Research & Discovery
Keynote Events
Conference programming covered innovation and emerging work across agronomy, crops and soil sciences through technical presentations, workshops, networking events, award ceremonies, field tours and more.
Conference Archive
2026 Global Sorghum Conference
September 14–18, 2026
Lubbock, Texas
Researchers, producers, students and industry leaders from around the world gathered in Lubbock for five days of research, collaboration and discovery focused on the future of sorghum.
Explore the speakers, programming, competitions, conference vision, partners and attendee information that shaped the 2026 Global Sorghum Conference.
In partnership with the Global Sorghum Association
2026 Conference
Five days dedicated to advancing sorghum science.
The Global Sorghum Conference brought together global experts, researchers, producers and industry leaders to share research, build connections and explore sorghum's role in sustainable agriculture.
Emerging Researchers
Student Programming
Students explored academic and professional opportunities through conference programming, research presentations and connections with industry professionals.
Industry
Exposition
The conference exposition connected attendees with innovations and organizations working across agronomy, crops, soils and the broader sorghum industry.
Conference Partner
Global Sorghum Association
The 2026 Global Sorghum Conference was presented in partnership with the Global Sorghum Association.
Conference Vision
Connecting research, production and global impact.
The conference showcased sorghum through technical presentations, networking events, field tours and other programming while highlighting sorghum's unique role as The Resource Conserving Crop™.
Conference Goals
The 2026 conference aimed to:
- Catalyze groundbreaking research on high-priority topics in sorghum science.
- Strengthen collaborations between producers and researchers.
- Foster interdisciplinary interaction among academia, government and national programs, NGOs and the private sector.
- Promote sorghum's global importance in partnership with the Global Sorghum Association.
People
Conference Speakers
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Discussion Leader
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David Jordan
Professor
University of Queensland
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Holly Mayton
Science, Technology, and Policy Partnerships Lead
John Deere
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Jessica Christiansen
Communication Head
Bayer Crop Science
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Kira Everhart-Valentin
Alliance Manager
Gates Ag One
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Nora Lapitan
Deputy Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS)
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John Duff
Founder and CEO
Serō Ag Strategies
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Lanier Dabruzzi
Director of Nutrition & Food Innovation
United Sorghum Checkoff Program
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Luis Rafael Herrera-Estrella
President’s Distinguished Professor of Plant Genomics and Director of the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance
Texas Tech University
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Michael Groszmann
Lead Portfolio Investor
Grains Research and Development Corporation
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Monia Caramma
Founder & Global CEO
Sorghum United Global (SUG)
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Naima Moustaid-Moussa
Inaugural Executive Director
Texas Tech University
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Steve Martin
Founder & Dairy Nutrition Consultant
DNMCmilk
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Emma Mace
Professorial Research Fellow, University of Queensland
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
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Erik Van Oosterom
Academic Director
University of Queensland
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Florentino Lopez
Consultant
Creando Mañana LLC
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Geoff Morris
Associate Professor, Crop Genetics and Genomics
Colorado State University
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Ignacio Ciampitti
Professor and Co-director of the Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems
Purdue University
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James Schnable
Professor, Department of Agronomy & Horticulture
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
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Mitch Tuinstra
Professor of Plant and Breeding Genetics and Scientific Director, Institute for Plant Sciences
Purdue University
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Nadia Shakoor
Principal Investigator | Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center | Agrela Ecosystems
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Norma Ritz Johnson
Executive Director
United Sorghum Checkoff Program
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Sarah Sexton-Bowser
Managing Director, Center for Sorghum Improvement
Kansas State University
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Tim Lust
CEO
United Sorghum Checkoff Program and National Sorghum Producers
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Valérie Brochet
Engineer
National Federation of Maize and Sorghum Seed Production (FNPSMS)
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Vincent Vadez
Managing Director at Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
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William Rooney
Professor of Sorghum Breeding and Genetics; Bayer-Borlaug Chair in Plant Breeding and International Crop Development
Texas A&M University
Learn MoreConference Programming
Programs & Competitions
Conference programming created opportunities for researchers, students and participants to share work, communicate ideas and engage with the global sorghum community.
Research
Call for Abstracts
Explore the research themes that shaped the conference's oral and poster presentations.
Explore AbstractsCompetition
3MT — Three Minute Thesis
Emerging researchers took the stage to communicate their work in just three minutes.
Explore 3MTInnovation
Idea Challenge
Participants explored innovative ideas addressing opportunities across sorghum research, production and industry.
Explore the Idea ChallengeCommunity
Art & Photo Contest
The contest invited contributors from around the world to explore and communicate sorghum through photography and art.
Explore the ContestLubbock, Texas
Conference Location
The 2026 Global Sorghum Conference was held at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Attendee Information
Hotel & Transportation
Travel and lodging information provided to attendees of the 2026 Global Sorghum Conference is preserved here as part of the conference record.
With Thanks
Conference Sponsors
Thank you to the organizations whose support helped bring the global sorghum community together in Lubbock.
Global Sorghum Conference
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Address
Monica Hightower, Gordon W. Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Dairy Barn, Room 112 Box 4212, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
806.834.2660 -
Email
Monica.Hightower@ttu.edu