| ASSOCIATION OF NEPALESE AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICAS (NAPA) |
NAPA 5th Biennial International Scientific Conference Program Agenda, May 18, 2026.pdf
(This will be updated as we add and finalize more programs.)
| Conference ScheduleNAPA 5th Biennial International Scientific Conference RAISE 2026 — Resilient Agriculture through Innovation, Science and Education Pre Conference — May 25, 2026 (Monday)
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Delegates Arrive & Hotel Check-In
Hotel
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Business Meeting
Conference Room
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Happy Hour
Hotel Common Room
7:00 PM
Dinner Break (on your own)
Day 1 — May 26, 2026 (Tuesday)
9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Hotel Check-In & Conference Registration
Registration Desk
12:00 – 3:30 PM
Tour to Corteva Agriscience
Industry Visit
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Happy Hour & Networking
Hotel
7:00 PM
Dinner Break (on your own)
Day 2 — May 27, 2026 (Wednesday)
Rooms: Coronation 1/2 • Ambassador 1 • Ambassador 2
6:00 – 8:00 AM
Breakfast at Hotel
6:30 – 8:00 AM
4:15 – 5:45 PM NPT
Virtual Student Session 1: Crop Production, Agronomy, Soil, and Crop Improvement
Moderator: Santosh Pathak / Sharad P. Marahatta
8:00 – 8:20 AM
5:45 – 6:05 PM NPT
Opening Remarks
Ramjee Ghimire — Conference Chair & NAPA President
Introduction to Scientific Program: Raju Pokharel, Scientific Committee Chair
Briefing on Conference Logistics: Ananta Acharya, NAPA General Secretary
8:20 – 8:40 AM
6:05 – 6:25 PM NPT
Invited Speaker — Marcus Bernard
Dean, College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources and Director of Land Grant Programs, Kentucky State University
“1890 Land-grant Universities — Legacy and Opportunities for International Agricultural Workforce Development and Innovation”
8:40 – 9:40 AM
6:25 – 7:25 PM NPT
Panel / Organized Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Panel 1: Sustainable Green Cities, Urban Food Security, and Nepal–China Market Connectivity
Moderator: Keshav Bhattarai
Panelists: Alok K. Bohara, Ambika P. Adhikari, Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Surya Raj Acharya, Khushi Ram Tiwari
Ambassador 1
Panel 2: Connecting the Continents — Interfacing Traditions, Science, and Education for Resilient Global Agriculture and Competent Workforce Development
Moderator: Buddhi Gyawali | Discussant: Shristi Adhikari
Panelists: Maheteme Gebremedhin, Suraj Upadhaya, Anuj Chiluwal, Dashanta Gray, Shaneice Brown
Ambassador 2
Virtual Student Session 2: Crop Protection, Digital Agriculture, Remote Sensing, and Climate-Smart Systems
Moderator: Santosh Pathak / Sharad P. Marahatta
9:40 – 10:10 AM
7:25 – 7:55 PM NPT
Panel / Virtual Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Panel 3: Navigating Careers in Private Industry — Insights from Talent Acquisition Experts
Moderator: Sita Thapa
Panelists: Reema Lamichhane, Katie Morrison
Ambassador 2
Virtual Student Session 3: Natural Resources, Water, Food Systems, Animal Sciences, and Socioeconomic Policy
Moderator: Santosh Pathak / Sharad P. Marahatta
10:10 – 10:40 AM
7:55 – 8:25 PM NPT
Panel 4: Finance, Real Estate & Small Business
Moderator: Saroj Parajuli
Panelists: Kul Mani Acharya, Yuba Raj Kandel
10:40 – 10:50 AM
Tea / Coffee Break
10:50 – 11:10 AM
8:35 – 8:55 PM NPT
Invited Speaker — Rosana Serikawi
Corteva Agriscience
“Navigating Career Development Across Different Cultures: Lessons, Challenges and Growth”
11:10 – 11:30 AM
8:55 – 9:15 PM NPT
Invited Speaker — Olga Bolden-Tiller
Dean, Tuskegee University
“Advancing Sustainable Food Systems through Innovation, Education and Collaborations”
11:30 – 11:35 AM
9:15 – 9:20 PM NPT
Remarks
Dr. Rajesh Pokharel — President, America Nepal Medical Association
11:35 – 11:55 AM
9:20 – 9:40 PM NPT
Invited Speaker — Claudia Nari
Chief Product Officer (CPO), INARI
“Personal and Career Development In the Industry World: The Bush vs the Ladder”
11:55 AM – 12:15 PM
9:40 – 10:00 PM NPT
Invited Speaker — Antomia Farrel
Associate Dean, Michigan State University
“How We Support Our Faculty, Staff, and Students”
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch (on your own)
1:15 – 2:00 PM
11:00 – 11:45 PM NPT
Concurrent Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Concurrent Session 1: Extension, Education & Community Capacity
Moderator: Dilip Panthee
Ambassador 1
Concurrent Session 2: Crop Protection, Pest Management & Plant Health
Moderator: Mahendra Bhandari
Ambassador 2
Concurrent Session 3: Digital Agriculture, AI & Data
Moderator: Anuj Chiluwal
2:00 – 2:45 PM
11:45 PM – 12:30 AM NPT
Student Concurrent Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Student Session 1: Animal Systems, Crop Protection, and Social Issues
Moderator: Murari Suvedi
Ambassador 1
Student Session 2: Agricultural Economics, Trade, and Development
Moderator: Romy Das Karna
Ambassador 2
Student Session 3: Crop Science, Genetics, and Agronomy
Moderator: Pratima Devkota
2:45 – 3:00 PM
Tea / Coffee Break
3:00 – 4:00 PM
12:45 – 1:45 AM NPT
Keynote Address — Prof. Ratan Lal
Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
“Soil Health and Ecosystem Services in Nepal”
4:00 – 5:30 PM
1:45 – 3:15 AM NPT
Student & Professional Posters
Poster Session
5:30 – 8:00 PM
Happy Hour & Networking
Hotel
7:00 PM
Dinner Break (on your own)
Day 3 — May 28, 2026 (Thursday)
Rooms: Coronation 1/2 • Ambassador 1 • Ambassador 2
6:00 – 7:00 AM
Morning Wellness Activity
Walk / Run
6:00 – 8:00 AM
Breakfast at Hotel
8:00 – 9:00 AM
5:45 – 6:45 PM NPT
Panel / Virtual Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Panel 5: Publishing with NAPA — Platforms, Categories, and Processes
Moderator: Uma Karki
Panelists: Uma Karki, Bharat Pokharel, Aditya Khanal, Srinivasa R. Mentreddy, Sanjok Poudel, Ramjee Ghimire
Ambassador 1
Panel 6: Why Haven't We Been Able to Save Dry Food and Reduce Pesticides Over the Years?
