Progress 05/01/06 to 04/30/10
Outputs
OBJECTIVE 1. AGRICULTURAL CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT--We awarded six faculty members the international agricultural science (IAS) course infusion grant. We redesigned three courses--Sustainable Agriculture, Agroecology, Sustainable Communities, Global Food, Urban Ecology and Water Resources--to infuse international agricultural topics. More than 600 students had been enrolled in these classes. Two other classes, Applications of GIS (20 students) as well as Introduction to Environmental Science (105 students), integrated aspects of this grant into the lecture material. Project Directors, Onsted, Bhat, Jayachandran, and Melesse, and other faculty members supported through this grant travelled to Japan, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Europe during the course of this grant for sabbatical research, conferences, and field research. Throughout the project period, students who were funded to travel abroad made presentations on their research in the above and further increased the IAS component of the courses. We also acquired books and videos for the Agroecology Lab, which were routinely used to increase the IAS content of the Environmental and Sustainable Agriculture courses. One trip to Kenya also yielded difficult to acquire maps and aerial photographs of the Mara River Basin for the lab. This data is crucial for delineating a more accurate baseline for land use change in the Basin and, consequently, a better understanding of past and future land use change in the region. OBJECTIVE 2. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS: In total, about 15 students were selected for the IAS travel internships during the reporting period. With the help from the faculty advisors, the above students developed their travel and field research plans. Some of the countries visited by students include Indonesia, India, Armenia, Kenya, Tanzania, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, and the Bahamas. The agricultural topics they studied include water and soil management, integrated pest management, small rural livelihood studies, agroforestry, and energy in agriculture. Four students completed their masters theses or projects based on their field work abroad. OBJECTIVE 3. DISSEMINATION OF IAS EXPERIENCE TO US STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FARMERS: The faculty members who traveled abroad on this grant have heavily incorporated their experience into their courses. All the students who had traveled abroad under this grant and another USDA grant made presentations at the annual Agroecology Symposia held in 2006, 2008, and 2009 at our University. More than 800 students, faculty, area high school teachers and students and industry representatives have attended these symposia and class presentations. We regularly update our website featuring students and faculty works funded through this grant (agroecology.fiu.edu). Recruitment and publicity activities were carried out throughout the project using University-wide emails, classroom presentations, seminars, flyers, and program materials. We also conducted several internal and two external evaluations of the project. PRODUCTS: Six courses in agriculture, natural resources, sustainable communities, and policy have been enriched to include emerging agricultural issues in developing countries. Six faculty members were supported in travel abroad during the reporting period, and gained an increased understanding of international agricultural issues. Fifteen students conducted theses and short internship studies abroad. More than 25 presentations and seminars involving international agricultural experiences have been delivered at FIU by students and faculty members under the grant supported activities, which benefited more than 800 students, faculty, high school students and teachers and farmers. Four graduate students have completed their masters theses or independent study projects, focusing on issues related to international agriculture. We also organized numerous guest lectures and three annual agroecology symposia on the university campus. More than 15 new books and videos on world agriculture and the environment were procured for the Agroecology Lab for student and faculty use. OUTCOMES: The program has helped strengthen the new Agroecology Program that we started at FIU in 2005 with the support of another USDA grants. Since the Agroecology program is housed at FIU, the largest Hispanic Serving Institution in the US, with a total population of 40,000 students, our program holds the ability to attract a significant number of Hispanic and other minority students into the agricultural sciences in the future. The USDA International Science Education grants program added an international element to the current Agroecology Program. Students and faculty members also are gaining increased understanding of global agricultural issues that are critical to US agricultural competitiveness. This international component is making the agroecology program unique among different study-abroad programs on campus. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: In all, more than 30 publications, including two refereed articles, 5 technical reports, four masters theses, and twenty conference/workshop presentations have been prepared. Four faculty members have made research presentations at international conferences. Three annual symposia and two summer teachers workshops are conducted during the project period during which students and faculty members have reached out more than 800 students, faculty, high school students, and industry representatives. The Agroecology Program website (agroecology.fiu.edu) featured students activities throughout the project period. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Six existing courses in Environmental Studies, Biological Sciences, International Relations and Sociology have been revised to include international agricultural science and issues. These are required and elective courses in various programs at Florida International University and will continue to be offered. The faculty members have made collaborative arrangements with universities and research institutions in India, Japan, El Salvador and Kenya during this grant project. These collaborative arrangements have laid foundation for future research and exchange visits. Project Director Onsted will continue to analyze geographic information data from Kenya to study the effects of land-use changes on agricultural production and incorporate the same into his classes. Co-Project Director Bhat has developed a course on international food nutrition, health and economic development which has become one of the required global learning foundation courses for all students in the university.
