Progress 05/01/06 to 04/30/11
Outputs
The goal of this project was to build a long-term partnership between NCSU-CALS, the Batovi Instituto Organico International of Uruguay (BIO-Uruguay), and the Universidad de la Empresa (UDE) that will aid the internationalization of NCSU agricultural research, extension, and education. The objectives of this project were: (1) to enhance NCSU faculty, student, and extension agent knowledge of international organic production technologies, marketing, and food safety issues; (2) to involve NCSU faculty and graduate students in an international, collaborative project on organic agriculture in Uruguay; (3) to internationalize the outlook of North Carolina extension programs; and (4) to integrate international perspectives, research, and case studies from Uruguay into food and agriculture courses at NCSU. The potential benefits of a relationship with Uruguayan institutions to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at North Carolina State University (NCSU) are numerous, as the regions share climatic similarities that lead to parallel research interests and opportunities for educational exchange. One shared interest is that of strengthening the agricultural sector through organic and sustainable agriculture technologies that present potential economic, environmental, and human health benefits. Project structure and activities: Our approach to promoting internationalization of food and agriculture programs at NCSU has been to form an interdisciplinary team composed of faculty, cooperative extension agents, and graduate students to participate in research, extension, and education activities in Uruguay focused on organic agriculture and cultural exchange. Project activities were divided into five phases: 1. Interdisciplinary team formation and training; 2. Partnership building; 3. Organic Agriculture and Culture in Latin America short course; 4. Application of lessons learned; 5. Dissemination of project results Objectives of this project were accomplished by: 1. Building the partnerships as a result of a preliminary visit by project PIs. 2. Systematic evaluation and selection of NCSU faculty and students 3. Together with Uruguayan collaborators designing and preparing logistics for the core activity, a 10-day short-course in Uruguay, for 23 NCSU faculty, graduate students and extension agents. 4. Hosting reciprocal visits from Uruguayan faculty, students and NGO personnel. PRODUCTS: 1. Three case studies on organic agriculture in Uruguay written 2. Workshop for 23 faculty, graduate students, and extension agents 3. Four newsletter and magazine articles written. 4. Four seminars presented 5. Twelve PowerPoint presentations (Spanish & English)made. 6. Joint DE course in Agroecology created 7. Project blog created. OUTCOMES: Outcomes of this project involving, faculty, graduate students and extension agents from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at North Carolina State University (NCSU) are: 1. Increased global competence of organic agriculture. 2. Improved service to the state's growing Latino population by extension personnel 3. Promotion of internationalization of research, extension and education by team members. 4. Improved understanding of the importance of and competency in Spanish language capability by team members DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The website established for this project was the main dissemination mechanism; however, newsletters, brochures, magazine articles and case studies were also used. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The memorandums of understanding that resulted from this project are in effect until 2014. Furthermore, the recent creation of a distance education course by the collaborators will ensure collaboration. In addition, Dr. Mueller has been appointed to the Board of Advisors of Universidad de la Empressa's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Impacts
Two memorandums of understanding (MOU)were developed, approved and executed by the collaborators that make official the institutional commitment between NCSU and Uruguayan partners: MOU between NCSU and Universidad de la Empresa. MOU between NCSU and BIO-Uruguay Sustainable Agriculture internship program at NCSU (CEFS) has been internationalized by the participation of students from Uruguay (5 students in two separate years, 2008 and 2010). Three international case studies developed by graduate students has provided a rich international learning experience. Exchanges involving students and faculty from the collaborating institutions have strengthened relationships and helped to internationalize NCSU faculty and students. Visits to North Carolina from the collaborating institutions which included seminars and farm visits have taken place in 2008 and 2010. The 2007 core short-course in Uruguay was offered to the participating Extension Agents (3 participants) as a 3-credit hour course (CS 620 - "Topics in international organic agriculture"). Joint development of a distance education course between NCSU, UDE, BIO-Uruguay and The Interamerican Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) was launched in April 2011 using the existing platform infrastructure available from IICA. This course will be made available throughout Latin America and will be an important sustainability factor because it will be a product originating from our ISE project that will continue after the termination of the project. http://www.iica.org.uy/
Publications
- Global Eyes Extension Online News: http://www.ncsu.edu/project/calscommblogs/archives/2008/02/extension_ agent.html 2008
- Global Eyes Extension Online News: http://oia.ncsu.edu/webfm_send/45 (2008, page 7)
- Perspectives Magazine: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/spring08/sustainability.html 2008
- Project Website http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/international.html 2007-2011
- Project Brochure: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/international/uruguay/brochureinter nationalcollaborationinorganicag.pdf 2006
- Presentations and Case Studies: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/international/uruguay/presentations uruguay.html 2010
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
