HNK 2, Zagreb
1 — 3 June
1 — 3 June
Gladys H. Morales is a global leader in innovation in rural development and sustainable agriculture. As Global Head of Innovation at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), she leads initiatives that bring new technologies, digital solutions, and strategic partnerships to smallholder farmers and rural communities around the world.
At IFAD, she drives innovation programs that are transforming the way the world supports those who feed the planet. She leads projects that connect precision agriculture, digital advisory platforms, and financial innovation to ensure farmers gain access to knowledge, markets, and the tools of the future. Her work demonstrates that technology only creates value when it becomes accessible to those on the front lines of agriculture.
Morales brings extensive experience in digital transformation within the United Nations system and international development institutions across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. She was educated at Columbia Business School, Georgetown University, and the Sapienza University of Rome.
Her message is clear: the future of agriculture lies in smart, inclusive innovations that empower rural communities.
The United Nations has set a clear goal: to end global hunger by 2030 (Zero Hunger). However, as the planet warms, soils change, and the global food system enters one of the most unstable periods in modern history, it is clear that existing models are no longer sufficient.
Gladys H. Morales, Global Head of Innovation at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), comes from the very center of solutions that combine technology, artificial intelligence, and a new generation of agriculture-one that must feed the world under conditions of climate disruption. Many crops are increasingly unable to withstand drought, pollinators are disappearing, and the natural rhythms we have relied on for centuries no longer apply.
At the same time, innovations that until recently existed only in laboratories are now transforming how we grow, produce, and distribute food. In this lecture, we will explore precision agriculture, regenerative methods, AI-driven solutions, and new approaches to cultivation.
Because technology gives us the opportunity to make the food system more resilient, smarter, and more equitable than ever before.