Impacts
Through this program, our students are much more cognizant of agricultural issues and problems of our program countries. Students enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture class had expressed interest in trying sustainable production practices and crops from other countries at their own garden projects. Farmers attending our Symposia have a better understanding of how agriculture in other countries might enlighten their own cultivation practices in the US. One farmer remarked, 'you have built a great program in such a short time. You and your students really taught me some new ideas from developing countries that I can adopt on my organic farm.' Students in the program have gained: a) a greater appreciation for Americas relative agricultural abundance, compared to many developing nations; b) the understanding of the reasons for many developing nations agricultural problems; as well as c) the understanding that America, too, can lose its cornucopia if it does not practice agriculture more sustainably. Three students who have completed undergraduate degrees have since matriculated at prestigious universities, such as Yale University, Virginia Tech, and University of Nebraska, for their master and doctoral degrees. Two other students found job with the conservation organizations in Miami and New York, working on the protection of endangered edible plants. This grant has allowed the Agroecology Program at our university to partner with several USDA and local private research organizations to increase students learning experiences.
Publications
- Brahim, N. 2006. Trees and tea in the East African Highlands. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Brahim, N. 2008 Small Holder Resource Management in the Amala Watershed. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Ter-Ghazaryan, D. 2008. Green Parks and Agriculture in the Urban and Semi-Urban Landscape of Yerevan, Armenia. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Tunkuda, N. 2008. The Impact of Sugarcane Farming on the Water Quality of the Black River Basin, Jamaica. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Vazquez, J. 2008. National Center of Farming and Forest Technology in El Salvador. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Yirgalem Chebud. 2009 Lessons From Four Decades of Water Resources Development in the Blue Nile Basin, Africa. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Abdo, M. 2006. Linking livelihoods to the landscape: integrating local ecological knowledge to improve sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation in Indonesia. Presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Florida International University, Miami.
- Abdo, M. 2008. Growing Practice of Sustainable Agriculture: Drivers and Causes Leading to Implementation of Sustainable Strategies by Local Communities in Indonesia. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Agroecology Program. 2006. Pamphlets on Agroecology Program at Florida International University, Agroecology Certificate Program, Agroecology Student Workshop and High School Teachers and Students Programs.
- Bhat, M. G. 2006. Agro-ecosystems of Plantation Agriculture in South India. Guest Lecture presented at South Ridge Senior High School, Miami, Florida.
- Bhat, M. G., K. ayachandran and A. Melesse. 2006. Agroecology Program at Florida International University. Presentations at six area senior high schools, Miami.
- Bhat, M.G. 2008. Small-scale Agriculture and Sustainability: A Case Study from South India. Presented at South Miami Ridge High School, Miami, Florida.
- Genevieve Diamond. 2009. Rainwater Harvesting for Agriculture in the Bahamas-A Feasibility Study. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Dunifan, S. K. Jayachandran, C. Durairaj and H. C. Sharma. 2008. An Exploration into Integrated Pest Management in South India. American Society for Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America and Crop Science Society of America, Huston, Texas, October, 2008.
- Escandon, A. 2008. Constructed Wetlands in San Andres, El Salvador. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Escobedo, R. 2008. Avocado Production and Best Management Practices for Avocados in the Region Metropolitana, Chile. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Foss, J. 2008. Lessons from Oaxaca, Mexico: Realities of Organic Coffee Production. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Haro, M. 2007. From the Ground Up. An article featuring the FIU Agroecology Program and students on the FIU Homepage Banner. http://news.fiu.edu/releases/2007/01-24_groundup.htm.
- Hoffman, C. 2006. Geo-spatial analysis of water-demand-use with in the Mara River Basin (MRB) in Eastern Africa. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Hoffman, C.J. 2007. Geospatial mapping and analysis of water availability-demand-use within the Mara River Basin. Thesis, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA. 130p.
- Hofman, C. J., A. Melesse, and M. McClain. 2010. Hydrological, water availability and demand analysis within the Mara River Basin. In Nile River: Hydrology, climate and land use, A. Melesse (Editor), Springer Science Publisher.
- Ryan Klotz. 2009. The Limits to Organic Certification Faced By Guatemalan Smallholders. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Marasigan, M. 2009 An Assessment of the Adoption of Agroecological Practices by Small Farmers in El Salvador. Non-thesis masters project, Earth and Environment Department, Florida International University.
- Marasigan, M. 2009 An Assessment of the Adoption of Agroecological Practices by Small Farmers in El Salvador. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- Melesse, A., McClain, M. Abira, W. Mutayoba, 2008. Hydrometrology of the Mara River Basin, Kenya/Tanzania: Trend analysis and Wavelet application.
- Stone, K. 2006. Policies to mitigate ecological effects of shrimp farming: A comparative study of Florida and Karnataka, India. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Melesse, A., McClain, M., M. Abira, W. Mutayoba, Wang, X., 2008. SWAT application for evaluation of future land cover and rainfall regime change scenarios on the flow of Mara River, Kenya/Tanzania. ASCE-EWRI. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Pamphlets on Agroecology Program at Florida International University . 2007. Agroecology Certificate Program, Agroecology Student Workshop and High School Teachers and Students Programs.
- Quave, C. 2006. Integration and management of plants as functional foods and medicines in home gardens and vineyards of Southern Italy. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- Stone, K., M. Bhat, R. Bhatta, and A. Mathews. 2008. Factors Influencing Community Participation in Mangroves Restoration: A Contingent Valuation Study. Ocean & Coastal Management, 51: 476-484.