Collaborators - NC State University, Universidad de la Empresa (UDE), BIO-Uruguay. The project's final extended phase. From March 13 until March 20, 2010, two project PIs, J. Paul Mueller and Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, traveled to Uruguay to meet with Uruguayan counterparts regarding the collaboration for a distance education course on agroecology. Montevideo (March 13-14, 17-20): We were hosted by Claudio Williman, Dean of UDE's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. We met with UDE faculty and visited the two experimental farms in Canelones the university has acquired to support student projects and research. We met, together with Dean Williman and Assistant Dean Santos, with the Director of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) to discuss the possibility of using IICA's infrastructure to support the offer of a DE course in agroecology jointly created by NCSU-UDE. We had a wide-ranging and productive discussion focused on the potential collaboration. We also visited INIA Estanzuela, a 2000 ha experiment station run by the National Institute for Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS equivalent). There we received a presentation on some very interesting long-term research focused on rotations including pasture and crops. We then visited the Polytechnic Institute located in the city of Colonia and talked with the Director about their educational programs. A full day was spent in consultations with UDE faculty and students. We made presentations to two different classes of UDE students. We also interviewed four UDE students for possible internships at NCSU; two were selected. The last day of our visit was spent working on plans with UDE faculty for future actions. This included an outline with timeline for the pilot on-line agroecology course and review of the application procedures required by NCSU Global Training Initiative for the two interns selected to participate at The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Tacuarembo (March 15-16): We were hosted by Dr. Alda Rodriquez, Director of BIO-Uruguay BIO Uruguay. We attended a field day held on a local farm and returned to BIO Uruguay to review projects underway at the Institute and learned about the work Dr. Rodriquez is doing with the National System of Uruguayan Protected Areas. We traveled north to Rivera which is on the border with Brazil. One the route we observed vast plantations of pine and eucalyptus. At Rivera we visited the campus of the Universidad de la Republica and met with the Director and some of the faculty. They were very interested in possible links with NCSU. Contacts Made: Universidad de la Empresa (UDE)- Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (FCA): Claudio Williman, Dean (ISE Collaborator) Veronica Bertucci, Cereal Crop Production Dr. Daniel Jaime Banchero, Animal Production Ing. Agr. Francisco Porcile, Natrual Resources Ing. Agr. Javier Duran Lic. Jorge Montes, Extension Lic. Alvaro Fros, Student Internships Ing. Agr. Gonzalo Freiria, Research BIO Uruguay Dr. Alda Rodriquez, Director (ISE Collaborator) Nacional System of Protected Areas (SNAP) Roberto Bettini, Facilitator PRODUCTS: We presented four lectures (in Spanish) to UDE faculty and staff and interviewed four candidates for CEFS internships and selected two to make offers. We were able to work out arrangements with UDE and IICA to offer a pilot, on-line course in Agroecolgy with a start date of September 2010. OUTCOMES: In 2010 we hosted two student interns from Universidad de la Empresa (UDE). They arrived in June 2010 and left in August 2010. Agreement reached between UDE, BIO-Uruguay and IICA to development distance education course. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: This final phase of the project has been focused on the development of a joint distance education course on agroecology utilizing the expertise of our NCSU PIs, our Uruguayan colleagues from UDE and BIO-Uruguay and the infrastructure of IICA with a pilot to begin in the first semester of 2011. FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will be hosting two Uruguayan colleagues in February 2010 to complete work on our distance education course. This product represents final phase of the project before termination in April 2010.
Impacts
Agreement has been reached on the joint development of a distance education course between NCSU, UDE, BIO-Uruguay and IICA. The course will be launched in 2011 using the existing platform infrastructure available from IICA. This course will be made available throughout Latin America and will be an important sustainability factor because it will be a product originating from our ISE project that will continue after the termination of the project.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
We are now in the final phase of the project. During the week of September 13 2009, Dean Claudio Williman, Universidad de la Empresa, and Dr. Alda Rodriquez, BIO-Uruguay visited the NCSU campus, Extension Offices and farms in two counties (Chatham and Franklin), Central Carolina Community College Sustainable Agriculture Program and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS).The visit started with a full day seminar with presentation from Uruguayan colleagues as well as three case studies that were developed by students during our workshop in Uruguay. As a result of discussion that took place in September 2009 seminar, we have decided to co-develop a distance education course with our Uruguayan partners. This will involve a no-cost extension of the project of 6-8 months. Williman, C. 2009 Produccion Agro Uruguay para NCSU: Spanish (.pdf), English (.pdf)
Products:
A project website has been developed. Three graduate students received course credit for case studies developed during the workshop. Three Uruguayan student interns participated in the CEFS internship program. Three popular press articles were written. Five PowerPoint presentations were developed and presented. Outcomes:
Students and faculty involved in this project have significantly enhanced internationalization of their attitudes and work units. In addition, long-term relationships are developing between project participants and Uruguayan colleagues. Dissemination activities have involved the production of a project website and including several brochures and articles. NCSU project participants have gained special insight into the similarities and differences of organic production practices and marketing strategies in Uruguay. Of particular interest and insight has been the Uruguayan focus on meat and milk products.