Moderator: Peetambar Dahal
Panelists: Dambar Khanal, Rasmila Manandhar, Sundar Tiwari, Prakriti Gautam, Bhanu Bhakta Pokhrel
Ambassador 2
Virtual Session 1: Crop Protection, Technology, and Innovation
Moderators: Jasmine Neupane, Kamana Poudel
9:00 – 10:00 AM
6:45 – 7:45 PM NPT
Panel / Virtual Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Panel 7: Agroforestry Systems for Resilient Agriculture and Thriving Rural Society
Moderator: Uma Karki
Panelists: Uma Karki, Srinivasa R. Mentreddy, Lila Karki, Sanjok Poudel
Ambassador 1
Panel 8: Learning for the Future — Reflections on Livestock Development Planning and Practice in Nepal
Moderator: Amar Shah
Panelists: Tirth Regmi, Umesh Dahal, Dalaram Pradhan, Ramjee Ghimire
Ambassador 2
Virtual Session 2: Natural Resources, Climate, Policy, and Socioeconomic Systems
Moderators: Bharat Shrestha, Kamana Poudel
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Tea / Coffee Break
Virtual Session 3 (Ambassador 2): Crop Science, Agronomy, and Production Systems — Moderators: Nitya Khanal, Kamana Poudel
10:15 – 11:15 AM
8:00 – 9:00 PM NPT
Panel Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Panel 9: AI in Real Life — What's Actually Changing, What's the Hype, and What Should You Care About?
Moderator: Ananta Acharya
Panelists: Cesar Koirala, Dipak Rimal, Prajwal Paudyal
Ambassador 1
Panel 10: Six Decades of Integrated Pest Management — Are We There Yet?
Moderator: Buddhi Achhami
Panelists: Yubak GC, Jhalendra Rijal, Subodh Adhikari, Clint Allen, Megha Parajuli
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
9:00 – 10:00 PM NPT
Student Concurrent Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Student Session 4: Agroforestry, Sustainability, and Climate Adaptation
Moderator: Uma Karki
Ambassador 1
Student Session 5: Agricultural Technology, AI, and Innovation
Moderator: Manoj Karkee
Ambassador 2
Student Session 6: Natural Resources, Forestry, and Environmental Systems
Moderator: Yadu Pokhrel
12:15 – 1:30 PM
Lunch (on your own)
1:30 – 2:15 PM
11:15 PM – 12:00 AM NPT
Concurrent Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Concurrent Session 4: Food Systems, Ag Economics & Rural Development
Moderator: Lila Karki
Ambassador 1
Concurrent Session 5: Animal Health, Livestock & Food Safety
Moderator: Devi Ram Kandel
Ambassador 2
Concurrent Session 6: Bioenergy & Decarbonization
Moderator: Sailesh Adhikari
2:15 – 3:15 PM
12:00 – 1:00 AM NPT
Concurrent Sessions
Coronation 1/2
Concurrent Session 7: Crop Innovation, Biotechnology & Sustainable Inputs
Moderator: Megha N. Parajulee
Ambassador 1
Concurrent Session 8: One Health, Water & Environmental Exposure
Moderator: Santosh Dhakal
Ambassador 2
Concurrent Session 9: Conservation, Biodiversity & Natural Resource Policy
Moderator: Manisha Parajuli
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Tea / Coffee Break
3:30 – 4:00 PM
1:15 – 1:45 AM NPT
Krishi Kavita & Sahitya / Krishika Susheliharu Issue 3 Bimochan
Moderator: Bhim Chaulagain
4:00 – 6:00 PM
1:45 – 3:45 AM NPT
Annual General Meeting
Chair: Peetambar Dahal
NAPA Accomplishments: Ramjee Ghimire, NAPA President
Moderator: Ananta Acharya, NAPA General Secretary
Election Results & Oath Ceremony: Chief Election Commissioner Khusi Ram Tiwari
6:00 PM onwards
Cultural Gala Banquet 🎉 (Dinner included)
Cultural Night: Sita Thapa, Ananta Acharya
Awards Ceremony: Ramjee Ghimire, Ananta Acharya
Closing: Pradeep Wagle, Ramjee Ghimire
Vote of Thanks: Pradeep Wagle
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