Day 1: Monday, April 20, EarthxPartners

min read

Presented by the Texas Department of Agriculture

Monday, April 20 | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Howdy Neighbor!

Texas has always fed the world, and today our farmers and ranchers are facing new pressures on the land and resources they depend on. As industries like data centers continue to grow, the demand for water, energy, and land is increasing. That makes it more important than ever to ensure agriculture remains strong, productive, and protected for the long haul.

That is why the Texas Department of Agriculture is hosting the Futures of Agriculture Forum at Earthx2026, moderated by Bob and Kelli Phillips. We are bringing together leaders in water, soil health, agricultural production, and policy to focus on practical solutions. From improving water use and strengthening soil health to advancing scalable farming practices, this forum is centered on what will keep agriculture thriving.

Texas agriculture is built on hard work, stewardship, and common sense. If we stay focused on supporting our producers and managing our resources wisely, we can meet the challenges ahead and keep Texas agriculture strong for generations to come. I invite you to join us for this important conversation.

Sincerely,

Sid Miller

Texas Agriculture Commissioner

AGENDA

9:00-9:20 AM Opening Remarks, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
9:20-9:40 AM A National Perspective on Agriculture Policy, Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
9:40-10:40 AM Land and Property Rights Session
9:40-9:55 AM Private Property, Public Impact, Margaret Byfield, American Stewards of Liberty
9:55-10:10 AM The 765 kV Land Grab & Impacts to Agriculture, Meredith McCall and Kevin Kennedy
10:10-10:40 AM Panel and Q&A with Margaret Byfield, Meredith McCall, and Kevin Kennedy; moderated by Bob and Kelli Phillips
10:40-10:50 AM Break
10:50-11:30 AM Converging Crises, Converging Opportunities: Food & Water Security in the AI Era, Bertrand Deleuse and Dennis Levine, Water Garden Farms
11:30 AM-12:00 PM What If the Water We Need Is Already Being Produced?, Mike Dyson, Infinity Water Solutions
12:00-12:45 PM Lunch
12:45-1:30 PM Networking
1:30-2:00 PM America First Led by Texas Agriculture Applications, Mel Stevenson and team, MLS BioChelants
2:00-2:30 PM Advancing Soil Health and Biological Solutions at Scale, Jonah Parker, MyLand
2:30-3:15 PM Designing Urban Industrial Interfaces, Jack Karlin, Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance
3:15-3:30 PM Closing Remarks, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
3:30-5:00 PM Networking / Adjourn