Programme
The 2026 symposium is an in-person event and will host a number of special focus sessions addressing contemporary issues and technical methods.
Our Keynote speakers are shown below.
Don't forget to register for the Symposium to gain access to all the sessions and receive a copy of the proceedings.
The 2024 programme can be found below. The draft programme for 2026 will become available in late October 2025.
| 7th Symposium Programme |
Our 2026 Keynote Speakers
Prof Madhu Khanna
Director of iSEE; ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics, University of Illinois, USA
Keynote Presentation:
Dr. Madhu Khanna is the ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received her Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research is at the intersection of agricultural, energy and environmental economics. She has served on the USEPA Science Advisory Board for 10 years and as a Chair/member of panels and advisory committees for NIFA, USEPA and NSF and the National Academy of Sciences. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE). She is a University of Illinois Scholar, a Stanford Woods Institute of Environment Leopold Leadership Fellow, AAEA Fellow and AAEA past President, and fellow of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) and member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Agricultural Economics.
Prof Madhu Khanna
Director of iSEE; ACES Distinguished Professor in Environmental Economics, University of Illinois, USA
Keynote Presentation:
Dr. Madhu Khanna is the ACES Distinguished Professor of Environmental Economics in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and Alvin H. Baum Family Chair and Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received her Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research is at the intersection of agricultural, energy and environmental economics. She has served on the USEPA Science Advisory Board for 10 years and as a Chair/member of panels and advisory committees for NIFA, USEPA and NSF and the National Academy of Sciences. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE). She is a University of Illinois Scholar, a Stanford Woods Institute of Environment Leopold Leadership Fellow, AAEA Fellow and AAEA past President, and fellow of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) and member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Agricultural Economics.
Prof Annemia Maertens
Professor of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, U.K.
Keynote Presentation:
Prof. Maertens is a development and agricultural economist. She studies poverty in rural communities in developing countries. Before embarking on a career as an economist, she was an agricultural engineer with an interest in tropical agricultural systems. She obtained her PhD from Cornell University in 2010 and joined the University of Sussex in 2014. She publishes regularly in development and agricultural economics journals, such as, the Journal of Development Economics, World Development and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. She has advised and consulted governments and international organisations on issues related to agricultural development. Her research has been featured in the media, including the BBC World Service, BBC's Asia Network, the Indian Express and the Business Standard.
Her work explores the role of social networks, social norms, and identity in economic decision-making. She has a particular interest in how individuals learn about their environment and how this influences behaviour. Most of her research involves working directly with farmers in India and Africa, and involve fieldwork, including household data collection, lab-in-the-field experiments, and Randomized Controlled Trials.
Professor of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, U.K.
Keynote Presentation:
Prof. Maertens is a development and agricultural economist. She studies poverty in rural communities in developing countries. Before embarking on a career as an economist, she was an agricultural engineer with an interest in tropical agricultural systems. She obtained her PhD from Cornell University in 2010 and joined the University of Sussex in 2014. She publishes regularly in development and agricultural economics journals, such as, the Journal of Development Economics, World Development and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. She has advised and consulted governments and international organisations on issues related to agricultural development. Her research has been featured in the media, including the BBC World Service, BBC's Asia Network, the Indian Express and the Business Standard.
Her work explores the role of social networks, social norms, and identity in economic decision-making. She has a particular interest in how individuals learn about their environment and how this influences behaviour. Most of her research involves working directly with farmers in India and Africa, and involve fieldwork, including household data collection, lab-in-the-field experiments, and Randomized Controlled Trials.
Sarah Baker
Head of Economics (Analysis)-Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Keynote Presentation:
Sarah is and Agricultural Economist from Wye College,and is currently Head of Economics at AHDB, leading a team of Economists examining post Brexit UK Trade deals, domestic agricultural policy, domestic market intelligence, costs of production across AHDB sectors and on farm performance, as well as the emerging private nature markets.Sarah is also a part time student at Harper Adams, undertaking a PhD examining the role of intermediaries in the process of agricultural policy design and implementation.
Head of Economics (Analysis)-Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Keynote Presentation:
Sarah is and Agricultural Economist from Wye College,and is currently Head of Economics at AHDB, leading a team of Economists examining post Brexit UK Trade deals, domestic agricultural policy, domestic market intelligence, costs of production across AHDB sectors and on farm performance, as well as the emerging private nature markets.Sarah is also a part time student at Harper Adams, undertaking a PhD examining the role of intermediaries in the process of agricultural policy design and implementation.
Images from the 2019 Symposium
