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UF/IFAS International Core Competencies:
A Vital Link to Florida's Future

Introduction

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has decades of international experience on all the continents, and particularly in Central and South America and the Caribbean region. These experiences have significantly enhanced our statewide research base that serves Florida’s food, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, water, natural resources and environment, as well as our proven teaching programs and extension delivery capabilities. By partnering with colleagues at other peer institutions, our faculty members have developed solutions for current and potential problems facing our diverse clientele.  We have also collaborated with international agencies and governments to reduce hunger and promote sustainable utilization and conservation of natural resources in many countries. Throughout this process UF/IFAS has been intimately involved in institution building through the training of professionals from these regions. This has a carry-over effect in the classroom, research capacity, and in the world in that our students are better prepared for careers through greater awareness of and experience with issues of international significance.

UF/IFAS has several comparative advantages for working in the new global development framework, and its site and scientific capabilities contribute significantly to addressing the science, policy, and social issues of the new development context.  Over the years we have forged strong relationships with research, academic and development institutions in most regions.  There are currently over 46 cooperative agreements in all regions, the majority in Latin America.  Over 50% of the faculty research and academic international activities are in Latin America, with the rest of the regions receiving approximately equal participation.

International activities are facilitated by the UF/IFAS International Programs office (http://international.ifas.ufl.edu/). UF/IFAS international experience contributes to and builds on expertise of UF’s regional studies centers for Latin America, Africa, European Union and Asia. This is accomplished through faculty activities in research, education, and extension in various IFAS departments and Research & Education Centers across the state as well as through the activities of specific centers and institutes within UF/IFAS.  Such IFAS Centers/Institutes, the activities of which have a direct bearing on international applications, include:

In addition, UF/IFAS faculty actively collaborate with other UF-wide centers including:

and a number of other centers, institutes, and programs across the campus that address the complex and interconnected issues related to international agriculture and natural resource management.

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UF/IFAS International Core Competencies

Introduction

UF/IFAS encourages its faculty to engage in interdisciplinary research and to continue to develop key programs addressing issues from a wide-range of perspectives. Existing programs address development of human capacity in such areas as research, education, extension, leadership and communication processes, with an emphasis on cross-cultural awareness. Development and application of advanced information technologies thread throughout these programs.

1. Expertise in Subtropical and Tropical Environments, Agricultural Systems, Natural Resources and Community Development

Florida’s location and climate provide UF/IFAS a comparative advantage over most U.S. universities. Florida’s tropical and subtropical climate make much of our science relevant to many developing countries. Our agricultural industries are faced with many of the same diseases, pests and production challenges. We also live and work within fragile subtropical inland and coastal ecosystems that require a balance between the impacts of increased growth in population and urban development with keeping the human and natural systems both economically and environmentally sustainable.  Florida’s diverse population provides opportunities and challenges in community development.

2. Use of Integrated and Interdisciplinary Approaches for Research, Education and Extension Outreach Programs

Florida and other areas in the world are faced with complex problems as increased demand for natural resources and energy and expanding population. With increased international trade and lowering/elimination of trade barriers, food security is also a significant concern for many countries. Such problems require interdisciplinary approaches that integrate technological, environmental, social, and political components for developing acceptable and sustainable solutions.

3. Areas of international competency for UF/IFAS research, extension and teaching faculty and programs

  • Improvement of agricultural and food systems production, technology and marketing (plants, animals and aquatics)
  • Sustaining the environment through natural resource management, environmental restoration and conservation (forests, land, water and wildlife)
  • Managing pests (insects, diseases and weeds) affecting plants, animals, aquatics and natural areas
  • Improving human health, nutrition, safety, and well-being

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Metrics for Assessing UF/IFAS Faculty Engagement of Core Competencies

The IPAT committee on Recognition and Rewards for International Engagement (report to IPAT on 11/29/07) made an important distinction between international recognition and international engagement. The success of our international programs is dependent on our faculty engaging their competencies in relevant programmatic areas of research, teaching, extension and professional service. Development of proficiency in another language and cultural values/customs is also very useful for faculty members. The following lists are meant as a means for quantifying, assessing and tracking this engagement.

1. Research metrics

  • Number of international visiting scientists, scholars, postdoctoral associates and students hosted
  • Grants with international components awarded as PI or Co-PI and amounts
  • Number of graduate student research projects conducted overseas
  • Number of research reports published in international publications
  • Presentations made at an international meeting
  • Sabbatical leaves taken

2. Teaching metrics

  • Percent of courses with an international component
  • Number of courses/training programs taught abroad
  • Number of training programs conducted for international participants and the number of participants
  • Number of graduate students trained through projects with international component
  • Participation in study abroad programs: number of students/programs
  • Teaching grants obtained with international component
  • Percent participation in curriculum development with international institutions
  • Number of distance education courses developed with/for international participants

