About Us

 JOSEPH OPOKU GAKPO 

Joseph Opoku Gakpo, Ph.D., is an accomplished strategist, communications expert, and agricultural systems thinker with over a decade of experience designing and implementing advocacy, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement initiatives across Africa, the U.S., and the Global South.

With a multidisciplinary background spanning agriculture, communication studies, global leadership, empirical research, and systems thinking, Joseph brings a unique blend of technical knowledge, facilitation skill, and strategic clarity to mission-driven networks working at the intersection of equity, ecological health, and community resilience. 

Having consulted for more than 20 development organizations in Africa and the U.S., Joseph has developed deep expertise in participatory research, stakeholder mapping, organizational strategy, and equity-centered facilitation. He has previously done work for the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Plan International, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), and Seattle-based Grow Further, among others. 

Joseph excels at synthesizing complex qualitative and quantitative information into actionable insights, translating research, field data, and community perspectives into strategies that resonate with diverse audiences. He is the author of eight peer-reviewed journal articles, reflecting his strong research acumen and ability to contribute to scholarly discourse. His work demonstrates a command of both theory and practice, with a focus on qualitative methodologies. His facilitation skills allow him to navigate participatory processes that bring together funders, civil society leaders, academics, and institutional partners in meaningful dialogue. 

Joseph has contributed to multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at driving large-scale transformation, especially in contexts where shifting power structures and promoting grassroots-led change are essential. With a solid grounding in regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems, Joseph understands the nuances of production, policy reform, market structures, and investment flows across Africa and beyond. Guided by a strong justice-centered lens, he prioritizes equity and inclusiveness in all aspects of his work, ensuring that strategic interventions are both impactful and rooted in the needs of marginalized communities. He is also adept at shaping narratives and communicating ideas with clarity and persuasion, particularly in ways that influence decision-makers and attract funding.

With proven experience in cultivating relationships with philanthropic organizations and development partners, Joseph has helped shape fundable, field-responsive initiatives that drive lasting change. Joseph holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education and Human Sciences from the North Carolina State University, and certificates in Global Leadership and Strategic Communications from Cornell University. 

JOAN CONROW

Joan Conrow has decades of experience as a journalist, editor, science communicator, strategic planner, and project manager. She specializes in new approaches to food and agriculture, environmental conservation, climate change, and animal welfare.

Joan develops strategic plans, training courses, multimedia materials, and other content for businesses and NGOs. She also conducts media analysis and offers editing services.

Reporting assignments have taken her to India, Africa, South Korea, the South Pacific, and the U.S. She previously managed a team of international correspondents.

Her current and former clients include Informational Food Information Council, the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Okanagan Specialty Fruits, African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Pairwise, RTI International, U.S. Department of State, Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University’s Alliance for Science, CropLife International, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture, and Aloha Green Apothecaries, among others.

Joan co-authored two scientific papers on trends in social media related to agricultural biotechnology. She also developed an evidence-based messaging kit for gene-edited crops and foods.

She has written for Audubon, the National Wildlife Federation, Sierra, Hawaii magazine, Dirt to Dinner, and numerous other publications. Joan has also contributed to travel guides, literary journals, and academic publications. She previously was a correspondent for Reuters and a staff writer for the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Joan has a bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from Metropolitan State University in Denver. She is trained in beekeeping, meeting facilitation, and conflict resolution.

MODESTA ABUGU

Modesta Abugu, Ph.D., is a passionate agricultural scientist, strategic planner, and science communicator dedicated to advancing sustainable and regenerative food systems. With over seven years of experience across Africa and the U.S., she blends scientific rigor, policy engagement, and grassroots outreach to promote agricultural innovation grounded in agroecology, climate resilience, and farmer empowerment.

Her work focuses on strengthening the capacity of smallholder farmers, researchers, and policymakers to adopt practices and technologies that support equitable food systems. Modesta has led high-impact training programs and multi-stakeholder dialogues in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and the U.S., and has collaborated with organizations such as the Cornell Alliance for Science, Boyce Thompson Institute, African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Women in Genomics, and the American Society of Plant Biologists.

She is also skilled in quantitative research and advanced data analysis—tools she uses to uncover insights that inform more just, evidence-based agricultural policies and innovations. Her research focuses on crop quality improvement, where she uses metabolomic, genetic, and consumer science data to align breeding strategies with sustainability goals and nutrition outcomes.

As a National Science Foundation-funded Interdisciplinary Research Fellow, Modesta led community-based research on the societal impacts of agri-innovation, partnering with farmers in Eastern North Carolina to explore how policies affect real-world decision-making. At the Cornell Alliance for Science, she designed global training programs and led over 120 outreach events focused on building inclusive, science-informed pathways to food security.

Modesta holds a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University, an M.Sc. in Horticulture from the University of Florida, and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is driven by a deep belief in agroecological transformation. She can be reached at nnedi02@gmail.com.