Fellows from Colombia traveled to North Carolina and Washington, DC to discuss agricultural gene editing advancements and policies in the U.S. to help further shape and understand Colombian policies. Through a variety of meetings with federal regulators, NC State University scientists and researchers, and private companies, the Fellows gained insight into the impact agricultural gene editing has on the agricultural industry as a whole.
Cochran Fellows from Algeria traveled to the US to explore animal feed formulation for the poultry industry. This training brought them to North Carolina and then Missouri to meet with NC State faculty and researchers, governmental entities, trade organizations, and public and private companies and farms. Through these meetings, the Fellows learned about formulation techniques, limitations and uses of common ingredients, new technological trends, quality control, and overall best practices so they can adapt their practices to meet poultry nutritional needs in Algeria.
Regulatory officials from Thailand visited Washington DC and North Carolina to learn about the U.S. regulatory system for agricultural products and commodities. The training provided the fellows with insight as to how the U.S. formulates its policies and regulations. The fellows met with federal and state governmental entities, non-profits, NC State faculty, and private corporations to discuss how to approach the formulation of new policies regulations in Thailand.
Turkish Fellows participated in the Cochran training program to investigate agricultural biotechnology and how it fits in to the bigger picture of innovation that enables farmers to meet 21st century challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, water shortages, and growing food demand. Through a variety of meetings with federal and state regulators, NC State University scientists and researchers, private companies and farmers, the Fellows were exposed to agricultural biotechnology policies and practices in the US.
Cochran Fellows from Myanmar traveled to the US to conduct their training on animal nutrition. This training brought them to North Carolina, Virginia and Missouri. Throughout the program, the Fellows learned about the raw ingredients that go into animal feed, procurement techniques, regulatory issues, animal feed processing, quality control, storing and handling, and meeting animal nutrition needs. Through a variety of visits with regulatory bodies, farmers, feed mills, and processing plants, the Fellows were able to develop new connections in the US.
While in the U.S. for two weeks, the Fellows first met in the Washington DC for meetings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to learn about the U.S. school meals program before before departing to NC State, where meetings will continue with faculty members, NC governmental agencies, and local schools.
Fellows from Ecuador and Peru spent 2 weeks in North Carolina to learn about resilient agriculture and best practices to minimize risks of climate swings. The objective of this program was to increase knowledge of climate smart agriculture practices. During this program the Fellows will receive training on soil management, crop modeling and disseminating information. Effective extension practices will also be covered in this training program. Through a combination of lectures, workshops with professors and researchers from the NC State University and researchers from the USDA-ARS and the USDA Southeast Regional Climate Hub (SERCH), the fellows increased their knowledge on climate smart agriculture practices.
The INIA fellows (Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria – National Institute for Agrarian Innovation) spent 2 weeks in and around Raleigh to learn about how NC State addresses grand challenges in research and extension. While in North Carolina, the fellows met with NC State faculty and researchers and also traveled around the state to research centers and private farms. The topics the fellows discussed included climate change, research methods, soil nutrition, potato agriculture and extension. We hope this is just the start of a long-lasting collaboration with INIA to address training needs and research collaborations.
The Indian Fellows arrived in DC to kickoff their 2 week training. While in DC, the group met with USDA, CGIAR International Food Policy Research Institute, APHIS, EPA, and FDA to discuss biosafety. The Fellows then traveled to Raleigh for the remaining of their training. While in Raleigh they met with NC State Faculty who have a biotechnology and biosafety research focus. The second week was greeted by Snowstorm Diego, which left considerable snowfall. After digging out from the snow, the Fellows were able to complete their training by visiting the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, BASF, Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center and meet with North Carolina Growers Associations. The objective of the training was to expose the Fellows, who serve as regulators in India, to the U.S. approach of biotechnology regulation and biosafety and to help India develop its biotechnology regulatory framework to reduce barriers to trade in GE food and agricultural products.
The Eduador and Peru Fellows spent 2 weeks in and around Raleigh, North Carolina to receive training on pasture management in order to increase the health and production of the animals in their respective home countries. Through this Cochran Fellowship, the Fellows met with scientific experts within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the USDA Farm Service Agency. Additionally, they met with NC State University faculty involved in pasture management, grass breeding, livestock nutrition, silvopastures, and forages and pastures research. To round out the training, the Fellows also visited local farms as well as NC State University experimental research facilities. The objective of the training was to expose the Fellows to best management practices to help maximize the health of their animals while conserving pastures for the future.
The Pakistan Fellows spent 2 weeks on a USDA Cochran fellowship in the US traveling from North Carolina to Virginia, Missouri and Illinois. The goal of the training was to improve the awareness about the products available, processing and marketing infrastructure and capacity building of the solvent industry, feed mill managers and professionals. The Fellows toured Purdue Farms’, Smithfield Grain’s and Cargill’s port terminals, and met with numerous trade organizations like the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council as well as other governmental agencies as means to increase connectivity between the trade professionals of the U.S. and Pakistan. During this training, the Fellows also experienced snowfall in Missouri, which was an experience in itself!
The 2-week training program provided the Ghanian Fellows an opportunity to investigate what a country with GMO’s would look like. Through this, the Fellows met with a wide-assortment of faculty and professionals including NC State’s Office of Technology Commercialization and New Ventures, numerous research faculty, Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, RTP biotech companies, and farmers. After this program, the Fellows will have the tools to have educated discussions about GMOs in Ghana.
The delegation also braved Hurricane Matthew as it came through North Carolina on their final days.
Throughout the 2-weeks, the Fellows from Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela were exposed to the sorghum industry and considerations when incorporating sorghum into animal feed. The goal of this training program was to increase connectivity between the industry and research professionals of the U.S. with the industry professionals from Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela.
The delegation was on campus at the same time as the Ghanian Fellows and they had some good interactions.
This program provided the fellows exposure on how crop germplasm is identified, inspected, and conserved and how this information is shared throughout the country. The Fellows traveled throughout the country to talk with numerous professionals and scientists. In Washington, DC, the Fellows met with the National Plant Germplasm Laboratory, the American Seed Trade Association and toured the USDA National Arboretum. In Raleigh, NC, the Fellows met with NC State University Plant Breeding Consortium faculty , toured the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Seed Laboratory, NC State University Micropropagation and Repository Unit, and Syngenta Seeds. Then the Fellows traveled to Colorado where they met with the USDA-ARS Plant and Animal Genetic Resources Preservation, Seed Preservation Program. On the final leg of their trip, the Fellows toured the M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center and then the Tree Fruit, Nut, and Grapes National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Davis, California. This cross-country training introduced the Fellows to a wide array of US agriculture and the multiple approaches to germplasm conservation within the US.
The goal of this program was to help Turkey develop a science-based and transparent approach to the genetically engineered products and improve the Turkey Biosafety Law. During this program, the Fellows learned about U.S. and global policies for biotech regulation; biotech production, supply, and demand; biotech research and development; risk communication in agricultural biotechnology; animal feeding and feed production.
We did have to cut the 2-week session short due to Hurricane Florence, but we hope the experience was well-received and some long-lasted relationships were developed.