- Suwa, R., K. Jayachandran, N. Nguyen, A. Boulenouar, K. Fujita, H. Saneoka. 2008. Barium Toxicity Effects in Soybean Plants. Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, 2008 Feb 8; 18259801 (PSEBD).
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Progress 01/01/09 to 06/30/09
Outputs
During the reporting period, Mahadev Bhat, former Project Director, taught the Sustainable Agriculture class which was previously infused with international agricultural topics. Also, Bhat co-designed a new course called International Issues in Food Nutrition, Public Health and Economic Development, which will become one of the core courses in the University beginning next year under the Global Learning Foundation category. Four students who had been funded under the program completed their data analysis and made presentations at the annual Agroecology Symposium. The countries featured in their presentations were Bahamas, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Jamaica and El Salvador. The international agricultural topics presented at the symposium included sustainable agriculture, agricultural trade, water quality and energy. The symposium was attended by more than 150 college and high school students, faculty and teachers, and the area farmers and agency representatives. PRODUCTS: Four students completed research work based on international agricultural science studies. A symposium featuring the works of students and faculty on international agricultural issues was held. Four students made presentations at the symposium. OUTCOMES: More than 200 students, faculty members and high school teachers and students benefited from the international-agriculture-enriched courses, internships, travel opportunities and the annual agroecology symposium organized through the Agroecology Program. Because of the international agricultural science expertise that faculty members have been able to develop through this program, one of the project directors was selected to develop a specialized course in International Issues of Food Nutrition, Public Health and Economic Development. This course will become one of the university core curriculum courses beginning next year. The program is particularly drawing a lot of attention from the area high school teachers and students. We have been getting increasing number of requests from schools for guest lectures, internship opportunities and professional development. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Four students and faculty presented their international agricultural research at the annual agroecology symposium. We distributed to the program brochures to more than 150 symposium participants in January 2009. We also maintain a project website (agroecology.fiu.edu) to disseminate students work. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Jeffrey Onsted, current project director, will travel to the Mara River Basin in Kenya and Tanzania to conduct field research on land-use changes in the basin, including agriculture and water resource management. The data and field research he will conduct there will be integrated into the curriculum of his classes (including Urban Ecology, Introduction to Environmental Science, Introduction to Geography, and Applications of GIS).
Impacts
Through this program, our students are much more cognizant of agricultural issues and problems of our program countries. Students enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture class had expressed interest in trying sustainable production practices and crops from other countries at their own garden projects. Farmers attending our Symposium have a better understanding of how agriculture in other countries might enlighten their own cultivation practices in the US. Students in all of the classes taught by the three PDs are learning more about agricultural problems and solutions ongoing in the developing world. Using pictures and descriptions from first- hand accounts of these issues has a greater impact than textbook reading alone can provide. Through this, students are gaining a) a greater appreciation for America's relative agricultural abundance compared to many developing nations; b) the reasons for many of these problems; as well as c) the understanding that America too can lose its cornucopia if it does not practice agriculture more sustainably.
Publications
- Y. Chebud. 2009. Lessons From Four Decades of Water Resources Development in the Blue Nile Basin, Africa. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- G. Diamond. 2009. Rainwater Harvesting for Agriculture in the Bahamas: A Feasibility Study. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- M. Marasigan. 2009. An Assessment of the Adoption of Agroecological Practices by Small Farmers in El Salvador. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
- R. Klotz. 2009. The Limits to Organic Certification Faced By Guatemalan Smallholders. Presented at the Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami.
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Progress 07/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
During the reporting period, five students traveled abroad to study different agricultural and natural resources management aspects in South America, Africa and the Caribbean region. A graduate student of the Environmental Studies Department visited El Salvador to study different governmental and non-governmental programs that promoted organic farming practices among small farmers. A doctoral student from the Sociology and Anthropology Department conducted his field studies in Guatemala on small scale organic farming. A student from the Earth Sciences Department visited the Blue Nile River basin in Africa to research on water resources development. Another student from the Environmental Studies Department went to Bahamas to do her masters research on rainwater harvesting technology. An undergraduate student traveled to Jamaica to intern with a private non-governmental organization that has developed an integrated low-input energy and resource system. Upon their return, all the five students worked on data analysis under the advice of their respective faculty advisors throughout the reporting period. These students also attended the Agroecology monthly brown bag seminars and presented their results. They also worked on finalizing their reports and posters for presentation at the upcoming annual Agroecology Symposium at Florida International University. We also had two international visitors who presented guest lectures in the Agroecology class on international energy issues and integrated pest management in India. Five students and faculty members who had been supported from this grant in the previous years made presentations on their international experience at the Agroecology Workshop for High School Teachers held in July 2008 held at Florida International University. PRODUCTS: Five students completed research work based on international agricultural science studies. Three brown bag meetings were held during which students shared their international experiences with other students and faculty members. Two guest lectures by agricultural experts from other countries were held. Five presentations were made by faculty and students at the High School Teachers Workshop in July 2008. OUTCOMES: More than 75 students, faculty members and high school teachers and students benefited from the international-agriculture-enriched courses, internships, brown bag meetings, travel opportunities and teachers workshop offered by the Agroecology Program. More and more students and faculty members are being attracted to our agricultural science program. Because of our international experience, the FIU Agroecology Program has now been recognized by certain local and international organizations as source of expertise in agroecology, organic farming, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture in general. The program is particularly drawing the attention of the area high school teachers and students. We have been getting increasing number of requests from schools for guest lectures, internship opportunities and professional development. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Five students and faculty presented their international agricultural research at the annual summer agroecology workshop for high school teachers. The workshop was also attended by FIU students and faculty members. We also maintain a project website (agroecology.fiu.edu) to disseminate students work. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Our students and faculty members will be presenting their research at the annual agroecology symposium to be held in February 2009.
