As executive director of the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin leads the foundation in support of its vision – a world in which pioneering, collaborative science provides every person access to affordable, nutritious food grown on thriving farms. Chapotin is a plant scientist passionate about the role of agriculture and research in solving today’s challenges. She is committed to building partnerships in support of this vital science. Chapotin offers decades of experience bringing the best of global science on issues ranging from climate change to food security, nutrition and agricultural productivity to her leadership at FFAR.
Prior to joining FFAR in August 2022, Chapotin held roles across the government, including at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Botanic Garden – where she served as executive director – and the U.S. Agency for International Development – where she served as a deputy assistant administrator and worked to advance the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future.
Earlier in her career, Chapotin completed fellowships at Iowa State University, the National Academies and the American Association for the Advancement of Science working on issues of scientific communication, national security and agricultural biotechnology. She further conducted research on forest ecology and canopy biology throughout the U.S., Madagascar and Costa Rica.
Chapotin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stanford University and a doctorate in plant physiology from Harvard University.