The 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense

THE 1890 UNIVERSITIES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND DEFENSE

Sponsoring Institution

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Project Status

ACTIVE

Funding Source

OTHER GRANTS

Reporting Frequency

Annual

Accession No.

1026474

Grant No.

2021-38427-34838

Cumulative Award Amt.

$5,300,000.00

Proposal No.

2021-01841

Multistate No.

(N/A)

Project Start Date

May 1, 2021

Project End Date

Apr 30, 2025

Grant Year

2023

Program Code

[COE]- Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions

Project Director
Kairo, M. T.

Recipient Organization
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
11868 College Backborne Road
Princess Anne,MD 21853

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Nearly three quarters of a billion people do not get enough food to eat and many more are food insecure. While the level of food insecurity varies widely worldwide, it is most severe in Sub-Saharan Africa and it exists to varying degrees in the Caribbean and Latin America. For decades, the U.S. has led global efforts to alleviate food insecurity by providing multilateral support for agricultural development and international trade. Even though global food security has improved, many challenges persist. The global food system remains vulnerable to challenges posed by new pests, natural disasters and external shocks such as COVID-19. Thus, opportunities to alleviate the situation exist through enhancing agricultural productivity, using emerging technology, etc. The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) proposes to leverage the collective capacity of the 1890 partner institutions and their counterparts to address critical needs for international development with an emphasis on global food security and defense. The Center will fund teaching, research, extension, and integrated projects designed to supply the country with a globally educated workforce and support critical needs in the area of global food security and defense. More specifically, the CEGFSD will support projects that address the Center's four broad goals as follows: (1) Strengthen agricultural development in developing countries; (2) Address new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases; (3) Engage in agricultural disaster recovery; and (4) Continue the existing Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development's activities at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Animal Health Component

70%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

70%

Developmental

20%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
001	0001	0001	10%
102	0199	3100	15%
112	0320	2050	10%
308	3820	1110	10%
603	6120	3010	10%
606	6230	2090	10%
205	2410	1060	35%

Keywords

agricultural productivity

Goals / Objectives
The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD)'s purpose is to fund teaching, research, Extension and integrated projects designed to supply the country with a globally educated workforce and address critical needs in the area of global food security and defense. The Center will foster international partnerships that strengthen agricultural development in developing countries; engage international researchers in addressing new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases; engage in agricultural disaster recovery; and continue activities carried out by the 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development (CEIED), located at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).The Center will support projects that address the four broad goals listed below through the implementation of specific activities in eight priority areas. The four broad goals are to: (1) Strengthen agricultural development in developing countries; (2) Address new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases; (3) Engage in agricultural disaster recovery; and (4) Continue the existing CEIED activities at UMES. The eight interlinked priorities are focused on: (1) Agricultural productivity; (2) Reduction of global poverty; (3) Enhancement of global food supply chains; (4) Improving food safety; (5) Impacts of trade on food availability, access, use and stability; (6) Advancement of long-term prosperity of the U.S. through global food security and defense initiatives; (7) Global climate change; and (8) Emerging technologies.