Impacts
It is too early to report the impacts of the above activities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OBJECTIVE 1. AGRICULTURAL CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT: Project Director continued to enrich the Sustainable Agriculture class with international bio-energy and water resources issues. The same class is being offered in Summer 2008. Project Co-Director Krish Jayachandran, integrated his research work done in Japan last year on soybeans and toxic chemical decontamination into the Soils and Ecosystem class. OBJECTIVE 2. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS: Students who traveled abroad last year completed their work and presented at the annual Agroecology Symposium. Five new students were funded during this period. These students one each visited Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Bahamas, and Ethiopia to work on issues ranging from water resources management, organic farming, to international trade in specialty crops. OBJECTIVE 3. DISSEMINATION OF IAS EXPERIENCE TO US STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FARMERS: Five faculty members have incorporated their foreign experience into their courses. Eight students who had traveled abroad last year made oral and poster presentations at the Agroecology Symposium held in January 2008 on the university campus, which was attended by students, faculty, farmers and the area high school students and teachers (125 participants). Our faculty also presented papers at international agriculture and environmental science conferences. Project Director, Bhat, visited an area high school and shared his research experience from India. He also attended the joint National Agriculture College and Teachers Association/USDA SERD conference held at Logan, Utah, in June 2008 and shared our ISE program experience with other USDA multicultural program project directors and students. Dr. Steve Gliessman, University of California, Santa Cruz conducted the external evaluation of the ISE program. PRODUCTS: Four courses that were fertilized with international agricultural issues were taught. Six students completed research work based on international agricultural science studies. More than 15 presentations and seminars were given by students and faculty. An agroecology symposium focusing international agriculture, environment and natural resources issues was organized. More than 10 posters have been created as part of this symposium and are now displayed in the Agroecology Resource Room. One graduate student and two undergraduate students graduated with projects concerning their work abroad. OUTCOMES: More than 300 university and high school students and teachers benefited from the international-agriculture-enriched courses, internship, workshops, and travel opportunities offered by the Agroecology Program. Students and faculty at the University look up to our agricultural science program when they are interested in issues related to agriculture abroad. Because of our international experience, the FIU Agroecology Program has now been recognized by certain local and international organizations as source of expertise in agroecology, organic farming, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture in general. In partial recognition of the quality of work our faculty and students presented at the annual Agroecology Symposium in January 2008, the project directors, Bhat and Jayachandran, have been asked to serve as associate editors for the International Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. This is a remarkable achievement for University and the Program such as ours that do not have a traditional agriculture science program. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: About 15 students and faculty presented their international agricultural research at the Annual Symposium, which was attended by more than 125 people. Faculty members also published in referred journals, three papers are under review. We also presented our work in the area high schools. Frequent program announcements through University-wide mails and websites have been made. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Our students and faculty members will be presenting their research at a workshop to be held for high school and middle school teachers on campus. Students who finished their international travel will be working on finishing their reports and presentations. Students and faculty also will be making presentations at international conferences this Summer and Fall 2008.
Impacts
With the ISE and other grant support, the Agroecology Program at Florida International University has quickly reached an admirable level and has received attention from local and international organizations. A US non-profit organization, which is attempting to establish a nation-wide network of agroforestry nurseries in Haiti, approached us for student and faculty research support for their project. Plans are underway to further this collaboration. A grant-supported student who worked with The World Agroforestry Center and the Winrock International in Indonesia last summer secured a job at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, an internationally renowned center for conservation and preservation of rare tropical fruit, ornamental and wild plants. Her international agroforestry and tropical fruit production experience in Indonesia will be an asset for the Fairchild Garden in its effort in preserving rare plant varieties of mango, jackfruit, cycads, pines and other endangered edible plants. The resource library that we have built has been serving several students and faculty in the university who are interested in furthering their knowledge and skills on international agricultural issues.
Publications
- Ter-Ghazaryan, D. 2008. Green Parks and Agriculture in the Urban and Semi-Urban Landscape of Yerevan, Armenia. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Vazquez, J. 2008. National Center of Farming and Forest Technology in El Salvador. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Dunifan, S. K. Jayachandran, C. Durairaj and H. C. Sharma. 2008. An Exploration into Integrated Pest Management in South India. American Society for Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America and Crop Science Society of America, Huston, Texas, October, 2008.
