J.W. Fanning Lecture

During his 43-year career, Dr. J.W. Fanning made significant contributions to Georgia agriculture and to the University of Georgia. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he joined the Agricultural Extension Service in 1929 as an assistant county agent.  He served the university in many positions including head of the Department of Agricultural Economics from 1956-61 before becoming vice-president for services. He retired from this post in 1972.

Dr. Fanning was inducted into the University of Georgia’s Agricultural Alumni Hall of Fame. He was also named Man of the Year by Progressive Farmer magazine and was made an Honorary Georgia Planter by the state FFA. Dr. Fanning received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the College of Business Administration and a Special Alumni-Faculty Award from the Alumni Association. Governor Carl Sanders declared a J.W. Fanning Day in Georgia in his honor. Mercer University recognized his achievements by granting him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree.

Dr. Fanning passed away July 27, 1997 after a distinguished career serving the people of Georgia.

2023 J.W. Fanning Lecture

The 38th annual J.W. Fanning lecture took place on November 10th, 2023. Our speaker this year was Dr. William Masters, Professor of Food Economics and Policy in the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University.  His presentation was titled, "Access to a healthy diet:  evidence from food prices, diet costs and affordability worldwide". 

Past Speakers

2018 - Dr. Keith Coble, Giles Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics Department, Mississippi State University

            Topic: “U.S. Farm Policy – looking where we have been and some thoughts on the future.”

2017 – Dr. Colin Carter, Distinguished Professor in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Department, University of California, Davis

            Topic: "China and the Global Food Equation"

2016 – Dr. Jayson Lusk, Regents Professor and Willard Sparks Endowed Chair in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University

            Topic: "Consumer Trends and Impacts on the Future Food System."

2015 – Dr. Christopher Barret, David J. Nolan Director, Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University.

            Topic: "Development Resilience: Theory, Measurement, and Implications."

2014 – Mr. Jack L. Sinclair, Executive Vice President, Grocery Division, Walmart, U.S.

            Topic: "Walmart and the Future of Food"

2013 – Dr. Jeffrey R. Vincent, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University.

            Topic: "How and Why Should Tropical Countries Protect Their Forests?"

2012 – Dr. Parr Rosson, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University.

            Topic: "The Role of Immigrant Labor in U.S. Dairy Farms."

2011 – Dr. Elena Irwin, professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environment, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University.  (January 2012)

            Topic: "The Implications of the Housing Bust and Other Recent Trends for Urban, Suburban, and Exurban Growth."

2010 – Dr. Mark Partridge, Swank Chair of Rural-Urban Policy at Ohio State University, a Faculty Research Affiliate, City-Region Studies Centre, University of Alberta, and an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

            Topic:  "Fighting Poverty One Community at a Time."

2009 – Thomas Hertel, Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Global Trade Analysis, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University.

2008 – Per Pinstrup-Andersen, H. E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy, the J. Thomas Clark Professor of Entrepreneurship, and Professor of Applied Economics at Cornell University and Professor of Agricultural Economics at Copenhagen University.

            Topic: "The Global Food Crisis: High Food Prices and How They Affect U.S. Farmers and Consumers."

2007 – Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

            Topic:  The lecture addressed Mr. Stewart’s vision for the economic development of Georgia, specifically as it relates to agribusinesses and rural economic development.

2006 – The Honorable Carole Brookins, former United States Executive Director to the World Bank, USA.

            Topic: "Major Forces and Factors Shaping Global Markets and their Structure."

2005 – Dr. Christopher B. Barrett, International Professor and Co-Director of the African Food Security and Natural Resources Management Program

            Topic: "Food Aid, American Agriculture, the WTO and International Development."

2004-2005 – Joseph Glauber, Deputy Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

            Topic: "U.S. Agricultural Policy and the WTO."

2003 – Paul A. Drazek, Agricultural Trade Policy Specialist, providing counsel to U.S. agricultural groups and businesses regarding issues affecting their interests in foreign markets.

            Topic: "Trade Negotiations and Agriculture: What Can Georgia Farmers Expect?"

2002 – Eric J. Joiner, President, Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder of AJC International, one of the world’s largest global food distribution services.

            Topic: "The Future of International Agricultural Trade."

2001 – Dr. Tassos Haniotis, Member of the Cabinet of Dr. Franz Fishler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries.

            Topic: "Emerging Agricultural Trade Issues: Challenges for European Union and United States Policy."

2000 – Dr. Virgil Norton, Manager of the Upper Republican Natural Resources District in Southwest Nebraska.

            Topic: "Water Resource Management: A Critical Issue for Farmers and Rural Communities in the 21^st Century."