Dissemination Activities:
Dissemination activities have involved the production of a project brochures and several articles and news releases and the project website http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/Uruguaymain.htm and seminars presented by team leaders and Uruguayan collaborators. The case study assignment for the international organic agriculture course was developed for students to examine various sustainability indicators for the diversity of individual farms visited in Uruguay. Three graduate students enrolled in the course for 3 credits (graded) and one enrolled in the course for 1 credit.
Future Initiatives:
As a result of the recent visit of Uruguayan colleagues, we have decided to jointly develop a distance education course dealing such issues and concepts as agroecology, sustainable agriculture and organic production. This will require a 6-month no-cost extension of the project.
Impacts
1. Students, campus faculty and Extension field faculty have internationalized their attitudes, courses and extension activities. 2. NCSU and Uruguayan collaborators are exploring ideas and concepts for new collaborative projects 3. Sustainable Agriculture internship program at NCSU (CEFS) has been internationalized by the participation of students from Uruguay. 4. International case studies developed at a result of graduate student participation.
Publications
- Williman,C., 2009 Presentacion general FCA - USA: Spanish (.pdf), English (.pdf)
- Williman, C. 2009 Produccion Agro Uruguay para NCSU: Spanish (.pdf), English (.pdf)
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
The project is now in phase four. This summer we are hosting three student interns from Universidad de la Empresa (UDE). They arrived on 2 May 2008 and will leave 1 August 2008. On May 5 the entire Collaborators, Project Leaders, and team members (24 faculty, graduate students and Extension Agents) met for a one half day session with the Uruguayan interns and welcomed them to North Carolina. During this meeting a review of three case studies were presented based on the December Workshop held in Uruguay. The Uruguayan students from UDE shadowed NCSU faculty mentors and participated in the Center for Environmental Farming (CEFS) Systems 8-week summer internship program. The UDE students made presentations on their research experiences at the end of the internship program to students, faculty and staff involved in the internship program. In addition, UDE Professor, Veronica Betucci, was invited, to visit the NC State campus and to take part in a tour of organic farms during the second week of July. We are working on a proposal for post graduate internship for and NCSU student, that would involve a 4-month internship in Uruguay working with our Uruguayan partner institutions, UDE and BIO-Uruguay. We are also interested in arranging some time to be spent working with Uruguayan horticultural scientists from the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (INIA) at the Las Brujas experiment station near Montevideo. NCSU team memebrs continue to work on Spanish language skills using software and independent study resources available at their respective locations. PRODUCTS: Three case studies were developed as a result of the workshop held in Uruguay during December, 2007. These case studies have been reviewed and will be formally presented and posted to the project website during the first quarter of 2009. OUTCOMES: An evaluation of project activities is now underway and will identify outcomes during the next several months. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination activities have involved the production of a project brochure and several articles and news releases and the project website http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/Uruguaymain.htm , and seminars presented by team leaders and Uruguayan collaborators. Three extension agents enrolled in a graduate-level special topics course set up for them to receive 3 credits for their participation in the December workshop in Uruguay and one enrolled in the course for 1 credit. For the three that received 3 credits, they each developed two case studies based on the various organic farms we visited in Uruagy. The case studies were formatted in such a way to describe the farms and also examine various indicators of sustainability for their particular production systems. The case studies were also developed for instructive examples for NCSU courses and have already been used in the Sustainability of Tropical Agroecosystems study abroad course in Costa Rica co-instructed by one of the project PIs. FUTURE INITIATIVES: We hope to develop addition collaborations in the future. Discussions have begun in June 2008 with the Fulbright office in Montevideo and Dean Claudio Williman from UDE regarding the possibility of a visiting scientist from NCSU working with UDE and BIO-Uruguay on an organic agriculture project. We are planning for the final phase of the project during 2009-2010. Participants will meet in January or February of 2009 to finalize phases 4 and 5.
