Former Purdue Ag dean, expert on ag policy, to give 2016 Snyder Lecture

Robert L. Thompson  Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Robert L. Thompson, a former Purdue University dean of agriculture who is an agricultural policy and trade expert, will give the 2016 James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture on April 15 at Purdue.

Thompson's presentation, "The Changing Geopolitics of Agriculture," will be at 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Krannert Building, 403 W. State St.

The event, presented by the Department of Agricultural Economics, is free and open to the public.

Thompson, who also was a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, is a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, where he held the Gardner Endowed Chair in agricultural policy. He is a senior fellow of global agricultural development and food security with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Thompson's research interests are food and agricultural policy, trade and development. His expertise has enabled him to serve on the board of directors for Land O’Lakes Inc., the Nestle corporate Creating Shared Value Advisory Council and the International Food Information Council Foundation board of trustees.

On the national level, Thompson has served on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. trade representative. He also was director of rural development and senior adviser for agricultural trade policy at the World Bank.

The American Farm Bureau Federation in 2011 presented Thompson with its highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.

Thompson is a fellow of the American Agricultural Economics Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Thompson holds a master's degree and a doctorate in agricultural economics from Purdue. 

The Snyder Memorial Lecture, in its 42nd year, honors the late James C. Snyder, who was a professor of agricultural economics. After completing graduate study at Purdue, Snyder joined the Purdue agricultural economics faculty and was widely recognized for his teaching and research.

Daylong activities include a 9:45 a.m. presentation of the Agricultural Economics Apex Awards, given to individuals who have a strong connection to the department and have made significant contributions to agriculture, business or economics.

A department reception will follow Thompson's presentation at 3:30 p.m. in the Krannert Drawing Room.           

Writer: Emma Hopkins, 765-494-8402, hopkine@purdue.edu 

Source: Debby Weber, 765-494-4205, weberdl@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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