3. Extension metrics

  • Number of international training grants obtained and amounts
  • Number of in-service training programs participated in that have an international component
  • Number of international visitors hosted
  • Travel grants obtained with international purpose (from IPAT, etc.): number and amounts
  • Number of international clientele contacted in both local programming and  in “on the ground” international Extension programs

4. Professional service metrics

  • Service on international boards, committees – number, position, length of service
  • Service on planning committee for international meetings and events – number; responsibilities
  • International recognition, e.g., honorary degrees awarded, nomination to prestigious boards

5. International Profile

  • Interaction, collaboration with alumni

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Appendix – Elaboration of UF/IFAS Competencies

A) Improve Production, Technology and Marketing of Agricultural, Food Systems and Generation of Biofuels (plants, animals and aquatics)


UF/IFAS has played a major role in developing Florida’s multi-billion dollar food and agricultural industry. Our horticultural group has emerged as the largest and most successful department of its type in the country, animal science demonstrating strengths in breeding and reproduction, and aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of Florida agriculture. We are now a leader in the use of microbes to produce renewable fuels from biomass.

1. Fruit, vegetable and crop production

  • Tropical/subtropical/temperate fruit and vegetable production
  • Agronomic crop production (e.g., sugarcane, peanuts)
  • High input, technologically intensive production (production management and fertilization – intensive greenhouse production
  • Crop simulation and modeling
  • Prediction of grain yields
  • Biotechnology
  • Advanced technologies
    • automation, robotics, remote sensing
    • Mars greenhouse
    • precision agriculture
    • simulation modeling
    • space agriculture
    • watershed modeling
    • plant breeding and genetics

2.  Cropping, farming and livelihood systems (site specific and regional)

  • Farming systems research and extension
  • Livelihood systems
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Organic agriculture
  • Crop models for climate zones
  • Agroforestry

3.  Animal breeding, nutrition, health and management

  • Dairy expertise
  • Beef expertise
  • Horse expertise
  • Muscle foods and meat science
  • Biotechnology

4.  Aquaculture including food and recreational fishing

  • High quality grade seafood (sushi)
  • Aquatic plant management
  • General fisheries management
  • Basic fish ecologies
  • Fish genetics
  • Biotechnology

5.  Environmental horticulture and turf grass production

  • Flower, foliage and nursery production
  • Turfgrass management
  • Landscape ornamentals
  • Landscape installation and management

6.  Managing water and soil resources (management, quality and quantity

  • Hydroecology
  • Irrigated vegetable production
  • Soil fertility
  • Water use efficiencies in fruit and vegetable production

7.  Postharvest, processing, preservation and packaging

  • Food safety and quality
  • Postharvest biology & technology
    • fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs; fresh-cut
    • flower, foliage and nursery production
    • seafood
  • Process technologies
    • seafood processing
    • subtropical and tropical fruit juice processing
    • meat processing
  • Food distribution and retailing
  • Packaging science

8.  Production of biofuels

      • Bioengineering of microbes
      • Processing of biomass
      • Generation of biofuels

9.  Marketing, trade and resource economics

  • Firm analysis and agribusiness (production)
  • Marketing and trade
  • Resource economics
  • Economic impact- rural development, regional economics, labor

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B) Sustain the Environment through Natural Resource Management, Environmental Restoration and Conservation (Forests, Land, Water and Wildlife)


UF/IFAS programs provide strategies for the protection and enhancement of Florida's sensitive natural resources through the appropriate management of range, forest, agricultural lands and water bodies. The mission is to develop, promote, innovate and evaluate successful strategies for achieving economically and environmentally sustainable agricultures, forestry and natural systems.

1.  Tropical forest resources and conservation

  • Agroforestry
  • Forest ecology
  • Forest biology
  • Forestry extension
  • Temperate forests
  • Urban forestry
  • Working forests

2.  Wildlife conservation and management (in the context of aesthetic, ecological, economic and recreational values)

  • Conservation biology, modeling and management of wildlife populations
  • Human dimensions of wildlife conservation
    • Wildland/urban interface
  • Landscape ecology, habitat management and restoration
  • Plant, animal, ecosystems interactions
  • Program for Studies in Tropical Conservation

3.  Managing water and coastal resources (management, quality and quantity)

  • Aquatic systems
  • Coastal and marine resources
  • Hydroecology
  • Impacts of water use in agriculture
  • Protection of natural water bodies
  • Watershed management
    • watershed management and modelling
  • Wetland management
    • Wetland and nutrient management
  • Protection of natural water bodies

4.  Environmental services

  • Carbon sequestration
  • Climate change/impacts and effects on agriculture and forest ecosystems
  • Energy/biomass/and waste
  • Remediation of contaminate soils, water and aquifers
  • Soil and landscape analysis
  • Soil quality ecological indicators
  • Management of nutrients, pesticides and wastes

 

5.  Marketing, Trade and Resource economics in natural resources

The International Agricultural Trade and Policy Center (IATPC) serves as a university-wide focal point and resource base for research on international agricultural trade and trade policy issues, facilitates dissemination of agricultural trade-related research results and publications; and encourages interaction between researchers, business and industry groups, state and federal agencies and policy makers in the examination and discussion of agricultural trade policy questions.

