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N.C. State University hosts seminar for Fulbright students

Media Contacts: Ilin Misaras, 919.397.6252, ilin_misaras@ncsu.edu
James Lawrence, 202.632.3241, lawrenceja@state.gov

More than 55 Fulbright students from around the world will tackle the challenges of the growing demand for food at the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Global Food Security Seminar hosted at N.C. State University, Oct. 17-20. The seminar will explore the multi-disciplinary issues related to global food security, as the world prepares to feed a population projected to be 9 billion by 2050.

During the four-day seminar, these international students will visit local agricultural research and education facilities and interact with academics from a variety of disciplines. Experts from the public and private sector will also participate in panel discussions, and the students will present their solutions by working on group case studies.

“N.C. State University is honored to be chosen to host these students from developing countries,” said Michael Bustle, director of N.C. State’s Global Training Initiative. “Meeting tomorrow’s food needs for all the people of the world is critical, so the seminar aims to bring together current and future leaders both to learn from each other and to find solutions together.”

Seminar participants are from nations such as India, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Chile and Egypt. They recently started their graduate programs at various U.S. universities, under the sponsorship of the Fulbright Program, including five N.C. State students.

Bustle said the seminar will also highlight how North Carolina meets the challenges of building and safeguarding a sustainable food supply that protects the environment, takes advantage of increasing technology and helps to safely and economically feed the world.

Events are at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, unless otherwise noted:

Wednesday, October 17
·         Keynote address by Rachel Zedeck, founder of Backpack Farm, Africans Feeding Africa, 7:30-9:30 pm

Thursday, October 18
·         Panel discussion on “Creating Global Sustainable Food Systems,” 9:45-11:45 am

o   Nick Hamon, vice president of Bayer CropScience,

o   Dr. John O’Sullivan of N.C. A&T State University, co-director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems

o   Andrea S. Anater, public health nutrition researcher of Research Triangle Institute International

Saturday, October 20

  • Conference closing, 7:30-9:30 pm

Visit go.ncsu.edu/globalfoodsecurity2012 for more information. Interviews with students attending the seminar can be arranged by the media coordinator on site.

In addition to Bustle, seminar organizers include Dr. John Sabella, assistant dean of international programs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Dr. Marian McCord, associate professor of textile and biomedical engineering and director of global health initiatives at N.C. State University.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program has provided more than 315,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential—with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Visit www.fulbright.state.gov for additional information.