- Agroecology Program at Florida International University. 2008. Pamphlets on the Agroecology Program, Agroecology Student Workshop and High School Teachers and Students Programs.
- Melesse, A., McClain, M. Abira, W. Mutayoba, 2008. Hydrometrology of the Mara River Basin, Kenya/Tanzania: Trend analysis and Wavelet application. ASCE-EWRI. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Melesse, A., McClain, M., M. Abira, W. Mutayoba, Wang, X., 2008. SWAT application for evaluation of future land cover and rainfall regime change scenarios on the flow of Mara River, Kenya/Tanzania. ASCE-EWRI. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Abdo, M. 2008. Growing Practice of Sustainable Agriculture: Drivers and Causes Leading to Implementation of Sustainable Strategies by Local Communities in Indonesia. 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, FIU, Miami, Florida. Tunkuda, N. 2008. The Impact of Sugarcane Farming on the Water Quality of the Black River Basin, Jamaica. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Foss, J. 2008. Lessons from Oaxaca, Mexico: Realities of Organic Coffee Production. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Escandon, A. 2008. Constructed Wetlands in San Andres, El Salvador. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
- Bhat, M.G. 2008. Small-scale Agriculture and Sustainability: A Case Study from South India. Presented at South Miami Ridge High School, Miami, Florida.
- Suwa, R., K. Jayachandran, N. Nguyen, A. Boulenouar, K. Fujita, H. Saneoka. 2008. Barium Toxicity Effects in Soybean Plants. Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, 2008 Feb 8; 18259801 (PSEBD).
- Brahim, N. 2008 Small Holder Resource Management in the Amala Watershed. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida. Escobedo, R. 2008. Avocado Production and Best Management Practices for Avocados in the Region Metropolitana, Chile. Presented at the 2008 Agroecology Symposium, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida.
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Progress 07/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OBJECTIVE 1. AGRICULTURAL CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT: Five faculty members, with the grant support, revised their courses to infuse international agricultural sciences into the curriculum. Project Co-Director Krish Jayachandran, who had visited Hiroshima University, Japan, during Spring 2007 incorporated his soils and microbial research experience into EVR 4272 Agroecology (12 students) and presented a departmental seminar (25 participants). Prof Assefa Melesse made a trip to Jamaica and traveled to Kenya, Ethiopia and India, along with three graduate students to study various water harvesting techniques and challenges farmers face in India, techniques to alleviate water shortage in Ethiopia and Kenya, and also the groundwater induced floods and water quality problems in Jamaica. Prof Gail Hollander, Department of International Relations, visited the agricultural division of the European Union in Brussels where she researched agricultural policy relevant to the dominant crop in Jaen, olives. Prof Juliet S. Erazo, based on her field research in Ecuador, incorporated agro-forestry and biodiversity issues into Sustainable Communities course. We invited Mr. David Runstein, an expert of international fair trade coffee in Mexico, and Dr. Carol Thompson, an authority on biopiracy and agricultural sustainability in Africa, to give guest lecturers that benefited more than 75 students and faculty. We purchased books and videos for our Agroecology Library, which we use in our classes. OBJECTIVE 2. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS: Six students were supported to travel abroad during summer 2007 to conduct agricultural internship and field research on various issues. One student visited Jamaica, two El Salvador, one Indonesia, one Chile and one to Armenia. After a period of intense preparation, each carried out their travel to their respective country of study. On their return, the above students analyzed their data and wrote reports with the help of their faculty supervisors. They also have presented their work in class rooms, area high schools, and various workshops and conferences. Five new students have been awarded the international travel scholarship. OBJECTIVE 3. DISSEMINATION OF IAS EXPERIENCE TO US STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FARMERS: Six faculty members have heavily incorporated their foreign experience into their courses. Nine students who had traveled abroad in the past will make oral and poster presentations at the Agroecology Symposium to be held in January 2008, which will be attended by students, faculty, farmers and the area high school students and teachers. Project Directors, Bhat and Jayachandran, visited three area high schools and shared their experience with students and teachers. We also regularly updated the project website featuring students and faculty works funded through this grant (http://agroecology.fiu.edu). The ISE Program was featured in the university The FIU Magazine, May 2007. Periodic formative and external evaluation (Dr. Steve Gliessman, University of California, Santa Cruz) have been conducted to improve the program. PRODUCTS: Six courses in agriculture, natural resources, sustainable communities, and policy courses have been enriched to include emerging agricultural issues in developing countries. Three faculty members were been supported to travel abroad during the reporting period, and gained an increased understanding of international agricultural issues. Six students completed their international travel. About 15 presentations and seminars involving international agricultural experiences have been delivered at FIU by students and faculty members under the grant supported activities, which benefited more than 200 student and faculty participants. Also, two of our international agricultural interns and two faculty members made presentations at three different high schools in Miami-Dade county, raising the awareness of high students about agroecology and international agricultural issues. Two graduate students and two undergraduate students graduated with theses and projects focusing issues related to international agricultural issues. We also organized three guest lectures on campus. New books on world agriculture and the environment were procured for the Agroecology Lab. OUTCOMES: The reporting period of International Science Education program at FIU helped bring the international dimension to our growing Agroecology program. Increased publicity within and outside of the University elevated the student and faculty awareness about the international agricultural issues. More than 200 students benefited from international-agriculture-enriched courses, internship, workshops, and travel opportunities offered by the Agroecology Program. Students and faculty at the University look up to our agricultural science program when are interested in issues related to agriculture abroad. Area high school teachers, students, and administrators sought our help in building agricultural programs at their schools by way of developing collaborative grant proposals, internship opportunities, and other student activities. The area farmers who attended the 2008 Agroecology Symposium openly appreciated the international experience that we shared with them. Two of our undergraduate students who gained international experience under the program have been accepted into top land grant universities in the US to pursue masters degree in agriculture. