RICARDO SALVADOR is an agronomist, with specializations in the culture of maize, crop production techniques, sustainability and systems analysis. He has been an extensionist with Texas A&M University, associate professor of Agronomy at Iowa State University, program officer for Food, Health and Wellbeing with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and currently serves as the director and senior scientist of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Ricardo’s undergraduate degree in agricultural science is from New Mexico State University, and his M. S. and Ph. D. degrees in crop production and physiology are from Iowa State University. At UCS, Ricardo leads a team of 10 scientists, economists, policy analysts, communications and outreach specialists, with the goal of shifting the narrative around food so that decision-makers, media, and informed citizens recognize and act upon the knowledge that modern, sustainable practices can be highly productive while also protecting the environment, producing healthy food, and creating economic opportunity.

A-DAE ROMERO-BRIONES (Cochiti/Kiowa) works as director of programs—Native Agriculture and Food Systems for First Nations Development Institute and manages the Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative at First Nations. She is formerly the director of community development for Pulama Lana’i. She is also the co-founder and former executive director of a nonprofit organization in Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico. Ms. Romero-Briones worked for the University of Arkansas’ Indigenous Food and Agricultural Intuitive while earning her LL.M. degree in food and agricultural law. Her thesis was on the Food Safety Modernization Act as it applied to the federal Tribal relationship. She wrote extensively about food safety, the produce safety rule and tribes, and the protection of Tribal traditional foods. A U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Ms. Romero-Briones received her bachelor of arts in public policy from Princeton University, received a law doctorate from Arizona State University’s College of Law, and earned a LL.M. in food and agricultural law from the University of Arkansas. She currently sits on several boards, including the Lana’i Elementary and High School Foundation. She was also recognized as a White House Champion of Change in Agriculture. She currently sits on the National Organic Standards Board.