Dr. David Nielson is a distinguished development economist specializing in agriculture and rural development. With nearly 30 years at the World Bank as Lead Agriculture Economist, he has significantly contributed to agricultural research and productivity programs globally, particularly in Africa. Dr. Nielson spearheaded the establishment of multi-donor trust funds and regional agricultural research programs, yielding over $1 billion in investments. He played a pivotal role in developing influential agricultural extension programs in Venezuela and Uganda and founded key advisory institutions like AFAAS and GFRAS. His recent efforts focus on strengthening tertiary agricultural education and improving soil health in Africa.

Dr. Nielson holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago and an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Minnesota. He is a senior advisor to the North American Agricultural Advisory Network (NAAAN)