Progress 03/01/05 to 02/28/08
Outputs
Todays American seed industry is global in stature. Seeds are increasingly produced in other countries based on personnel costs, counter-season production locations, geographic advantages, and ability to produce a diversity of seed crops ranging from recalcitrant to orthodox seeds. Because of these necessary and increasingly complex international approaches to be successfully competitive at the global level, the seed industry requires students with a broader and deeper knowledge of various methods for high quality seed production. To accomplish this, a new approach to global education has been established that forges a consortium of five leading international "land-grant" institutions with strengths in seed biology education. This consortium provides higher quality education in seed biology by drawing on the expertise of more faculty with a more diverse knowledge of approaches to successful seed production in differing countries. Advances in distance education technology permit the consortium to teach courses and offer workshops using internet videoconferencing technology at any location in the world. The principal objective of this proposal was the development of seed testing and production DVDs, the establishment of a consortium of international land grant universities with expertise in seed biology, and the development and long distance teaching of a common core of seed biology courses. Through these activities, students will gain a greater international perspectives of the global seed industry and the continuing development of educational seed production resources will build a more globally competitive American seed industry. PRODUCTS: The products of this project included the development of four seed testing (Importance of seed testing, Seed quality testing, Tetrazolium testing, Genetic purity testing) and three seed production DVDs (Maize seed production, Sunflower seed production, Coffee and Tropical forage grass seed production). OUTCOMES: This project allowed the establishment of an international consortium on seed biology that included five universities as partners (Ohio State University (U.S.), University of California Davis (U.S.), Lincoln University (U.S.), Escola Superior Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (Brazil), and Pontificia Universidad Catolica (Chile). A website for the consortium was developed (www.seedconsortium.org) to obtain further information. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Four courses have been taught at the participating institutions using internet videoconferencing (International Seed Production and International Seed Physiology). FUTURE INITIATIVES: To increase the number of undergraduate/graduate internships in order that students can have first hand knowledge of seed production activities in other countries. To expand the consortium to other nodes in different regions of the world.
Impacts
A consortium of international land grant universities was formed with five universities (three in the United States, one in Brazil and one in Chile). A website (www.seedconsortium.org) was developed for the consortium. Four international seed biology courses were developed and taught using internet videoconferencing.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 06/30/07
Outputs
There have been three major activities in this progress report: 1) Teaching an International Seed Production course via videoconferencing with students in Ohio, Brazil and Chile. Materials were first prepared by faculty from the three institutions consisting of text, and accompanying PowerPoint. These were then combined into podcasts and posted at the http://seedbiology.osu.edu website, click course, then HCS 630. Twenty-four presentations were made that provided a global perspective of seed production. 2) Continuing to finalize a DVD on seed testing. Remaining to be developed are modules on seed moisture testing, physical purity testing, and seed pathology testing. 3) Developement of DVDs on crop seed production. A DVD on coffee and tropical forage seed production is completed and translated into English, Spanish and Portuguese. Video and text have been completed and currently being assembled on DVD for sunflower (Chile) and maize (Ohio) seed production.
PRODUCTS: A DVD on seed testing is nearing completion. Current contents include: The Importance of Seed Testing, Seed Identification, Seed Sampling, Germination Testing, Tetrazolium Testing, Seed Vigor Testing, and Genetic Purity Testing. A DVD on "Coffee and Tropical Forage Grass Seed Production" is completed. Still being assembled are two DVDs on "Sunflower Seed Production" completed in Chile and "Maize Seed Production completed in Ohio". These products will be translated into Spanish, Portuguese and English.
OUTCOMES: Courses supporting an international Master's/Ph.D. degree in Seed Science and Technology are being assembled. Last Spring Quarter, the first course on International Seed Production was taught and materials developed and posted on the web. Next Spring Quarter, a course on Seed Physiology will be developed using a similar format. Students from the three institutions will be taking these courses and they will be interactively taught via videoconferencing. The seed testing DVD will enhance the global standardization of seed testing as well as serve as reference material for certification examinations of seed analysts. The seed production DVDs will be used by the seed industry to demonstrate principles of seed production in both developed and lesser-developed economies.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: There are at least three target audiences for the DVD modules and distance education classes. First, classes will be taught among the three countries to graduate and undergraduate students. Second, seed technologists worldwide can employ these products as established international standards for those wishing to pass certification examinations. Third, the global seed industry can access these teaching modules for continuing education of new and existing personnel thereby assuring contemporary relevancy in accomplishing seed production tasks.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: First, we must complete the seed testing DVD. Second, we will complete the sunflower and maize seed production DVDs. Third, we will teach a Seed Physiology course in Spring, 2008 to students in the three countries. Fourth, a seed conditioning DVD has been proposed by Brazil. Fifth, we are seeking additional nodes (countries) to participate in the consortium.
