The 2026 Loewy Lecture in Technological Innovation and International Affairs Spotlights Dr. Edgar Cahoon’s Work in Harvesting Innovation

Nitya Gupta | September 18, 2026

On September 10th, the STIA program hosted its annual Loewy Lecture in Technological Innovation and International Affairs, welcoming Dr. Edgar B. Cahoon to deliver a lecture titled “Harvesting Innovation: Plant Biotechnology as an Economic Engine.” Supported by the Loewy Family Fund and hosted in the Mortara Center for International Affairs, Cahoon’s lecture was organized in conjunction with a two-day workshop on Bioeconomy for Sustainable Development in Central America, which explored how the region can harness its extraordinary biodiversity and agricultural resources to promote sustainable growth.

Dr. Cahoon is the George Holmes University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and director of the Center for Plant Science Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, he has more than 30 years of experience researching and applying plant science to the development of more sustainable crops and products.

Cahoon opened by describing how tools like precision gene editing and artificial intelligence are helping scientists breed crops that are more resilient to extreme weather, pests, and microbial pathogens. Beyond agricultural production, he broadened the scope to include how innovations in engineered plant oils and biomass are now contributing to sustainable aquaculture feed and powering renewable aviation fuel.

Drawing on his experience with international field trials and commercial biotechnology start-ups, Cahoon walked the audience through the path from laboratory discovery to commercial product, as well as the regulatory and institutional hurdles that often slow that journey. His central point was that this work doesn’t stop at scientific research. When discoveries make it to market, they open new industries, build productive capacity, and deliver economic and social returns that extend far beyond the lab.

For students and members of the Georgetown community, the lecture offered an opportunity to consider how scientific discoveries can shape issues far beyond the laboratory. A moderated Q&A session after Cahoon’s lecture allowed 30+ STIA students and community members to engage with his work and expertise. In his answers, Dr. Cahoon encouraged attendees to examine both the scientific possibilities of emerging technologies and the policies and institutions needed to translate innovation into societal value.

By connecting plant biotechnology with food security, climate resilience, economic development and international competitiveness, the 2026 Loewy Lecture was strongly aligned with STIA’s educational mission. “This is precisely the kind of interdisciplinary thinking we try to encourage in STIA,” Dr. Jorge Huete-Pérez, the STIA faculty lead for the event, said. “Understanding emerging technologies requires examining both their scientific possibilities and their broader economic, environmental, policy, and societal implications.”