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: About 5 oral and poster presentations have been given by our faculty and students on international agriculture science topics and 10 more are scheduled to be given at the 2008 Agroecology symposium. The program website (agroecology.fiu.edu) has been kept up-to-date and informative for students and faculty. Frequent program announcements through University-wide mails and websites have been made. One refereed article has been published. A major publicity article was published on the FIU Magazine in May 2007. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The planning for the Annual Agroecology Symposium to be held in January 2008 is underway. We will teach Sustainable Agriculture in Spring 2008. This course will have substantial international content in it. More than 15 students have signed up. Five students who have been awarded the international scholarship this academic year will be traveling abroad in May and June 2008. These students will be visiting Guatemala, Brazil, Ethiopia, and The Bahamas. The faculty and students who have been funded under the grant will be presenting their work at the Summer Agroecology Workshop for high school and middle school teachers in July 2008.
Impacts
The program has now well equipped a group of 9 students with an ability and willingness to travel abroad and engage in research related to agricultural problems in the future. By affording international experience, the ISE program at Florida International University has enabled one student from our university, which is not a land grant university, to secure admission into the masters program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Durairaj from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India, who mentored one of our students, credits our program for his success in securing a Fulbright Fellowship to continue his pest control research at Rutgers University and his possible visit to our University. The faculty members in the Environmental Studies, Sociology and Anthropology and International Relations and Geography have enriched their courses with international issues relevant to US agriculture and natural environment. More students from those classes are showing interest in furthering their knowledge through international travel opportunities. Five more students are selected this year for the international scholarship. The impact of the program has not just been limited to our university but also has reached several area high schools which have their own agricultural science programs. Therefore, ISE has been able to attract some high quality students into the Agroecology and Environmental Studies degree programs, with aspirations to engage in more international experience in the future.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 06/30/07
Outputs
OBJECTIVE 1. AGRICULTURAL CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT: We awarded six faculty members the international agricultural science (IAS) course infusion grant. In the Spring 2007, we redesigned three courses--Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Communities, and Water Resources--to infuse international agricultural topics. More than 50 students were enrolled in these classes. Three other faculty members are planning to re-design their classes which will be offered in the near future. A faculty member spent his sabbatical leave at Hiroshima University, Japan, conducting two experiments related to nitrogen and phosphorus uptake without industrial fertilizers application for soybean crop. He is planning to include the results of these experiments and Japan agriculture in general into his Agroecology course to be taught next year. Three students funded during the last reporting period under this and other Agroecology Program grants at Florida International University (FIU) made
presentations on their international field experience in the above revised classes, enriching our courses with IAS. We also acquired books and videos for the Agroecology Lab, which were routinely used to increase the IAS content of the Sustainable Agriculture course. OBJECTIVE 2. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS: Seven students were selected for the IAS travel internships during the reporting period. With the help from the faculty advisors, the above students developed their travel and field research plans during the reporting period. One student traveled to India in April 2007 to visit Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India and studied integrated pest management. The rest will travel in late summer 2007. One will travel to Jamaica, two to El Salvador, one to Indonesia, one to Chile (1) and one to Armenia. Two other students who conducted their field work during the last reporting period, worked on completing their reports and oral presentations. OBJECTIVE 3.
DISSEMINATION OF IAS EXPERIENCE TO US STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FARMERS: Three foreign return faculty members have heavily incorporated their experience into their courses. Four students who had traveled abroad earlier under this grant and another USDA grant made presentations at the Agroecology Workshops held at FIU in October 2006 and the FIU Honors College annual student workshop. Between the two workshops, there were more than 100 students and faculty members. These students also made presentations in regular classes, Environmental Studies seminars and area high schools. We regularly updated our website featuring students and faculty works funded through this grant (agroecology.fiu.edu). Recruitment and publicity activities were carried out throughout the year through University-wide emails, classroom presentations, seminars, flyers, and program materials. The ISE Program was featured on the University home page banner for a month during the reporting period
(http://news.fiu.edu/releases/2007/01-24_groundup.htm), which brought tremendous publicity to the program.
