STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University hosted a groundbreaking conference exploring the critical intersection of food and agriculture as national security and announced the establishment of the Food and Agriculture as Competitive Statecraft Collaboratory.
The event brought together leading experts from the military, agriculture and global food sectors to examine their interconnected roles in promoting stability and resilience in the U.S. and around the world. It follows last summer’s successful “Intersection of Agriculture and Competitive Statecraft” conference in Washington, D.C.
MSU Vice President for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine Keith Coble said the new collaboratory is aimed at advancing research, policy and strategies at the nexus of food, agriculture and national security. It will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary partnerships among researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to explore the strategic role of agriculture in competitive statecraft and global security.
“By launching the Food and Agriculture as Competitive Statecraft Collaboratory, Mississippi State is taking a bold step to connect expertise across disciplines and tackle the challenges that link agriculture with national and global stability,” said Coble. “In addition, we’re engaging students in the conversation by launching a new class this fall.”
Mississippi State, ranked in the Top 5% nationally in agricultural research and a Top 10 Military Friendly School, is uniquely positioned to lead these discussions. Today’s conference included insights from notable speakers such as U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (R) Charles T. Cleveland, World Food Program USA Vice President for Advocacy and Engagement Chase Sova, and Special Representative of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Dan Gustafson, among others.
Cleveland said, “The intellectual strength of America is spread across its institutions of higher learning. The key is to harness the collective expertise of our universities, particularly our agricultural colleges, which study farming practices comparable to those in regions across the globe. Agriculture everywhere is interconnected, and what happens globally impacts the United States.
“Tapping into this vast network is an ambitious but essential goal, and it begins with small, purposeful steps. I commend Dr. Coble and Mississippi State University for taking the initiative in this critical field of agriculture and water management, fostering collaboration that will strengthen our ability to address global challenges effectively,” he said.
The conference also gave students a chance to explore how food and agriculture intersect with national security. A special session previewed the new course launching this fall, designed to bridge global politics, agriculture and national security with real-world applications.