Project Methods
The CEGFSD will operate as a virtual Center that will leverage the collective strengths across the 1890 universities to address global engagement and development goals. The Center will be administered by UMES. However, the Center's strategic direction and governance will be the collective responsibility of all the participating institutions. UMES will also link with the 1890 Universities Foundation to facilitate coordination and oversight, and to provide support for resource mobilization. The management structure of the Center will comprise of four permanent governance entities, including a governing board, an executive committee, a core administration, and a technical advisory panel. The executive committee consisting of PDs and Co-PDs will be responsible for overall decision-making, strategy, and prioritization of the Center's activities. The core administration comprising a Center Director, a Center Associate Director and a Program Coordinator will be responsible for the general administration of the CEGFSD as well as management of contracts and Center's finances. The technical advisory panel, comprising subject matter specialists, will be responsible for providing recommendations to the governing board on the Center's priorities and all other technical issues. In order to ensure the effective use of resources, the Center will operate predominantly through virtual environment. In-person meetings will be minimized and critical processes will be managed through virtual meetings and/or conference calls. An annual meeting is planned for each of the two years of the project, and will engage both the governing and technical advisory boards. The purpose of the meetings will be to develop plans of work and review accomplishment reports. Stakeholder input regarding funding priorities will be solicited through the Center's governing board whose role is to preside over decision-making, strategy, and prioritization of the Center's activities. The Center will subcontract the 1890 Universities Foundation to provide administrative support to the CEGFSD. This will include: assisting the Center to garner additional support for its activities; the establishment of partnerships; organization of meetings; assisting in the development of MoUs with international partners; providing support for convening meetings and reporting; and managing the proposal solicitation and peer review process. The Center will solicit proposals from 1890 universities for the implementation of the Center's objectives through a fair and transparent competitive process that will be underpinned by an effective communication strategy. Campus liaisons will be identified at each 1890 university to act as conduits for ensuring pertinent information reaches the relevant persons. An independent Ad Hoc Panel of subject matter specialists will ensure fairness and quality in review processes and thus ensuring the Center's Executive Committee has the information to make fair and equitable decisions. The Center anticipates to fund four (4) projects, one (1) in each of the four (4) select sub-regions (clusters): West/Central Africa, East/Southern Africa, Caribbean, and Latin America. The four projects will encompass three of the four broad goals: (1) Strengthening agricultural development in developing countries; (2) Addressing new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases; and (3) Engaging in agricultural disaster recovery. The fourth broad goal is the continuation of the existing CEIED activities, already underway. The solicitation will encourage multidisciplinary and multi-institutional projects. The collective impact of the Center will be assessed through formative and summative evaluations. The activities will be evaluated using the project's products and respective metrics table, project's expected results and plans for achieving results, and the logic model process in accordance with expected outcomes of each objective and project timetable. Projects' success stories and best practices will be published through the Center's website, blogs, newsletters, announcements, and other social media. A thorough evaluation component will be required in each sub-grant submitted by any of the 1890 institutions for funding under the CEGFSD. A comprehensive summary of program accomplishments including results and impacts will be provided by the PIs in quarterly reports to the Center and by the Center in annual reports to NIFA. The program will be featured on the CEGFSD's multi-institutional web site that will be created which contains a page devoted solely to the project topics.

Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences and potential beneficiaries of this Center include the 1890 institutions' students and faculty, domestic and international partners, the industry, the government, and smallholder farmers. Changes/Problems:Beside travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge the Center is experiencing now is the transfer of funds to the international partners. While travel restrictions have been lifted, some universities have difficulties transferring funds to their international partners delaying hence project activities. Nevertheless, alternative solutions are being envisaged by concerned universities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Center has provided several training and professional development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, scientists, and other stakeholders such as smallholder farmers. Students were trained in various disciplines of the FANH Sciences with a specific degree program and provided with international experiential learning services. Faculty on the other hand were provided with international collaborative opportunities in the CEGFSD target countries. Faculty also participated in professional development, workshops, and symposia organized by the Center both online and face-to-face. Smallholder farmers were trained in new technologies and processes in countries where the Center has been implementing its projects. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center's communities of interest include the 1890 universities, the 1890 Universities Foundation, students, scientists, faculty and staff, the industry, the private and public sectors, and the general public. The Center uses various communication means to reach these communities of interest including the Center's website, press releases, the Center's Quarterly newsletter, symposia, workshops, invited talks, and webinars. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the next reporting period, the Center will gather data on the activities completed in the three target regions and their respective countries: West Africa (i.e., Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Cote d'Ivoire); East Africa (i.e., Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania); and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) (i.e., Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guyana). Results (products and outcomes) achieved in these regions will be compiled in a progress report to be submitted to NIFA.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Currently, the Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) manages five awards: One (1) under CEIED Award 2020-38427-31514 granted in July 2020 and four (4) under CEGFSD Award 2021-38427-34838 granted in May 2021, January 2022, August 2022, and August 2023 respectively. While the CEIED award is closing in June 2024, the other four were extended until April 30, 2025. The CEGFD's projects were implemented in four (4) regions: West Africa; East Africa; and Latin America; and the Caribbean. Funded projects were recommended through a competitive selection by external reviewers under the supervision of the 1890 Universities Foundation. The CEGFSD's past accomplishments included the following: increased agricultural productivity among smallholder farmers in targeted countries, increased new technology adoption to enhance food supply value chains and global security, increased food nutrition via dietary diversity extension programs, improved food safety through appropriate research and dissemination of results via extension in affected sub-regions, increased understanding of global climate change, new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases via timely research, professional development, improved understanding of natural events and disasters on agriculture by the targeted communities, increased supply of globally trained workforce at 1890 universities, increased collaborative partnerships, and improved infrastructure leveraging the collective 1890 human and cyber capital to support the growth of the Center. Finally, the Center is closing out the CEIED activities and reformulate the fourth broad goal consisting on "Continuing the existing CEIED activities at UMES" to become "Increase the supply of a diverse globally trained workforce in Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (FANH) across the 1890 universities."