Impacts
Two memorandums of understanding (MOU) have been developed and approved by the collaborators: 1. MOU between NCSU and Universidad de la Empresa has been signed and implemented. 2. MOU between NCSU and BIO-Uruguay has been signed by BIO and implemented. 3. Exchanges involving students and faculty from the collaborating institutions have taken place or are in process.
Publications
- Global Eyes Extension Online News. 2008 http://www.ncsu.edu/project/calscommblogs/archives/2008/02/extension_ agent.html. 2008
- Perspectives. 2008 http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/magazine/spring08/sustainability.html .2008
- Global Eyes. 2008 http://www.ncsu.edu/oia/documents/Spring2008nwsltr.pdf (pg. 7)
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Progress 07/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
The first three phases of the project have been completed. Project collaborators, Dr. Alda Rodriguez of BIO-Uruguay and Dean Claudio Williman of Universidad de la Empresa (UDE), visited North Carolina State University (NCSU) in September 2007 to help plan the Workshop held in Uruguay in December 2007 and to become acquainted with NCSU campus and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) facilities. Collaborators, Project Leaders, and team members (24 faculty, graduate students and Extension Agents) met for a one half day session to provide orientation information to the team and to plan for the proposed December workshop to be held in Uruguay. The project returned from Uruguay on 17 December 2007 after participating in the central feature of the project; a short course on organic agricultural production and marketing in Uruguay. During the course the team visited four organic farms and three experiment stations. Case study analyses were performed for the four
farms and preliminary presentations were made for each case study. When the case study analyses are completed they will be posted on the project website. In addition the team visited two organic markets where they interviewed mangers and farmers. Spanish language and Uruguayan culture were topics included in the course. The first 4 days of the course were conducted at the College of Agricultural Sciences, Universidad de la Empresa and on farms, farmers markets in the state of Montevideo and in the state of Canelones. The next 3 days of the course were centered at Batovi Instituto Organico (BIO-Uruguay) in the state of Tacuarembo. Team members reviewed the organic research and demonstration farm at BIO-Uruguay and also an organic vegetable farm and an organic honey operation near the city of Tacuarembo. The team also visited the INIA research station in the state of Paysandu where an organic beef production project is underway. The final two days were spent in wrap-up in Montevideo.
All agreed that workshop was a great success and beneficial to all involved.
PRODUCTS: A project brochure has been produced in English and Spanish and distributed among interested faculty and mounted on the project website. A project website has been created (http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/Uruguaymain.htm) that provides all information pertinent to the project and also functioned as a recruiting document for Extension personnel. Eight PowerPoint presentatinos, in Spanish and English, have been developed and are present on the website
OUTCOMES: An evaluation of project activities is now underway and will identify outcomes during the next several months.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Dissemination activities have involved the production of a project brochure and website and individual recruiting efforts of the project team leaders. Also, project leaders were interviewed by two radio stations and a TV news program during the March 2007 visit to Uruguay. When Uruguayan project collaborators visited North Carolina in September 2007, two of the NCSU project Leaders and one of the Uruguayans were interviewed by a local radio talk show regarding our project.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: As a result of the 10-day workshop held in Uruguay during December 2007 the following plans have been developed: 1. Four students from UDE were interviewed by NCSU PIs as candidates for summer internship program at NCSU's Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). Two students will be selected to arrive in June 2008. 2. Two NCSU graduate students have applied for internships with collaborators in Uruguay for 2008. 3. Discussion is underway between UDE and NCSU regarding a joint distance education course involving Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture.
Impacts
Two memorandums of understanding (MOU) have been developed and approved by the collaborators: 1. MOU between NCSU and Universidad de la Empresa - Signed by UDE and submitted to NCSU for signature. 2. MOU between NCSU and BIO-Uruguay - Signed by BIO and in route to North Carolina for review and signature by NCSU.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 06/30/07
Outputs
Project directors have undertaken activities relevant to phases 1, 2 and 3; team formation and training and partnership building, respectively. No significant barriers to progress have been encountered. Phase 1: Team formation and training Activity: Team recruitment has been completed and consists of 6 project directors (PDs), each leading a working group of 2-4 additional members. A total of 18 students, extension agents, and additional faculty members were recruited to the project team. Each prospective team member has completed an application form, demonstrated their commitment to participate in all project activities and improve Spanish language skills, and identifed personal and professional goals for their involvement in the project. All participants were given a Spanish language pre-test on 27 June 2007. The project team has created and distributed a brochure in English and Spanish and developed web pages to provide information for prospective team members.