  • Economics and policy
  • Resource Economics

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 C) Manage Pests (insects, diseases and weeds) affecting Plants, Animals, Aquatics and Natural Areas


Florida has a successful multi-billion dollar food and agricultural industry in spite of the state's demanding climate, poor soils, and high incidence of pest and diseases.  UF/IFAS has played a major role in identifying the needs, issues, and science for protecting the agricultural industry from insects, diseases and weeds.

  1. Diseases of tropical fruits and vegetables

  1. Nematology

  1. Pathogenesis

  1. Biological control of invasive weeds

  1. Biological control of insects, pathogens and vectors of disease

  1. Bioterrorism

  1. Invasive and exotic plants and diseases

  1. Integrated pest management

  1. Early detection and response systems

  1. Medical entomology: understanding and controlling insects

  1. Economic impacts

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D) Improve Human Health, Nutrition, Safety, and Wellbeing 

UF/IFAS develops and provides science-based information about food nutrition and composition, nutrient metabolism and food safety.  Targeted programs enhance the health and nutrition for all citizens including the elderly, very young and others at risk, especially those economically disadvantaged.

1.  Food safety

 

2.  Nutrition

  • world class basic research and training
  • emphasis on low income populations

3.  Medical entomology:  understanding and controlling insects affecting human health and wellbeing

 

The Florida State Legislature recognizes the need for significant research on the biology and control of mosquitoes, especially about the effects of insect-carried diseases on the citizens of Florida and on its tourist industry. The Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach has a legislative mandate to perform international research, education, and extension in the biology and control of biting insects and other arthropods which are important transmitters of disease or pest annoyance. Today, the FMEL is one of the world's largest research institutions devoted to the understanding and control of medically important and biting insects.

4.  Health

 

5.  Toxicology

 

6.  Bioterrorism

 

7.  Economic impacts

 

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E) Focus on Social/Policy/Legal/Tenure and Planning Issues Affecting Use of Resources


1.  Socio-cultural dimensions of development

  • Gender, environment, agriculture and participatory approaches
  • Family impacts of social and economic changes
  • Conflict management and resolution

2.  Socio-cultural and human dimensions of wildlife conservation

  • Gender, environment, agriculture and participatory approaches
  • Family impacts of social and economic changes
  • Conflict management and resolution

3.  Environmental, natural resources, water and public policy

 

4.  Identifying property systems, land tenure and use

 

5.  Transportation and land use planning

 

6.  Economic impact- rural development, regional economics, labor

 

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F) Develop Human Capacity (education, extension, leadership and communication processes)


Florida is the fourth largest state in the US with approximately 14 million people.  Florida communities are challenged to meet the growing and varied needs of an increasing and diverse population.  UF/IFAS Research, Extension and Education are working through community partnerships and volunteerism and developing capacities in science, policy and community development and leadership for sustainable use of resources.

  1. Communication processes

  1. Community and leadership development

  1. Youth development (4-H)

  1. Environmental education

  1. Institution building/capacity development in extension

  1. Institution building/capacity development in higher education

  1. Specialized technical training program development and delivery

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G) Apply Advanced Information Technologies


UF/IFAS highlights the development and application of computer information technologies.  By improving abilities to transform data into information, significant applications are affecting a broad range of planning and decision-making applied to real world problems in a broad range of areas.

1.  Process/systems/decision aids

  • GIS applications
    •  land resource management
    • water quality
  • Systems modeling and simulation
    • crop systems
    • climate systems and impact
    • crop yields
    • landscape ecology
    • ecosystem modeling
    • habitat modeling
  • Geomatics – integrated approach of measurement, analysis, and management of the descriptions and locations of Earth-based data.
  • Remote Sensing

2.  Online e-learning--distance education

  • Degree and Certificate Programs
    • Agricultural Education and Communication
    • Food Science (certificate program in food safety, food and food processing, HAACP, intro to food science, ntutrition, dietary supplements
    • Environmental Track : Soil and Water Science (Masters degree)
    • Entomology: (Masters degree)

3.  On-line educational and research resources

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Laotian Mountain Cattle
Laotian Mountain Cattle: survey of Asian beef cattle by UF/IFAS animal science faculty.

Contact International Programs (IP) Office Staff:

Borlaug Scholar: Working scientist from Africa studies at UF/IFAS under Borlaug Fellowship program.
Borlaug Scholar: working scientist from Africa studies at UF/IFAS as part of Borlaug Fellowship program to build scientific capacity in global agriculture.

FOOTNOTE FROM TITLE: (Based on original final draft of IFAS International Strengths document from February 15, 2005).