Publications

Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences and potential beneficiaries of this Center include the 1890 institutions' students and faculty, domestic and international partners, the industry, the government, and smallholder farmers. Changes/Problems:The delay in the implementation of some project activities due to the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the CEGFSD to take appropriate actions to ensure a timely accomplishment of the Center's goals and objectives. A new programming structure comprising of two management cycles has been activated by the Center. All cluster leaders have completed a comprehensive plan of action with specific dates indicating the percentage of activities to be accomplished. A letter was also addressed to the respective university authorities seeking their support in this matter. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Center has provided several training and professional development opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, scientists, and other stakeholders such as smallholder farmers. Students were trained in various disciplines of the FANH Sciences with a specific degree program and provided with international experiential learning services. Faculty on the other hand were provided with international collaborative opportunities in the CEGFSD target countries. Faculty also participated in professional development, workshops, and symposia organized by the Center both online and face-to-face. Smallholder farmers were trained in new technologies and processes in countries where the Center has been implementing its projects. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The Center's communities of interest include the nineteen 1890 universities, the 1890 Universities Foundation, students, scientists, faculty and staff, the industry, the private and public sectors, and the general public. The Center utilizes various communication means to reach these communities of interest including the Center's website, press releases, infographics, the Center's newsletter (known as Quarterly), symposia, workshops, invited talks, and webinars. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period will consist of gathering data on the activities accomplished under the two management cycles previously described in the "What was accomplished under these goals" section. Subsequent results (products and outcomes) achieved following the specific action plans documented by the cluster leaders under the two management regimes will be compiled in a progress report.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD) manages three awards granted in May 2021, January 2022, and August 2022 respectively for a duration of one year each. All three awards were thereafter extended until April 30, 2024. The CEGFD's projects are implemented in four (4) regional clusters including West/Central Africa, East/Southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Each regional cluster has a cluster leader (PI). Funded projects were recommended through a competitive selection by external reviewers under the supervision of the 1890 Universities Foundation. In order to ensure a timely completion of the CEGFSD's four broad goals, the Center designed a programming structure comprising of two management cycles. The first management cycle encompasses the first two awards (i.e., May 2021 and January 2022), and the second management cycle covers the last award that was granted in August 2022. For the first management cycle, the cluster leaders (PIs) were asked to submit a comprehensive action plan with specific dates indicating 60% of the activities to be accomplished by August 30, 2023. Another letter was sent to each cluster leader's supervisor (mostly college deans at respective universities) seeking their support for a timely completion of project activities. So, this initiative pertains only to the first management cycle (May 2021 and January 2022 awards). For the second management cycle (August 2022 award), four projects were funded with their own plan of work. Hence, the Center continues to implement its four broad goals including (1) Strengthen agricultural development in developing countries; (2) Address new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases; (3) Engage in agricultural disaster recovery; and (4) Continue the existing CEIED activities at UMES. This progress report covers only the first three broad goals. The fourth goal (CEIED) report is provided in a separate REEport project. List of Major Outcomes Number of students supported by the Center this academic year: 62 Number of students that participated in experiential learning activities offered by the Center this academic year: 4 Number of students participating in an internship in the FANH sciences and related fields sponsored by the Center this academic year: 8 Number of students from the Center graduating with FANH sciences degree this academic year: 3 Number of students from the Center pursing higher post graduate degrees in a FANH sciences or related fields after this academic year: 7 Number of new technologies and/or processes introduced to stakeholders that are sponsored by the Center this academic year:12 (i.e., Ghana: 2 new processes introduced in Ghana, including an Integrated Soil Fertility Management; and a Crop-livestock integration system; Kenya: 2 technologies have been introduced to stakeholders including Mango processing/value addition; and Maize postharvest techniques in Kenya; Jamaica: 4 technologies have been introduced to stakeholders including the establishment of a preliminary forage and soil geodatabase; the increased knowledge of the nutritional value of fibrous plant resources; the formulation of least-cost supplements and diets for higher levels and efficiencies of production by ruminant livestock in Jamaica; and Online mapping and map dashboard sharing; Colombia: 4 technologies have been introduced to stakeholders including new improved cowpea seed varieties introduced in Colombia; and an intercropping sugar cane - cowpeas system in Colombia) Number of new or enhanced courses or curricula (i.e., informal learning) for students offered by the Center this academic year: 1 Number of new trainings or professional development workshops (i.e., informal learning) offered for stakeholders by Center in this academic year: 57 (i.e., 24 workshops in West/Central Africa in the areas of soil management and crop-livestock integration; 10 workshops in East/Southern Africa in global food valued chains, emerging animal, plant diseases and pests; and agroforestry; 5 workshops in the Caribbean including on-line management of internal parasites in small ruminants, forage identification, sample collection, least cost ration balancer program in Jamaica; and GIS data, their availability and their use in public domain; and 18 workshops in Latin America including the Pan-American Virtual Symposium in partnership with international partners, whose goal was to discuss the agricultural productivity challenges caused by the global climate change, animal and plant pests and diseases; and several other webinars organized by the regional cluster members.)

