In this episode of Global Trends, hosts Ann Helena and Adrian Bell explore the critical issue of climate change and its significant impact on agriculture. The episode features a panel of experts, including Dr. John Reilly, an energy, environmental, and agricultural economist, and Lisa Bellocchi, an agricultural journalist, who provides insights into the role of agriculture in greenhouse gas emissions and the real-life experiences of Italian farmers grappling with climate change.
The discussion continues with Dr. Tom O'Dwyer, head of the Signpost programme at Teagasc, who shares about their initiative's efforts to mitigate climate change through greenhouse gas reductions and knowledge transfer programmes. The episode concludes with Francesco Carvazza, a researcher at the Italian research center Acqua Campus, who discusses the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change, particularly the impact of rainfall, and the steps farmers can take to mitigate these effects.
This episode offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and potential solutions in the intersection of climate change and agriculture. A must-watch for anyone interested in understanding how the agricultural industry is responding to climate change and what the future may hold.
Tune in to gain valuable insights from experts on the front lines of this global issue!
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John Reilly -
Francesco Cavazza -
Tom O’Dwyer -
Lisa Bellocchi
- Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd and serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental protection.
- Climate change is a global issue impacting all countries and continents, leading to changes in weather patterns and increased severity of weather events.
- Agriculture contributes a significant portion (estimated to be between a fifth and a quarter) of annual greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, highlighting the sector's role in climate change.
In this series
Prior to joining MIT in 1998, John Reilly spent 12 years with the Economic Research Service of USDA. He received his PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and holds a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin. Much of Dr. Reilly’s 40-year research career has focused on climate change, including agriculture and land use emissions and carbon dioxide sinks, as well as the potential effects of climate change on agriculture.
Francesco Cavazza is an agronomist and agricultural economist at Acquacampus, the research unit of the Canale Emiliano Romagnolo. After obtaining a Master’s degree in Agriculture, he carried out his PhD at the University of Bologna, focusing on the use of Decision Support System for irrigation and water management. Currently, Francesco’s work is entirely dedicated to irrigation and water management, with a focus on the development and estimation of irrigation and climate indicators, economic analysis, and nature-based solutions for water management in agriculture.
Tom O’Dwyer holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from University College Dublin, a Master’s in Business Administration and a PhD in Business Administration from the Waterford Institute of Technology. In his current role, Tom is responsible for the national development, implementation and leadership of the Signpost Programme, the goal of which is to lead and support farmers in climate action. Over his 27-year career with Teagasc, he has held a number of previous roles, including Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, Regional Manager, Dairy Specialist and REPS Adviser.
Lisa Bellocchi has been a well-known personality on Italian television for 30 years, as she has hosted the news programmes of Emilia Romagna and national programmes such as «Italia Agricoltura» and «Prodotto Italia».
In September 2021, Lisa was elected President of ENAJ, the European Network of Agricultural Journalists, which brings together some 3500 specialized professionals from 27 countries. She is President of the Association of Agricultural, Agri-food and Environmental Journalists of Emilia Romagna -Marche-Umbria.
