Global Programs: News & Events
Activity Report: September - October 2006
Office of Global Programs Activities
TRAVEL REPORT FOR ED KANEMASU
Dr. Ed Kanemasu, Director, attended the World Food Prize event in Des Moines, Iowa from October 18-21. There, he became aware of the many opportunities for UGA students to participate at the meetings and intern at various international agricultural centers.
AGROCLIMATOLOGY SYMPOSIUM IN HONOR OF E. T. KANEMASU
Dr. E.T. Kanemasu (left) with President Jimmy Carter in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan, assessing damage providing plans for re-construction. |
Division A-3 meetings of the American Society of Agronomy in Indianapolis on November 13-16, included topics ranging from soil-plant-water relations, remote sensing, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, sustainable agricultural systems, and international agriculture and education in an age of global competitiveness. A special symposium, "Agroclimatology Across Time and Space: A Symposium in Honor of E. T. Kanemasu," highlighted the role of research and education in developing food, livelihood, and environmental solutions at local to international scales. Dean Angle presented one of the invited papers.
Dr. Edward T. Kanemasu, Director, has had substantial impact through personal scientific contributions in these diverse areas, which are central to the discipline of agroclimatology. His impact has been magnified through relationships with a large array of students, collaborators, and organizations. Students of E. T. Kanemasu organized this symposium to mark the occasion of his "semi-retirement" from the University of Georgia.
TRAVEL REPORT FOR VICTORIA MCMAKEN
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Representatives from (l-r) Minnesota, Hohenheim, Udine, UGA, BOKU and FAMU in Vienna. |
From September 10-12, Vicki McMaken, Assistant Director, was in Vienna, Austria to attend the annual consortium meeting for a jointly funded US Department of Education and European Commission project. The six member consortium is made up of UGA, Florida A&M University, University of Minnesota, BOKU University in Vienna, Austria, Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany and Udine University in Udine, Italy. The project, "Comparing US and EU Biotechnology, Food Safety and Regulatory Policies," is in its third year and is aimed at promoting transatlantic understanding of GMO issues. The project funds transatlantic student and faculty exchanges between consortium members. Current efforts include the creation of a new case study for the Global Seminar course that is being taught simultaneously on all six campuses. Funds are still available for student and faculty exchanges through 2008.
From September 13-16, Vicki was in Prague, Czech Republic to attend the 8th Interuniversity Consortium for Agriculture and Related Sciences in Europe (ICA) meeting at the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague. The meetings were informative and provided a good opportunity for discussion with colleagues from both European and US institutes of higher education.
RESURRECCION RECEIVES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
On October 3, the D.W. Brooks Faculty Award of Excellence in International Agriculture went to Dr. Anna Resurreccion. Dr. Resurreccion is a professor in the department of Food Science and Technology. She is principal investigator in the USAID Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program for the past 20 years. This is significant because UGA is now fighting to keep the management of $2M per year program here. It is because of investigators like Anna who have contributed significantly to peanut production and marketing that it makes sense for USAID to remain in Georgia. Her research on value-added products with nutritional and health benefits for US and developing countries is key to helping alleviate poverty.
UGA TEAM MEETS WITH USDA-FAS OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON, DC
From October 2-4, Ed Kanemasu, Director and Vicki McMaken, Assistant Director, traveled to Washington, DC with Glenn Ames, Director International Public Service & Outreach, and Vahe Heboyan, Ph.D. student, Agricultural & Applied Economics. While there, the group met with USDA—Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) representatives regarding UGA's newly FAS-funded Monitoring & Evaluation Project in Armenia. The one year project will focus on monitoring select FAS activities in Armenia and training Armenian personnel in M&E. A group of 6-8 trainees will be on the UGA campus in January to participate in an initial two-week intensive Train-the-Trainer workshop.
KAGOSHIMA STUDY ABROAD GROUP VISITS UGA
From September 18-21, a study abroad group from Kagoshima University, located in southern Japan, was on the UGA campus. The group of ten students and two faculty members was led by Dr. Muneharo Sato, Professor of Agriculture. The group was hosted by the Office of Global Programs with considerable help from the UGA Japan Club, Georgia 4-H and others. The delegation visited Nakanishi Manufacturing Plant, a local Japanese owned company that manufactures ball bearings. They were also able to see innovative agricultural technology in use at the Green Acres Dairy Farm, owned by Henry Cabaniss in Maxeys, Georgia. The visitors met with the UGA Collegiate 4-H Club as well as members of the UGA Japan Club and past International Agriculture Certificate students. UGA's longest standing international relationship is with Kagoshima University, spanning over 25 years.
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Left: Kagoshima Study abroad group with UGA Japan Club members at the UGA arch. Middle: Kagoshima Study abroad group with Ed Kanemasu and Jim Cabaniss inside the rotating carousel milking machine at Green Acres Dairy Farm in Maxeys, Ga. Right: Kagoshima visitors with Mr. Kunio Kanaeda (far left) and Dr. Ed Kanemasu (in yellow) at the home of Ed and Karen Kanemasu. |
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY HED
The Higher Education for Development (HED) office is pleased to announce the Development Specialists Program. The primary goal of the program is to provide broad and diverse sources of technical and advisory assistance to USAID. The program provides U.S. higher education faculty and staff with opportunities for individual short-term (two to six week) assignments at USAID Missions.