PRODUCTS: One new course, Sustainable Agriculture, and two existing natural resources courses and sustainable development courses have been enriched to include emerging agricultural issues in developing countries. One faculty member traveled to Japan during the reporting period and gained an increased understanding of agricultural problems. One student completed her international travel and graduated from the program. About ten presentations and seminars involving international agricultural experiences have been delivered at FIU by students and faculty members under the grant supported activities, which benefited more than 200 student and faculty participants. Also, two of our international agricultural interns and one faculty member made presentations at three different high schools in Miami-Dade county, raising the awareness of high students about agroecology and international agricultural issues. One graduate student is developing her master thesis on water resource issues in
agriculture in Kenya and Tanzania. Another student developed a paper and a poster on his work on agroforestry in tea plantations in Kenya. New books on world agriculture and the environment were procured for the Agroecology Lab.
OUTCOMES: The second six-month reporting period of ISE program at FIU helped strengthen the Agroecology program. Increased publicity within and outside of the University elevated the student and faculty awareness about the international agricultural issues. More than fifty students came forward to take advantage of the agroecology courses, internship, workshops, and travel opportunities offered by the Agroecology Program. Area high school teachers, students, and administrators sought our help in building agricultural programs at their schools by way of developing collaborative grant proposals, internship opportunities, and other student activities. The area farmers (particularly two organic and small farmers) who attended the student Agroecology Workshop in October 2006 appreciated the international experience our students shared with them and have offered their farms for our students to conduct research and experiential studies. This networking has increased our ability to offer a
cost-effective agricultural science education at a non-land grant university with large number of under-represented students. More students and faculty members at FIU are recognizing the international experience that our program brings to the university community.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: About ten oral and poster presentations have been given by our faculty and students on IAS topics. The program website (agroecology.fiu.edu) has been kept up-to-date and informative for students. Frequent program announcements through University-wide mails and websites have been made. We also have given several class room presentations at FIU about the IAS travel opportunities. A major publicity article was published on the FIU Home Page in February 2007.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Three courses that will have significant IAS issues and projects are scheduled for Fall 2007 semester in the Environmental Studies Department. The revised Sustainable Agriculture course will be offered online for the first time in Summer 2007. At least seven students are planning on traveling abroad during the Spring and Summer of 2007. Three faculty members, who have been re-designing their classes to improve international agricultural science content, will be attending international conferences and field sites during late summer 2007. Two graduate students who have conducted their thesis work in India and Kenya will defend their theses in the next quarter. Plans are underway to conduct the annual program evaluation.
Impacts
The program has helped our students and faculty to improve their knowledge and expertise in international agricultural issues. One student that finished her Bachelors of Science degree with IAS internship received a temporary position at NASA to work on microbial experiment. She will soon join the masters program in Soil Sciences at Virginia Tech University. The faculty members in the Environmental Studies, Sociology and Anthropology and International Relations and Geography have been able to enrich their courses with IAS topics relevant to US agriculture and natural environment. More students from those classes are showing interest in furthering their knowledge through international travel opportunities. Seven of the students who have been selected for travel scholarships during this reporting period are from these classes. The Agroecology at FIU provides a large number of under-represented students who transfer from the area community colleges directly to this
University with a unique agricultural education option. The University has partnered with several USDA and local area private research organizations to increase students learning experience. Regional organic farmers have come to appreciate the quality of FIU students and the experience they are getting on agricultural practices in other countries. Teachers from area high schools where our students and faculty made presentations on IAS experience have been calling us for more such activities. The overall participation of the FIU students and faculty in the Agroecology Program activities has been increasing.
Publications
- 1. Mahadev Bhat. 2006. Agro-ecosystems of Plantation Agriculture in South India. Guest Lecture presented at South Ridge Senior High School, Miami, Florida.
- 2. Mahadev Bhat, Krish Jayachandran and Assefa Melesse. 2006. Agroecology Program at Florida International University. Presentations at six area senior high schools, Miami.
- 3. Melissa Abdo. 2006. Linking livelihoods to the landscape: integrating local ecological knowledge to improve sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation in Indonesia. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- 4. Cassandra Quave. 2006. Integration and management of plants as functional foods and medicines in home gardens and vineyards of Southern Italy. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- 5. Kathy Stone. 2006. Policies to mitigate ecological effects of shrimp farming: A comparative study of Florida and Karnataka, India. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- 6. Christina Hoffman. 2006. Geo-spatial analysis of water-demand-use with in the Mara River Basin (MRB) in Eastern Africa. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- 7. Nasser Brahim. 2006. Trees and tea in the East African Highlands. Poster and oral presentation at Agroecology Workshop, Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University, Miami.
- 8. Pamphlets on Agroecology Program at Florida International University, Agroecology Certificate Program, Agroecology Student Workshop and High School Teachers and Students Programs. 2007.
- 9. Martin Haro. 2007. From the Ground Up. An article featuring the FIU Agroecology Program and students on the FIU Homepage Banner. http://news.fiu.edu/releases/2007/01-24_groundup.htm.
