Associate Director for Science and Planning, The Nature Conservancy
Kris Johnson, Ph.D. Associate Director for Science and Planning, The Nature Conservancy © The Nature Conservancy

Our People

Kris Johnson

Deputy Director of Agriculture, North America Region

Minneapolis, MN

Contact Details

  • Areas of Expertise

    agriculture, conservation biology, ecosystem services, freshwater, floodplains, biodiversity

Biography

Kris Johnson is the Deputy Director of Agriculture for The Nature Conservancy’s North America Region. A skilled collaborator and respected scientist, Kris leads the joint design, implementation and assessment of the region’s two conservation agriculture strategies: Soil Health and Nutrients, and Sustainable Grazing Lands.

A sought-after speaker for industry events, Kris often gives presentations and serves on panels where he speaks about the vital role of conservation agriculture in achieving a sustainable food system. He is also a member of the steering committee for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium and serves on the Science Advisory Council for Field to Market.

Prior to joining the North America Agriculture Program, Kris was a senior scientist for TNC’s North America Water Program. In that role, he led collaborative scientific projects around the country that highlighted opportunities for improved river and watershed management to support communities and to sustain healthy and productive ecosystems.

Before joining TNC in 2012, Kris was the Sustainability Scientist at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and completed an M.S. and Ph.D. in conservation biology at the University of Minnesota. Kris was a Fulbright Scholar, a MacArthur Scholar and remains a Senior Fellow in Sustainable Agricultural Systems at the University of Minnesota.

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