William R. Sutton

Lead Agricultural Economist

William (Bill) Sutton is Lead Agricultural Economist and Global Lead for Climate Smart Agriculture in the World Bank’s Agriculture & Food Global Practice. He has worked for over 25 years to promote sustainable development by integrating across sectors—including agriculture, environment, and climate change—and leading both investment and analytical projects in East Asia & the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa. Until recently he coordinated the World Bank’s climate-smart and sustainable agriculture program in China, including preparing the innovative Hubei Smart and Sustainable Agriculture Project. He also led efforts in five Southeast Asian countries to build resilience to the El Niño Southern Oscillation in agri-food systems. He is currently the Team Leader for the GEF-financed Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Global Platform. Dr. Sutton has authored dozens of journal articles, reports, and books, including Looking Beyond the Horizon: How Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Responses Will Reshape Agriculture in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He was awarded the World Bank Green Award in 2011 in recognition of his innovative work on climate change and agriculture. Dr. Sutton holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis.

AGENDA