Washington, DC, USA
April 12, 2022
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), a nonprofit that builds public-private partnerships to fund audacious food and agriculture research, today announced that its Board of Directors selected Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin as FFAR’s executive director. Chapotin currently serves as the executive director of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), a position she has held since 2018. The USBG, the oldest continuously operating public garden in North America, educates visitors about plants’ importance as well as their broad uses and significance.
Chapotin is a plant scientist, who is passionate about sharing the importance of plants and agriculture. She has more than 15 years of experience in federal leadership, using science to inform policy and advancing agriculture research.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Chapotin join FFAR at the helm. Not only does Dr. Chapotin’s research background include expertise on numerous topics that overlap with FFAR’s Challenge Areas, but her leadership experience and collaborative style will be invaluable as FFAR continues to grow as an organization. Mark E. Keenum, Ph.D.
Chair, FFAR Board of Directors
President
Mississippi State University
Previously, Chapotin worked at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for over 11 years. She held multiple positions at USAID, serving as the deputy assistant administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Food Security before joining the USBG. Earlier in her career, Chapotin completed fellowships at Iowa State University and the National Academies working on issues of biosafety policy, scientific communication and national security. She further conducted research on forest ecology and canopy biology throughout the United States, Madagascar and Costa Rica.
“I am honored to join the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and excited to build on FFAR’s success in forging science collaborations that deliver solutions for farmers,” said Dr. Chapotin. “I look forward to leveraging science and innovation to make agriculture more resilient, nutritious and productive, and to achieve a more sustainable planet.”
Chapotin received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University and a doctorate in plant physiology from Harvard University.
Chapotin plans to begin her post as FFAR’s executive director in August 2022. In the meantime, FFAR’s Board of Directors appointed Chief Operating Officer Julie Reynes as the interim executive director.
Topics
Species
