The Spring 2021 Chancellor’s Distinguished Nebraska Lecture features Dr. Harkamal Walia, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture. Email questions for Walia to unlresearch@unl.edu.

Nineteen of the warmest years have occurred since 2000. The year 2020 tied with 2016 for the warmest year on record. Rising global temperatures combined with erratic precipitation are posing an unprecedented challenge for human health and nutrition through extreme heat and precipitation events.
One of the major challenges posed by high temperatures is declining crop productivity and quality. Crop yields are particularly sensitive to increasing nighttime temperatures. This lecture will present a perspective on how genetic improvements and technological advances can help address this challenge for agriculture and global food security.

The lecture will be presented in a virtual format with a live Q&A and can be accessed via the following: