Fort Worth Convention Center
1201 Houston Street
Fort Worth, TX
November 18 - 19
2026 Agenda
The 2026 Sustainable Agriculture Summit will bring together an array of industry perspectives to provide a multi-faceted dialogue reflecting the on-the-ground realities and interconnectedness of agriculture sustainability. Learn from world-class experts and from fellow attendees as you explore new ideas and approaches to advance our shared action toward a more sustainable and resilient U.S. food system.
*Listed in Mountain Standard Time
Every decision to advance sustainability on the farm is shaped by the broader economic conditions producers are operating within, from commodity prices and input costs to land values and farm income. This opening keynote offers a clear, current view of where the U.S. ag economy stands and the pressures producers are navigating today. Attendees will leave with shared context not only of these economic realities, but also what they mean for supply chain partners and others working closely with producers.
Advancing sustainability on the farm means balancing a range of goals and realities – from the needs of the farm business to sustainability ambitions across the agricultural value chain. In this candid conversation, producers from across agriculture will share what it takes to navigate these priorities and turn sustainability goals into sustained action on the farm. What helps them take the first step, successfully implement new practices, and maintain them over time? Where do trade-offs emerge, and which are producers willing and able to make? Hear directly from farmers about how they would like the value chain to work with them to advance sustainability in ways that also ensure productive, profitable and resilient farm businesses.
Agricultural lenders hold the financial keys to a resilient and sustainable food system, turning risks into portfolio opportunities. While producers face steep upfront costs, cash-flow strain, and operational risks when adopting regenerative practices, capital providers face a critical dual mandate. They must protect their loan portfolios from climate volatility while capturing the massive financial upside of green finance. Explore how ag lenders are coming to the table as essential partners in regenerative agriculture and how the value chain can work with them to reduce financial barriers, manage risk, and unlock greater investment for farmers.
Women are producers, owners, managers, and decision-makers across American farms. As 2026 marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, what can we learn from their experiences about how well agriculture supports the people making farm decisions today? Hear directly from women farmers about their experiences accessing capital, technical services, programs, and markets, while also navigating farm succession and leadership opportunities. Explore where barriers remain, what is changing, and how agricultural systems can continue to evolve to better support successful farm businesses, strengthen resilience, and create opportunities for the next generation.
Water is one of agriculture's most critical resources, and building resilience requires action across the entire value chain. This session will explore the growing importance of sustainable water management in agriculture and the role that collaboration plays in addressing shared water challenges. Discover real-world examples of collective action and watershed-based approaches that are delivering measurable impact. Through practical examples and industry insights, attendees will learn how collective action can support water quality, strengthen supply chain resilience, improve resource efficiency, and help secure water resources for future generations.
Sustainability teams face growing pressure to demonstrate measurable sustainability outcomes, both to meet internal goals and external reporting requirements. In response, producers are receiving more requests for reporting and program participation. But what do those requests actually look like at the farm or ranch level? Are they helping support meaningful practice change or are they adding administrative burden without tangible impact? In this candid conversation, producers from across agriculture will share their experiences with sustainability reporting and programs, including what works, where challenges arise, and what could be improved to better meet reporting needs while supporting on-farm practices that deliver lasting sustainability outcomes.
Nearly 400 million acres of American farmland will transition over the next 15 years, and farmers will need support managing that succession, not only logistically and financially, but personally, as generational change brings real emotional weight. Technical service providers face their own upheaval, as agriculture's workforce enters a moment of real transition. This panel brings together voices from across the value chain to explore what it takes to build a resilient workforce, from farm succession to strengthening the technical expertise pipeline. Panelists will address both the structural and human sides of this transition, including mental health, sharing strategies for developing talent at every level.
Conservation is at a pivotal moment, and few have shaped its progress more directly than the leaders who have guided the Natural Resources Conservation Service over the past two decades. Closing out this year's summit, this panel brings together NRCS Chiefs to reflect on what has worked in voluntary, producer-led conservation, what the path forward looks like, and how the roles of government, producers, and the private sector should evolve to meet growing demands of productivity and resilience. Through candid conversation and decades of firsthand experience, this session offers a rare chance to learn from some of the country's most influential conservation leaders.