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Progress 05/01/06 to 09/30/06
Outputs
OBJECTIVE 1. AGRICULTURAL CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT - Two core courses for the Agroecology Certificate program at Florida International University (FIU) Environmental Studies Department were revised to include international agriculture sciences (IAS). Agroecology course was taught in Fall 2006 while the Sustainable Agriculture is scheduled for Spring 2007. Each course has about 20 students. A university-wide announcement for infusing IAS into existing courses was made. At least eleven faculty members are considering IAS course infusion during 2007 -- two in Biology, four in Sociology and Anthropology, two in International Relations and three in Environmental Studies. We acquired more than 100 books on agricultural sciences from publishers at almost no costs (worth $6,000). One faculty member attended an international conference in Japan to present a paper on agricultural groundwater extractions in India. Another faculty member went to India with two masters students to
take part in ongoing researn on integrated river basin. Agriculture is a key component of it. The trip enormously helped this researcher to develop a new Water Resources Modeling course. OBJECTIVE 2. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL INTERNSHIPS -- Two students funded to travel abroad. First, Cristina Hoffman, an Environmental Studies graduate student, visited Mara River Basin in Kenya and Tanzania to collect extensive geo-spatial and hydrological data. Her study focussed on factors influencing basin-wide water demand for different sectors including crops and livestock (see http://www.fiu.edu/agroecol/Student%20Research/Hoffman/Hoffman.htm). Second, Nasser Brahim, an International Relations major, did a field study to investigate how farmers have incorporated different tree species into agriculture and tea production in the Kenyan highlands. He also studied if farmers would be willing to raise trees as a way of soil and water conservation; this study will form a basis for designing Payment
for Environmental Services which is being proposed for the region (see http://www.fiu.edu/agroecol/Student%20Research/Brahim/Brahim.htm). Four more students are developing their internship plan: one student to Peru to study irrigation management in potato production; two students to India to study rain harvesting technology and integrated pest management; one to Indonesia to study the role of traditional farming systems in modern agriculture. Two more students have expressed interest in going to El Salvador to work on the biogasification and constructed wetland projects. OBJECTIVE 3. DISSEMINATION OF IAS EXPERIENCE TO US STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FARMERS: Two foreign return faculty members have heavily incorporated their experience into three of their courses. Two students who completed their international internships made presentations at the Agroecology Workshops held at FIU and at area high schools. At the summer high school teachers agroecology workshop (with 25 participants), three
faculty members shared their experience from the US DOD agricultural waste recycle projects and the Environmental Economics conference in Japan.
PRODUCTS: Three existing agricultural and natural resources courses have been revised to include emerging agricultural issues in developing countries. Two students and two faculty members have travelled abroad during the reporting period and gained an increased understanding of foreign agricultural problems. These individuals have been able to share their experience with FIU students and faculty members through their classes and two agroecology workshops conducted at FIU in 2007. Also, one of our international agricultural interns and three faculty members made presentations at six different high schools in Miami-Dade county, raising the awarness of high school students about agroecology and international agricultural issues. Six students are developing their international travel and research plan for beginning internship in Summer 2007 in different parts of the world. Several books on the subject are acquired for the Agroecology Lab.
OUTCOMES: The program has helped strengthen the new Agroecology Program that we started at FIU in 2005 with the support of another USDA grant. FIU being a Hispanic Serving Institutions with a total population of 37,000 students, our program holds the ability to attract a significant number of Hispanic and other minority students into agricultural science area in the future. The USDA International Science and Education grants program added an international element to the current Agroecology Program. Students and faculty members also are gaining increased understanding of global agricultural issues that are critical to US agricultural competitiveness. In response to the presentations made by the first two foreign return students, at least ten more students are either developing their travel/study plan or considering applying for the scholarships the coming year. Also, about ten faculty members are considering revising their courses to infuse global agricultural topics.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Two students who completed their international internships have made several presentations at the annual students Agroecology Workshop in October 2006. More than 30 students and faculty members attended the workshop. At the summer high school teachers agroecology workshop (with 25 participants) held at FIU, three faculty members shared their experience from the US DOD agricultural waste recycle projects in Elsalvador and the Environmental Economics conference in Japan. The Project Directors, Bhat, Jayachandran and Melesse, made presentations at six area high schools in November 2006.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: Eight to ten existing courses in Environmental Studies, Biological Sciences, International Relations and Sociology will be revised to include international agricultural science and issues during 2007. At least six students will be conducting their international agricultural internships in summer 2007. One faculty member will be visiting Japan for two months to work on an agricultural microbial exepriment in collaboration with a university Hiroshima. Another faculty will be attending an international conference on water resources development. Faculty and students will be presenting their foreign agricultural experience at the 2007 Summer Agroecology Workshop for high school teachers and the 2007 Annual Agroecology Workshop for students. Annual program evaluation will be conducted during summer or fall 2007. The revised Sustainable Agriculture course will be offered online for the first time in Summer 2007.
Impacts
While it is too early to assess the full impact of the program, the early indications of excitement among students, faculty members and farmers about our program are available. One farmer who attended the Annual Agroecology Student Workshop remarked ...you have built a great program in such a short time. You and your students really taught me some new ideas from developing countries that I can adopt on my organic farm... High School teachers who attended the summer workshop have been calling us for making presentations on traditional systems farming being followed in India, Indonesia and Kenya. There has been a surge in enrollment in the Sustainable Agriculture course, from 8 to 22 students in the second year.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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