The Global Sorghum Conference, hosted by Texas Tech under the Global Sorghum Association, will bring together industry professionals, researchers and students to engage and explore the sorghum industry. The event will take place in Lubbock, Texas, on September 14-18.
The September 14-18 conference aims to strengthen the collaboration between producers and researchers, while showcasing sorghum as an irreplaceable crop through presentations, networking and field tours.
This conference will offer opportunities for professional development, collaboration and ample learning.
About the Conference
In 2018, the first Global Sorghum Conference after a 20-year gap was held in Cape Town, Africa, which had attendees from all over the world. Following the 2018 meeting, Montpellier, France hosted the 2023 Global Sorghum Conference that ended with the formation of the Global Sorghum Association. Lubbock will be the meeting place of the third global conference in the ‘Sorghum in the 21st Century’ series and will be highlighting the importance of GSA across the world.
The Global Sorghum Conference focuses on showcasing sorghum as an irreplaceable crop through presentations, networking, field tours and much more. This conference aims to strengthen the collaboration between producers and researchers while stimulating groundbreaking research. The meeting will provide academic, government, private and national programs with the connections to create interdisciplinary relationships. The most important goal of the Global Sorghum Conference and the Global Sorghum Association is highlighting the importance of sorghum as The Resource Conserving Crop™.
The 2026 Global Sorghum Conference features several accomplished and specialized speakers whose work is shaping the future of sorghum. Highlighted speakers include:
Keynote Speaker:
- Jessica Christiansen – Communication Head at Bayer Crop Science
Plenary Speakers:
- David Jordan – Professor at University of Queensland
- Kira Everhart-Valentin – Alliance Manager at Gates Ag One
- Lanier Dabruzzi – Director of Nutrition & Food Innovation at United Sorghum Checkoff Program
- Michael Groszmann – Lead Portfolio Investor at Grains Research & Development Corporation
Discussion Leaders:
- Emma Mace – Professorial Research Fellow at University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation
- Erik Van Oosterom – Academic Director at University of Queensland
- Florentino Lopez – Founder of Creando Manana “Creating Tomorrow”
- Geoff Morris – Colorado State University
- Ignacio Ciampitti – Professor at Purdue University, IDAAS Co-Director
- Issoufou Kappran – President of Seed Systems Group
- Mitch Tuinstra – Professor of Plant & Breeding Genetics at Purdue University
- Sarah Sexton-Bowser – Kansas State University
- William Rooney – Professor of Sorghum Breeding & Genetics at Texas A&M, Chair at Bayor-Borlaug Plant Breeding & International Crop Development
Davis College Research
In preparation for the conference, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech will be releasing a series of research interviews that highlight our current work within the college. These videos help offer an insight of the current issues, future, and ongoing projects within specific research fields. Watch Here:
Registration & Information
Registration for the Global Sorghum Conference is open to students, faculty, community members, producers, farmers and industry partners. Early registration ends May 15 and standard registration ends August 14 and includes special pricing for students and one-day attendance. To view the entire schedule of events, registration information, or details about the speakers, visit: The Global Sorghum Conference
CONTACT: Krishna Jagadish, Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-7953 or kjagadish.sv@ttu.edu
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