The Development Specialists Program is funded under a Cooperative Agreement with the Education Office of the Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade of USAID and complements HED's on-going program of institutional partnerships.
HED invites faculty and staff members of U.S. institutions of higher education to apply to become candidates for Development Specialist awards. Because the Program is designed to meet the technical needs of USAID Missions, HED seeks expertise in fields that support USAID's priority development sectors. The program will also offer opportunities for country and regional experts, as well as experts in ICT, women in development, HIV/AIDS, and conflict management.
For more information contact Kay Ikranagara, Senior Associate Higher Education for Development, at specialist@hedprogram.org.
CAES GRADUATE OFFERED INTERNSHIP AT ATO
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Raj Shah in Croatia in the summer of 2006. |
Raj Shah, CAES graduate, will be working at the Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) through the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service at the US Embassy in Manila. There are 86 million people in the Philippines and only 15 million can afford pork which is their primary means of protein. Tempeh, a cake of fermented soybeans, is a good protein substitute for pork and the cost is 1/5 that of pork. Tempeh is not popular in the Philippines right now so Mr. Shah will work with an NGO to do outreach and development teaching rural areas how to grow soybeans and incorporate tempeh into their diet.
He will also produce a report in conjunction with business professors with the University of Manila on how South Asian countries incorporate tempeh into their diet. Mr. Shah will be in Manila from February 12-April 21, 2007 and will be staying at the U.S. Embassy compound.
TRAVEL REPORT FOR CARLA RONCOLI
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Naivasha CCAA meeting. |
Carla Roncoli, Assistant Research Scientist, traveled to Uganda from August 23 to October 4, for the project "Field study on the effects of social interaction on the understanding and use of climate information by African farmers (Uganda)." The study is funded by the National Science Foundation through the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions led by Columbia University. Dr. Roncoli is collaborating with the Extension Service, anthropologist Ben Orlove (UC-Davis), linguists from Makerere University, and the Department of Meteorology of Uganda to test an innovative and participatory approach to improve communication of climate forecast to rural producers. The approach capitalizes on the vast network of farmers' groups which exists in rural areas to disseminate climate information and foster collaborative learning.
Carla Roncoli was one of 25 international technical experts from Africa, Europe, and Canada invited by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) to review proposals for a new IDRC-DFID research program on Climate Change Adaptation in Africa. The panel met at Lake Naivasha, Kenya on Sept 18-20, 2006 to review proposals from African institutions and to provide technical feedback and recommendations for funding.
International Activities by CAES Department
CAES FACULTY PARTICIPATE IN CORESTA CONGRESS IN PARIS
Drs. Robert McPherson, Department of Entomology, J. Michael Moore, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Paul Bertrand, Department of Plant Pathology, attended the 50th anniversary meeting of the CORESTA Congress (Collaborative Research on Tobacco Association) in Paris, France on October 15-20. McPherson and Moore presented a poster titled "Impact of Early-season Thrips Exclusion and Suppression on the Incidence of Spotted Wilt in Flue-cured Tobacco," and Bertrand made an oral presentation, entitled, "Management Program for Spotted Wilt in Georgia Grown Flue-cured Tobacco." The International Congress was attended by 600 scientists from 39 countries, presenting current research findings on tobacco.
Left: Drs. Robert McPherson and J. Michael Moore standing by their poster. Right: Paul Bertrand (with tie on!) and wife Denne at the Gala Dinner held at the Chateau de Versailles (along with a court jester). |
Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication
DUNCAN AND PARR PRESENT TEACHER WORKSHOP IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
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Participants in the October workshop. |
Beginning on October 8, Agricultural Leadership Education and Communication faculty members Brian Parr and Dennis Duncan held a four-day workshop for secondary teachers of agriculture in the country of Georgia. The workshop was held in the capitol city of Tbilisi. This workshop was designed to help teachers implement curriculum materials and teaching methods specific to agricultural education into their newly formed agricultural curriculum. Fourteen teachers and school administrators attended the workshop. This effort is a piece of an ongoing project in cooperation with the USDA to implement and advance agricultural education in the country of Georgia. Future plans include a follow-up session for the workshop as well as leadership training for the Future Farmers of Georgia.
DR. ROHS PRESENTS RESEARCH PAPER IN DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
Dr. F. Richard Rohs, Professor and Extension Specialist, traveled to Darwin, Australia, September 2 -10, to present a paper on a cost benefit evaluation of a management development program at the Australasian (Australia and new Zealand) Evaluation Society.
