#AskAg Twitter Chat: Smallholder Access to Improved Technology

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Event Information

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Join us on Tuesday, July 16 at 12 pm EDT (convert time zone) for an #AskAg Twitter Chat on Smallholder Access to Improved Technology, featuring experts from the Kenya Feed the Future Innovation Engine, Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation, and USAID Development Innovation Ventures.

There is a significant amount of research and development that already exists with the potential to make agriculture more productive, more efficient, and more cost-effective. The adoption of improved agricultural technology increases production of smallholder farms, raises incomes, and improves the overall quality of life for smallholder farm households, in addition to significantly contributing to long-term national economic growth. However, much of this technology has not reached markets in developing countries because of the risk associated with investing in emerging markets. Join us for an #AskAg Twitter chat to discuss how we can increase smallholder access to this improved technology.

Guiding questions

  1. How do you define technology/innovation and why is it important for ag markets worldwide?
  2. What factors/challenges influence adoption of new technologies by smallholders?
  3. How can we assess the tech needs and size of a “bottom of the pyramid” ag market?
  4. Why might companies not want to package and market valuable technologies to smallholders?
  5. What are examples of successful partnerships around technology and how do they begin?
  6. What are some ways to leverage resources and bridge the gap between donors and the private sector?

Twitter accounts to follow

ExpertsOrganizations & featured contributors
Milton Lore: @MiltonLoreUSAID Kenya: @USAIDKenya
Bob Rabatsky: @FTF_PIFTF Partnering for Innovation: @FTF_PI
Kristen Gendron: @klgendron12USAID's Development Innovation Ventures: @DIVatUSAID
 Root Capital: @RootCapital
 Land O'Lakes IDD: @LandOLakesIDD

How to participate

  • If you are new to Twitter, visit Twitter.com to sign up for an account. (For more tips on getting started, check out our Twitter 101 Training.)
  • Explore the guiding questions that will be discussed during the chat.
  • Join us for discussion by using the hashtag #AskAg and following @Agrilinks.
  • You can also follow on Twubs or through the livestream below.

Livestream

Speakers

Milton Lore

Milton Lore

Kenya Feed the Future Innovation Engine

Milton Lore leads the program team implementing the USAID/Kenya Feed the Future Innovation Engine, an agribusiness and innovation support platform under the US Government’s Global Hunger and Food Security initiative. He has been actively involved in enterprise development in Africa and Europe for over 17 years, with emphasis on nurturing innovative entrepreneurial ventures through provision of early-stage funding and business mentoring support. Milton has previously served as Managing Director for the African Venture Capital Association and Intellectual Property Officer at Queen Mary - University of London, in addition to co-founding a pioneering East African technology transfer, risk capital investment and enterprise incubation group. He has also worked in several commercial, technical and policy development capacities within pharmaceutical manufacture and distribution in the East African region. Milton holds postgraduate qualifications in intellectual property law and management from Queen Mary, as well as a BSc(Hons) degree in biochemistry and chemistry from the University of Nairobi.

Bob Rabatsky

Bob Rabatsky

Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation

The current Program Director of Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation, Bob Rabatsky, is an agronomist and agribusiness specialist with an MBA in finance, and more than 25 years of experience designing, managing, and evaluating USAID and multilateral economic development programs in African, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Prior to working on Partnering for Innovation, Bob was Fintrac’s senior vice president for corporate relations and business development initiatives worldwide. Bob was also an agriculture teacher in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Peace Corps.

Kristen Gendron

Kristen Gendron

USAID Development Innovation Ventures

Kristen Gendron is part of USAID's Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) team. DIV is an investment platform that finds, tests, and scales cost-effective and evidence-based solutions to development challenges around the world. Prior to DIV, Kristen worked in research and programming on a wide range of policy issues at the Council on Foreign Relations. She has also been involved in the Aspen Institute's annual Ideas Festival, and previously wrote and edited for Washington Post columnist/Brookings Fellow EJ Dionne. Kristen attended Johns Hopkins and is originally from Colorado.

Event Registration Information

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