Impacts
The establishment of a consortium of international universities is a novel approach to global training in seed technology, particularly for U.S. students and the American seed industry. To continue seed technology training as we have in the past with a single institution ignores the rapid advances in distance education as new computer and interactive technologies decrease the size of the world. It also fails to take advantage of several institutions that differ culturally and environmentally. This proposal musters the world's leading academic programs in seed technology. The impacts are a global curriculum using standardized DVD modules developed by this project for seed production and testing. The ultimate impact of this project will be an upgrading and standardization of seed technology thus permitting greater international exchange of seeds.
Publications
- Publications will be developed in the form of DVDs demonstrating principles of seed production and testing. 2007.
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Progress 03/01/05 to 09/30/05
Outputs
There have been two major activities in this progress report: 1. Kulka, McDonald, Marcos and Contreras traveled to Brazil and Chile to determine their digital video capability and compatibility with OSU. The objective is to subcontract seed production videos locally rather than have OSU personnel make multiple visits at appropriate seed production stages, thus saving time and cost. The conclusion was that Brazil and Chile could accomplish these tasks. Discussion also centered on academic capability to teach seed science and technology at each location. An internet video conferencing system was installed in Brazil. Similar units were ordered and will be installed in Chile and Alabama A&M to be compatible with OSU and Brazil. 2. The seed testing DVD continues to be developed. Most images have been completed at Ohio Seed Improvement Association under another grant. However, molecular biology tests for genetically modified seeds had not been taken. An OSU crew visited
BioDiagnostics in River Falls, WI from August 1-4, 2005 and took images of PCR, ELISA, starch and IEF electrophoresis and seedling tests. The narrative has been drafted by McDonald and the video and narrative are currently being assembled.
PRODUCTS: The principal products of this proposal are international educational materials for U.S. students, seed technologists and the American seed industry. The most important of these educational materials are DVD modules illustrating the principles of seed production and technology.
OUTCOMES: 1. An international Master's/Ph.D. degree in seed science and technology will be developed. 2. New digital materials depicting principles of seed production and seed testing will be produced. 3. Courses and workshops will be shared using interactive internet video conferencing capability by the five collaborating institutions.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: There are at least three target audiences for the modules, workshops and distance education sessions. 1. Undergraduate and gradaute courses will be established based on this framework thus assuring better educated American students for a demanding global seed industry. 2. Seed technologists worldwide can employ these products as established international standards for those wishing to pass the ISST and SCST certification examinations, and 3. The American seed industry can access these modules for continuing education of new and existing personnel that can occur at the time and pace desired by the learner.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: 1. A meeting was scheduled for the five institutions to develop a curriculum in a Masters/Ph.D. program in International Seed Science and Technology from November 17-23 in Columbus, OH. Further definitions for DVD subcontracting of seed production will be identified and scheduled. Sunflower seed production has been subcontracted to Chile and is scheduled for completion June, 2006. 2. Travel to China was planned with four OSU personnel to take hybrid rice seed production videos from September 28 to October 7, 2005 with Jianhua Wang serving as host. The videos will be taken in Hefei, Kunming, and Ba Na under the auspices and direction of several seed companies. 3. Seed viability testing using tetrazolium chloride (TZ) has not been completed. Video for this is currently being scheduled for January 30-February 2, 2006 at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, CO. Annette Miller and Dave Ellis are the resource persons.
Impacts
The establishment of this five-member consortium is a novel approach to global training in seed technology for U.S. students and the American seed industry. To continue seed technology training as we have in the past with a single institution ignores the rapid advances in distance education as new computer and interactive technologies decrease the size of the world. It also fails to take advantage of the vast expertise of several institutions that differ culturally and environmentally. This proposal musters together five of the world's leading academic programs in seed technology. The impacts are a global curriculum using standardized DVD modules developed by this project for seed production and seed testing. The ultimate impact of this project will be an upgrading and standardization of seed technology to benefit the American seed industry thus permitting greater international exchange of seeds.
Publications
- Publications will be developed in the form of DVDs demonstrating principles of seed production and seed testing. 2005.
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