Sustaining agricultural productivity amidst population growth, climate change, water scarcity, and declining soil health presents a daunting global challenge. California, currently in its fourth

Sustaining agricultural productivity amidst population growth, climate change, water scarcity, and declining soil health presents a daunting global challenge. California, currently in its fourth year of severe drought, serves as ground zero for these unprecedented pressures on farmers and supply chains. This plenary uses California as a case study to highlight key strategies and tough choices for feeding the world's seven billion people while preserving the planet.

Speakers include Brooke Barton (Senior Program Director, Water Program, Ceres), Dennis Dimick (Executive Editor, Environment, National Geographic Magazine), Janet Ranganathan (Vice President for Science and Research, World Resources Institute), and J. Miles Reiter (Chairman, Driscoll's Inc.).

Dennis Wilde, a Principal at GEDI, is a nationally respected green building expert. With over 20 years

Dennis Wilde, a Principal at GEDI, is a nationally respected green building expert. With over 20 years in urban planning and design, and active in real estate since 1980, he co-founded GEDI's Sustainable Solutions division. His responsibilities include feasibility studies, pre-construction and construction management, and overall project oversight.

Wilde champions innovative concepts like EcoDistricts, which are neighborhood-based systems. He advocates for reducing consumption, adopting closed-loop systems, and replacing narrow, siloed thinking with holistic, appropriately scaled, and decentralized approaches.

Dennis Wilde, a Principal at Gerding Edlen Development, is a nationally respected green building expert. He helped establish the Sustainable Solutions division of