Activity: Website development - an interim website hosted by NCSU and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems has been created and is available on-line at: www.cefs.ncsu.edu/uruguaymain. Activity: Spanish language training - The project team has identified 5 strategies for independent language training by team members. Included in these strategies is the use of language training computer software. Three software programs have been reviewed by project leaders. Other independent study opportunities include NCSU courses, courses at local community colleges, web-based courses, and audio programs. Group language training will be incorporated into team orientation activities. Activity: March 2007 Site Visit - Six project directors and a research associate visited Uruguay March 1-12, 2007 to carry out activities relevant to project phases 2 and 3, Partnership Building and the Organic Agriculture and Culture short course, respectively. The objectives of the trip were: 1. To develop a
curriculum proposal for the Organic Agriculture in Latin America short course with BIO-Uruguay and UDE; 2. To assess the educational, cultural, and physical resources available at BIO-Uruguay and in the city of Montevideo for the short course; 3. To network with UDE faculty members, local NGO leaders, and Uruguayan researchers to discuss potential future collaborations for scientific investigation and student exchange programs; and 4. To enhance knowledge of Uruguayan agriculture and the state of organic agriculture in the country. The team also held collaborative working sessions with Uruguayan collaborators to develop a proposed curriculum for a short course on Organic Agriculture in Latin America. Course participants will include extension agents, students, and faculty members from NCSU as well as Uruguayan producers, researchers, and students.
PRODUCTS: 1. A project brochure in English and Spanish. 2. A project website has been created (www.cefs.ncsu.edu/uruguaymain.) 3. Six PowerPoint presentations have been developed and are being posted to the website.
OUTCOMES: None to date.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: 1.Production and distribution of a project brochure and website. 2.Several PowerPoint presentations have been developed and posted to the web.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: None to date.
Impacts
None to date.
Publications
- Opportunities for Research, Extension and Education in Uruguay (available in English and Spanish). Sept. 2006. 100 copies.
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Progress 05/01/06 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Project activities are progressing as described in the project proposal. Project directors have undertaken activities relevant to phases 1 and 2, team formation and training and partnership building, respectively. Activities completed or underway relevant to each phase are described below. No significant barriers to progress have been encountered. Phase 1: Team formation and training Activity: Team recruitment As put forth in the project proposal, the project team will consist of 6 project directors (PDs), each of whom will lead a working group of 3 additional members. A total of 18 students (graduate and undergraduate), extension agents, and additional faculty members are to be recruited to the project team. Each prospective team member must complete an application form, demonstrate their commitment to participate in all project activities and improve Spanish language skills, and identify personal and professional goals for their involvement in the project. The
application form has been developed and will be distributed to prospective team members beginning in January 2007. Several efforts have been made to announce the project to the University community. Namely, the program was featured in the newsletter of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. The project team has also created and distributed a brochure in English and Spanish and developed web pages to provide information for prospective team members. Activity: Website development An interim website hosted by NCSU and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems has been created and is available on-line at: www.cefs.ncsu.edu/uruguaymain. These pages will be used to communicate information to team members. An independent site for project products and additional information on opportunities in Uruguay will be created within the next year. Activity: Spanish language training The project team has identified 5 strategies for independent language training by team members. Included in
these strategies is the use of language training computer software. Three software programs are currently being reviewed by project leaders. Other independent study opportunities include NCSU courses, courses at local community colleges, web-based courses, and audio programs. Group language training will be incorporated into team orientation activities. Project leaders are currently investigating opportunities for group language training activities. Phase 2: Partnership building Activities: Uruguayan partner visit to NCSU Project cooperator Dr. Alda Rodriguez of BIO-Uruguay attended a meeting of the project directors during an unrelated visit to North Carolina. This meeting provided the opportunity to develop a project timeline, introduce all project directors to Dr. Rodriguez, and identify steps needed to prepare for project directors to visit Uruguay in March 2007. Fall 2007 was also identified as the target period for Dr. Rodriguez and a representative of the Universidad de la
Empresa (UDE) to visit the NCSU campus.
PRODUCTS: A project brochure has been produced in English and Spanish and distributed among interested faculty. A project website has been created (www.cefs.ncsu.edu/uruguaymain.) that provides all information pertinent to the project and acts as a recruiting document for Extension personnel.
OUTCOMES: None to date.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Thus far our project dissemination activities have involved the production of a project brochure and website and individual recruiting efforts of the project team leaders.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: None to date.
Impacts
None to date
Publications
- Opportunities for Research, Extension and Education in Uruguay (available in English and Spanish). Sept. 2006. 100 copies.
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