Iowa State University students showcase agrifood system solutions at FAO

mmgrant — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:21:07 +0000

Digital Agriculture team (left to right): Amani Elobeid (ISU professor), Alaina Gebel, Tyson Fleshner, Carlo Bravi & Amol Jadhav (both FAO Investment Center) Jacob Samuelson and Ella McGrath.

Students from Iowa State University (ISU) recently showcased their research on solutions for challenges in agrifood systems at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome. This opportunity to develop and share their work with FAO’s professional staff was made possible through the ISU Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program, an initiative designed to equip 8 to 12 undergraduate students annually with leadership and research skills tailored for real-world challenges.

The partnership between Iowa State University and FAO, which began in 2009, allows students to collaborate directly with FAO’s technical experts on diverse research topics and to gain insights into operational programs. This spring, four students from the 2024 cohort partnered with Carlo Bravi and Amol Jadhav at the FAO Investment Center on adopting digital agriculture. Another four students worked with Patrizia Fracassi and TiKian Seow in the Food and Nutrition Division, examining the role of camelids, specifically camel milk, in addressing food and nutrition challenges.

In Rome, the students spent the final month of their coursework working from ISU's College of Design facility, built in the 1500s and located in the heart of the city. On June 6, they presented their findings to FAO colleagues and Iowa State University leadership, engaging in discussions and receiving feedback.

Dan Robison, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, expressed pride in the students' accomplishments, noting, "In Rome, FAO is an incredible partner with much more potential to engage with. We can be proud of our students there this summer (and those who have traveled there during the past 15 years). With FAO technical representatives, the student tackled two challenging topics and performed in outstanding ways. I was there to see their final presentations to FAO technical staff and leadership and via video link to others around the world."

Jocelyn Brown Hall, Director of the FAO Liaison Office for North America, highlighted the collaboration's significance, stating, "This partnership underscores the importance of bridging academic research with practical solutions, fostering meaningful contributions from youth to global agrifood systems and advancing sustainable development goals."

The experience not only provided hands-on experience for the students but also strengthened the university's longstanding relationship with FAO, continuing to enrich academic research with practical, impactful outcomes.

FAO supports the engagement of the world’s youth in science and innovation and recognizes their immense potential in transforming global agrifood systems and helping accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 places youth, gender, and inclusion as cross-cutting themes for its programme of work.

Original article posted: https://www.fao.org/north-america/news/details/iowa-state-university-stu...

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Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program to Rome

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When opportunity knocks

mmgrant — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 13:49:59 +0000

When Gillian Anderson (’24 agricultural and rural policy studies, international agriculture) received an email revealing the details of an extraordinary opportunity, she thought it was unattainable, so she deleted it. Fortunately, a follow-up conversation with Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice assistant teaching professor and advisor Ramesh Balayar gave Anderson the confidence to take a second look. She is grateful she did because during the summer of 2023, Anderson was living in Rome, Italy, collaborating with a United Nations organization that combats food insecurity.

The experience, made possible through the Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program, is administered through Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It gives students the chance to gain valuable skills and knowledge related to global agricultural production, resources, and food issues. Students conduct coursework on campus during spring semester before spending the first month of summer break in Rome, working directly with United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) professionals.

A new direction

For Anderson, working with FAO sparked a new interest in research.

“I would love to work for a multi-national organization or nongovernmental organization doing research, something similar to what I was doing his summer,” Anderson said. “My favorite thing about this experience was the sense of purpose I got out of it, but also the opportunity to work with experts in their field in such a cool place like FAO. As a college student, I would have never pictured myself doing anything like that, so all around it was amazing.”

Anderson worked with an FAO group that researched information for an upcoming report related to genetic livestock resources. Specifically, Anderson focused on the social and political implications of gene-editing in livestock, including what regulations prevent gene-editing from progressing and how low- to middle-income countries might respond to gene-edited livestock.

She admits the research was intense, but it helped guide her future career path.

“I would like to go to grad school, either for rural sociology or international development,” she said. “I really have an interest in research and working for an organization like I did this summer. I’m also not ruling out teaching at the college level.”

A major revelation

Anderson initially planned to major in animal science when she came to Iowa State, but after a heavy dose of the hard sciences her first year, she realized the humanities were a better fit. Agriculture, however, was still her focus. That’s when Anderson discovered the agricultural and rural policy studies major in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. She appreciates the multi-faceted approach the major takes toward agriculture.

“It’s kind of like sociology and political science and agriculture all put together,” Anderson said. “You also get more than just an Iowa-centric view of agriculture. You really get a global perspective.”

Anderson can’t think of one agricultural and rural policy studies class she hasn’t loved. One of her first courses was Rural Society in Transition (SOC 230), where they discussed issues facing rural America. This hit home for Anderson, who grew up in Charles City, Iowa.

“I grew up in a rural community so I could see some of those issues being mirrored in my own community and it was really interesting to learn about why that stuff is happening and dig deeper into it,” she said.

Find your passion

Anderson credits the Dean’s Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program with opening her eyes to the possibilities that exist in the global agriculture arena. As a result, she is participating in programs in Nepal over spring break and in Uganda this upcoming summer to explore those interests even further. She advises current and future agricultural and rural policy studies students to find their passions as well.

“I wouldn’t have gotten involved with this stuff if I hadn’t found what I was really interested in and if I hadn’t fallen into ag and rural policy,” Anderson said. “I think finding out what you’re interested in and excited about just opens up everything else.”

Original story posted: https://soc-cj.iastate.edu/2024/02/05/when-opportunity-knocks/

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Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice

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Iowa State University students showcase agrifood system solutions at FAO

When opportunity knocks

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