Speakers

Dr Jessica Agnew

Director, GAP Initiative

Dr. Jessica Agnew is the Director of the Global Agricultural Productivity (GAP) Initiative and Associate Director of CALS Global at Virginia Tech, where she provides strategic leadership to global partnerships, applied research, and advocacy efforts focused on accelerating sustainable agricultural productivity growth. She serves as the managing editor of the annual GAP Report and is leading the development of a next-generation decision-support platform to provide actionable insights to policymakers, investors, and industry leaders worldwide. Her work bridges policy, business, and innovation to translate evidence into action across agri-food systems, with deep experience engaging public, private, and multilateral partners. Dr. Agnew holds a PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization and a Master of Public Health from Virginia Tech, and advanced degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Guelph.