GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A University of Florida professor known for his work in using computer models to predict crop yields has been named to a newly formed global leadership panel for the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Program, also known as AgMIP.

AgMIP brings together agricultural scientists from around the world to research climate change impacts and adaptation options.

Senthold Asseng, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering, was named to the executive committee recently. He has contributed to AgMIP in many ways, according to a news release from AgMIP.

“AgMIP is one of the largest international agricultural research programs in the world with over 900 scientists,” Asseng said. “Being named to this executive committee is a huge recognition for me and of my scientific research and contribution to this program.”

In September 2016, Asseng led a study that showed scientists are closer to helping producers better meet global food demand. That finding is based on research in which they combined simulation and statistical methods to help them predict how temperature affects wheat crops worldwide.

In a study published in August, Asseng and his team of scientists found that with each degree of Celsius that the Earth warms, humans stand to lose more wheat, rice, maize and soybeans over the next 30 years.

With his committee assignment, Asseng said he hopes to further advance AgMIP.

In recognizing Asseng’s contributions to the group, AgMIP leaders said he has worked as a co-leader of the AgMIP wheat team, and he has helped lead the American-based and internationally organized research projects. His work also has helped set the standard for AgMIP crop model comparisons.

Additionally, Asseng is committed to expanding the AgMIP network for the improvement of research, AgMIP organizers said.

Also on the executive committee are:

• Cynthia Rosenzweig of the NASA-Goddard Institute of Space Studies and Columbia University.
• John Antle of Oregon State University.
• Jerry Hatfield of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Hermann Lotze-Campen, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impacts Research, Germany.
• Anthony Whitbread of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India.

“AgMIP scientists recognize that many of the climate change and global food security issues are beyond individual scientists and institutions to be solved,” Asseng said. “By creating collaborative research teams, AgMIP addresses research questions which require multi-disciplinary expertise including agricultural scientists, social scientists, modelers of crops, climate, agricultural economics, crop physiologists, field experimentalists, crop and animal breeders, nutritionists, biostatisticians and software engineers.”

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By: Brad Buck, 352-294-3303, bradbuck@ufl.edu

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.

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