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INVESTIGATOR: Hodges, A. C.; Leppla, N. C.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32611

GRADUATE TRAINING IN SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE CROP PRODUCTION

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This project addresses the targeted expertise shortage area of Training in Integrative Biosciences for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems and Relevant Discipline Code (G). The project?s goal is to increase the number of crop advisors in both the private and public sector. It will help to enhance the sustainability and safety of the nation?s food production through multidisciplinary and specialized doctoral level training in plant health management. Fellows will be broadly instructed through coursework and internships over a period of 3 years in the prevention, diagnosis and sustainable management of plant health problems. Fellows will also receive specialized training in food safety as it applies to crop production. The training will be accomplished through the multi-disciplinary Doctor of Plant Medicine Program at the University of Florida in cooperation with crop consulting firms and the Cooperative Extension Service in the U.S. Trainee progress will be evaluated bi-annually by their Supervisory Committee and at the conclusion of their program of study by written and oral examinations. This project addresses the national need to replace independent crop consultants and Extension personnel increasingly lost through retirement. These crop advisors will protect the U.S. food supply and natural resources in a globally oriented and technologically advanced world economy. The specific USDA/CSREES Strategic Goals and Objectives, 2007-2012, relevant to the project include: 1. Enhance International Competitiveness of American Agriculture, 2. Enhance the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Rural Farm Economies, 3. Enhance Protection and Safety of the Nation?s Agriculture and Food Supply, 4. Improve the Nation?s Nutrition and Health, and 5. Protect and Enhance the Nation?s Natural Resource Base and Environment.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives are to: 1) Train three graduate students at the doctoral level to fill nationally identified expertise shortage areas in the food and agricultural sciences, 2) Provide an increased number of workforce-ready and globally competitive graduates in the food and agricultural sciences, 3) Increase the number of graduate degrees awarded in the food and agricultural sciences, (4) Increase the number of outstanding graduates, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, and 5) Support graduate training to develop core competencies in National Needs Fellows to meet the emerging market demands in the food and agricultural sciences. Broadly trained, interdisciplinary plant health practitioners will be the outcome of this training. They are needed at the doctoral level to synthesize and apply the large quantity of complex information generated by ongoing agricultural research. To help satisfy this need, we will provide broad interdisciplinary training in plant health management and specialized training in safe food production. The graduate's will contribute expertise in the targeted shortage area of "Training in Integrative Biosciences for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems" and also training in assurance of food safety as it pertains to crop production. This shortage will be exacerbated within the next 5-10 years by retirement of the majority of practicing crop advisors, leaving with them their expertise in sustainable and safe crop production. While graduate training in individual agricultural science disciplines has been well established in the U.S., there are few programs that integrate the application of these disciplines to train crop advisors. The NNF graduates will be plant health practitioners who can diagnose problems caused by pathogens, pests and physiological deficiencies. In addition to diagnosis, they will be able to prescribe measures to mitigate the problems and maintain healthy plants. They will gain knowledge through internships and electives that will enable them to contribute in a variety of social contexts, e.g., crop production and safety, organic farming, crop consulting, conservation programs, regulatory activities, etc. The educational learning outcomes for NNF graduates will be evaluated by their interdisciplinary Supervisory Committees, including their mastery of the intricacies of plant health. To provide this critical integration, this project will educate and train practitioners able to protect the U.S. food supply and its natural plant resources in a globally oriented and technologically advanced world economy.