jha is an educator, climate-smart agriculture researcher & tech-based startup mentor, Fortune 500 Industry Advisor, and global economic development consultant with more than 22 years of experience creating strategies to help organizations to foster cross-functional collaborative partnerships with critical stakeholders (communities, businesses, universities, governments, and individuals), to build a positive impact, and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). An exceptionally known professional and facilitator, Dr. Jha is an accomplished, innovative & creative leader recognized for small-farm irrigation, climate-Smart AgTech, Nand nutritional food security, and decarbonization. Dr. Jha can bring diverse audiences to design complex projects for long-term resiliency. He strategized emerging tech and science-enabled market trends, mentored entrepreneurial programs, helped B2B matchmaking, organized global conferences/summits, and published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and over 100 popular science and 200 tech-related presentations. Most recently, Dr. Jha also helped feed the future USAID sustainable agriculture program in South Asia (https://igatt.org) in partnership with 12 US Land Grant Universities, CUNY, and engaged with US vertical farming. Before his Colorado arrival, he was an accomplished advisor with the Israeli Agriculture and trade in South Asia based in the Delhi Embassy, where he crafted a strategy that helped $750 Million in investment between Indian and Israeli businesses.

Dr. Jha has expertise reviewing technical proposals, business pitches, and projects, managed federal grants contracts (USDA, USAID, DOD, NSF, World Bank), and, as PI, garnered over $20M in funding and advised over $150M contracted consulting projects. Dr. Jha works in professional multi-disciplinary settings and accomplishes project goals cost-effectively, and manages resources efficiently, including building startup superclusters (https://innopglobal.com). Dr. Jha does projects and develops a conduit between businesses, governments, and communities for dialogue, and is regularly asked to facilitate negotiations and lead forums. Dr. Jha has led several climate-resilient projects (climate, agriculture, biotech, higher education) and value chains in South Asian, African, and Central and South American Countries.

Dr. Jha spent over 15 years in Colorado to science-teach, research, and build an entrepreneurial ecosystem (Food-AgTech-Biomaterials: FABTech ventures), vocational job readiness workforce development, including coaching international students for higher education. As a founding member team for establishing GSSE (Global Social, sustainable enterprise), an Impact MBA with Colorado State, mentored 40 sustainable enterprise business students. He managed dozens of joint ventures and tech transfer transactions between India-Israel, and US-Indian companies. In 2019, he participated in the Colorado Governor's trade delegation for India and Nepal. Committed to civic engagement, good governance, and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem, Dr. Jha is frequently invited to serve on Boards of Directors and advisors in nonprofits and businesses. He has more than a decade of board experience with increasing responsibility. He has served on the ASHS Industry board, SME Chamber, Career & Technical Education with Poudre school, Peace Corps Program, and multiple times as Organizing Chairman for the five international conferences in the US, India, Nepal, and Israel. Served numerous committees, including strategic finance team, diversity and inclusion, governance, HR committees, and Startup Ecosystem. A lifelong learner, Dr. Jha earned an MBA from the College of Business, Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. and master’s in plant science from the University of Delhi, India.