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Dr. Prem
Warrior
Bill and
Melinda Gates
Foundation
Seattle, WA, USA
Agbiotech: The
Global
Sustainability
Challenge
Tuesday,
September 14, 2010
8:25 - 9:10 am
Abstract:
The world population
is expected to
exceed 9 billion by
2050; the return on
investment in
agricultural
research and
development has been
generally high over
the past several
years and over the
past three decades
alone. Cereal
productivity has
increased 2.8 per
cent mostly
attributed to
increases in per
unit area yield.
However,
approximately 75% of
the world’s poorest
economies still
practice smallholder
farming and face
very low
productivity. These
regions experience
lack of resources,
low capacity for
carrying out R&D and
low private sector
interest. They are
also constrained by
a very poor policy
environment, in
relation to their
land use, property
rights, and
available inputs
along with a host
other
socio-political
issues. The rapidly
increasing demand
for food presents
both challenges and
opportunities.
Agricultural
development is a
powerful and
sustainable answer
to hunger and
poverty reduction.
Innovation in
agricultural
productivity at
smallholder level is
the key lever that
can help. These
efforts must be
implemented across
the value chain from
the seed to the
final produce.
Monitoring and
evaluation processes
need to be
developed, taking
into consideration
the specific
context. Newer tools
as well as
implementation
models in crop
improvement and crop
management are
needed to achieve
the food security
for this and the
next generation.
Addressing the
concerns to improve
adoption of the
newer biotechnology
tools in food and
agriculture is the
key to overcoming
the productivity
issues.
Biotechnology has
created significant
positive impact in
enhancing
agricultural
production in the
developed world and
several developing
countries such
India, China and
Brazil. Technologies
such as
drought-tolerance,
nitrogen use
efficiency and
herbicide/insecticide
resistance had
positive impact of
biotech crops around
the world.
Agricultural
biotechnology will
help the struggling
population in the
least developed
parts of the world
overcome the fears
about food security
and improve the
quality of life.
Biography
Prem Warrior joined
the Gates Foundation
in April 2008 as a
Senior Program
Officer in the
Agricultural
Development group
(Science &
Technology team). He
is currently
responsible for
developing a
portfolio of grants
in the crop
management area
including biological
nitrogen fixation,
integrated pest
management,
evaluation of crop
protection products
including seed
treatment products,
as well as
evaluating options
for private sector
engagement.
Prior to joining the
Foundation, Dr.
Warrior was in an
executive leadership
role managing
technology and
directing global
programs in
agricultural
research,
formulations, and
technology
assessments at
Valent BioSciences
Corporation, USA (an
independent
subsidiary of
Sumitomo Chemical
Corporation, Japan).
VBC was divested
from the
agricultural group
of Abbott
Laboratories, a
global leader in
Pharmaceutical and
Diagnostic products.
Prem has hands-on
experience in the
discovery,
development and
commercialization of
crop protection
products including
Bt-based
insecticides,
nematicides,
fungicides,
herbicides and plant
growth regulators.
In his corporate
roles, he has also
managed the
corporate IP
portfolio, developed
processes for
scientific/business
assessment of
technologies in
agriculture,
evaluated over 100
technology leads,
developed
partnerships with
private and public
sector enterprises
as well as completed
licensing,
acquisition and
business
development. He has
filed 40+ patents
and has published
more than 50
scientific papers,
book chapters in the
plant
sciences/public
health fields. Dr.
Warrior has a Ph. D.
in Plant pathology
and an MBA in
general business.
Click to view Prem
Warrior's ABIC 2010
presentation