RICHARD ROHS CO-HOSTS CHINESE OFFICIALS VISIT TO GEORGIA
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Dr. F. Richard Rohs hosting officials from China. |
On October 25-28, Dr. F. Richard Rohs, Professor and Extension Specialist co-hosted a delegation of 20 government officials and public servants from the Hebei Province in the People's Republic of China. They spent four days in Washington, DC visiting various government agencies, the National 4-H Center and the Chinese Embassy. At the National 4-H Center Dr. Rohs presented a lecture on the role of the Land Grant Universities in the United States and their linkage with the Cooperative Extension Service and public outreach. The visit was part of UGA's Sino-American Joint Training Program and was coordinated by the International Center for Democratic Governance.
Agriculture and Applied Economics
TRADE MISSION TO UGANDA IN OCTOBER 2006
Glenn Ames, Director International Public Service & Outreach, and Job Dieleman, international trade consultant, led a trade delegation to Kampala, Uganda in October 2006 where they introduced four U.S. organic cotton apparel companies to certified organic cotton apparel manufacturers in Kampala. As a result of this trade mission, two contracts were subsequently signed to supply certified organic cotton baby apparel to U.S. retailers. While in Uganda, the delegation visited Nkumba University's commercial and industrial design center in Entebbe where they presented a seminar on women entrepreneurship.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this project has implemented a program of training, technical assistance, and capacity building for Ugandan textile and apparel firms and entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge of the U.S. marketplace, build linkages to U.S. firms and ultimately initiate export sales to the U.S. For more information, please see the project website at: www.uga.edu/internationalpso/ugandatextiles.
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Left: Anant Parmar, Managing Director, Sigma Knitting Ltd in Jinja, displays sweaters, school uniforms, and polo shirts to the trade delegation during their visit to his factory. Right: Alex Fokkens demonstrates the high quality of Ugandan organic cotton to Valentine Ogwang from the Uganda Investment Authority. |
LUANNE LOHR TEACHES SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SEMINARS IN RUSSIA
Dr. Luanne Lohr, Associate Professor, taught five upper division undergraduate seminars on sustainable agriculture indicators, benefits of organic agriculture, organic production, certification standards, and organic consumers and marketing and conducted a workshop on grant writing for faculty and staff in the Department of Economics and Management at Belgorod State Agricultural Academy in Belgorod Russia. She also consulted on conversion to organic production, processing, and marketing for a state-owned apple farm in Saransk, Russia. The activities were part of a volunteer assignment with ACDI/VOCA from October 15 to October 28.
Animal and Dairy Science
BREEDING AND GENETICS SCIENTISTS VISIT FROM BELGIUM
In October, Dr. Nicolas Gengler, Gembloux University, Belgium, visited the breeding and genetics group at the Department of Animal and Dairy Science. Dr. Gengler's Ph.D. student, Helen Soyert, will be studyng the genetics of fatty acid composition in milk of dairy cattle in the lab of Ignacy Misztal, Professor, for six months.
IGNACY MISZTAL PRESENTS LECTURES IN TURKEY
In September, Ignacy Misztal, Professor was invited talk at the annual meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) in Antalya, Turkey. The talk was sponsored by the American Society of Animal Science. While in Turkey Dr. Misztal visited with faculty and gave a talk at the Kemal University.
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Left: Farmers close to Antalya, Turkey. Right: Dr. Ohsal, head of Animal Science Faculty, Kemal University, Turkey, and Dr. Ignacy Misztal. |
Entomology
ANITHA CHITTURI, PH.D. STUDENT CONDUCTS RESEARCH IN INDIA
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Anitha Chitturi collecting thrips samples, by beat cup method, in tomato field in the village of Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
Anitha Chitturi, Ph.D. student, under the direction of Major Professor Dr. David G. Riley, is researching the population dynamics of thrips vectors of tospovirus on vegetable crops in India.
Thrips, belonging to the insect order Thysanoptera, affect plants by direct feeding and indirectly by transmission of virus. Thrips-transmitted viruses can cause significant diseases of many crop plants and their impact worldwide is immense, estimated in 1994 at $1 billion in yield losses across a wide range of crops.
KEITH DOUCE VISITS HUNGARY, SLOVENIA AND FRANCE
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Mr. Petr Kapitola, Forestry and Game Management Institute, Czechia during presentation at IUFRO meeting in Gmunden, Austria. |
From September 5 to September 26, Dr. Keith Douce, Professor, Department of Entomology, and Co-coordinator of the Bugwood Network worked with forest health professionals in Hungary, Slovenia and France, and participated in a European-wide forest health meeting in Austria.
The purposes of the trip were to inform European forest health and forestry professionals about the Bugwood Network Forestry Images; to meet European forest health and forestry professionals with the aim of acquiring information and images about European forest organisms that are potential invaders and pests in North America; attend, participate in and present an invited symposium at the International Union of Forest Resource Organizations (IUFRO) Working Party (WP) 7.03.10, Methodology of Forest Insect and Disease Survey in Central Europe meeting; and to build cooperation and collaboration opportunities for UGA faculty and students.
Crop and Soil Science
MONIQUE LECLERC HOSTS VISITOR FROM KOREA
In September, Dr. M. Leclerc, Professor and Director of the Lab for Environmental Physics, Griffin Campus hosted the Associate Dean of Yonsei University in Korea for a four-day visit.