Publications

Progress 05/01/21 to 04/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences and potential beneficiaries of this Center will include the 1890 institutions' students and faculty, domestic and international partners, public- and private-sector entities, and the general public. Changes/Problems:Both the CEIED and CEGFSD projects have been delayed due to the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some international activities were implemented using innovative methods including virtual and online delivery tools. These challenges are being met with alternative planning and the commitment by the PIs to accomplish most of the activities this summer given the decline of COVID-19 incidence and the alleviation of international travel restrictions at partner universities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the training and professional development provided via CEIED activities, CEGFSD has also partnered with 1890 universities and several other organizations (i.e., USAID Bureau of Resiliency, USAID Innovation Labs, CATIE, Belize Department of Agriculture, America Soybean Association, etc.) to offer professional development opportunities to students, faculty, and the general public. For instance, a special session organized by the CEGFSD at the most recent Association of Research Directors' (ARD) symposium in Atlanta exhibited these opportunities. The twelve (12) projects under CEIED as well as some current CEGFSD activities continued to provide training opportunities to 1890 universities' undergraduate and graduate students in several disciplines of FANH sciences. These training opportunities included enrollment of new students in various departments of FANH sciences at 1890 institutions, students' participation in new courses and curricula development, and in virtual experiential learning opportunities; faculty-sponsored webinars, online symposia and workshops. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results generated by the CEGFSD projects have been compiled in quarterly reports submitted by the Project Investigators (PIs) to the Center. A limited portion of these reports is disseminated through the Center's website, press releases, infographics, and conferences. Most recently, the Center's newsletter was shared with the ARD's participants at the symposium and is also being shared online with various stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The regional cluster leaders have been briefed by the Center Administration during the Center's monthly meetings to aggressively plan and implement activities that were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic subsides and the international travels are being authorized again at respective universities. The PIs and their partners are currently making plans to travel and implement activities overseas starting this summer and subsequent semesters (fall 2022 and spring 2023) in order to accomplish the projects' objectives and the Center's goals. The Center has also been working diligently with all stakeholders to ensure that projects' timeline is well followed and that projects' outcomes are achieved using innovative strategies such as virtual workshops and training, virtual study tours/fairs, engaging international partners remotely for research and extension programs, conducting virtual international experiential learning, etc.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The CEGFSD received the initial award on May 1, 2021 for a duration of one year, scheduled to end on April 30, 2022. An additional award was granted in January 2022, extending hence both awards until April 30, 2023. The Center, in collaboration with the 1890 Universities Foundation, issued in May 2021 an RFA open to all nineteen 1890 universities. The Foundation reviewed submitted proposals and recommended four (4) regional cluster proposals including West/Central Africa, East/Southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Center then issued four subawards to four universities' consortia following the Foundation's recommendations. In addition to the four subawards, the Center also funded 19 pilot projects as documented in the CEGFSD grant. Furthermore, given that NIFA provided the Center with additional funds in January 2022 under the CEGFSD's continuation award, the four regional cluster leaders were asked to submit their continuation plans, which were evaluated and recommended for continuation funds. The fourth objective of the CEGFSD being the continuation of the existing activities of the CEIED, the Center has seamlessly managed CEIED activities covering twelve projects (i.e., six under global education initiative; and six under global food and nutrition security). In spite of several COVID-19 waves since the beginning of the CEGFSD (May 2021), the Center has successfully launched several projects within respective regional clusters both overseas and online. Several success stories include the inaugural Advisory Council meeting, the development of curricula, and the establishment of a user-friendly data reporting system, delivering webinar training series, organizing symposia, building strong partnerships, implementing agricultural development projects, and disseminating research results via CEGFSD quarterly newsletters. As the pandemic subsides, the Center intends to implement more activities this summer and subsequent semesters in order to achieve the goals and objectives of the CEGFSD.

Publications