Bumpers College, Israeli Officials Discussing Agricultural Collaboration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Representatives from Israel and Arkansas are meeting with U of A administrators and scientists this week to discuss a collaborative effort to develop grant opportunities.

Menahem Hesse, the minister for agriculture and science affairs at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C.; Edo Chalutz, the executive director of the United States–Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD); and Cynthia Edwards, deputy secretary of the Arkansas Agriculture Department will attend the meetings.

The U.S.-Israel BARD Fund and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding in 2013 to promote collaboration between U.S. and Israeli scientists. Hesse, Chalutz and Edwards are meeting with several administrators, professors and scientists from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and other units to discuss strategy and opportunities to address agricultural challenges of the future.

The BARD Fund is a competitive funding program for research of agricultural issues conducted jointly by U.S. and Israeli scientists. It encourages the exchange of agricultural scientists, engineers and other agricultural experts, and has funded more than 1,250 binational projects while awarding more than $290 million.

“We look forward to visiting with Minister Hesse, Executive Director Chalutz and Deputy Secretary Edwards,” said Bumpers College Dean Mike Vayda. “It’s an honor to host them and have them on our campus. We are excited about discussing possibilities for the Bumpers College and the University of Arkansas to participate in the BARD-NIFA grant program. Water, food and agriculture are vital for the welfare of everyone. If the opportunity is there, we have multiple faculty members who will be eager to collaborate and cooperate with other scientists on addressing issues in those areas.”

Hesse, Chalutz and Edwards will also meet with Lona Robertson, associate dean of Bumpers College; Leslie Edgar, assistant dean and director of international programs; Jim Rankin, vice provost of research and economic development; Bob Beitle, associate vice provost; Kim Needy, dean of the Graduate School and International Education; Dede Long, U of A director of study abroad; and Nathan McKinney, assistant director of the Agricultural Experiment Station; and faculty members Walter Bottje and Sami Dridi from poultry science; Nilda Burgos and Pengyin Chen from crop, soil and environmental sciences; Navam Hettiarachchy from food science; Kate Shoulders from agricultural education, communication and technology; Stephen Boss from geosciences; Doug Rhoads and Michelle Evans White from biological sciences; and Dale Thompson from computer science and computer engineering, among others.

The BARD Fund seeks memoranda of understanding to:

• identify short-term specific mutual needs in the U.S. and Israel;
• recognize vital needs due to climate change and solutions to issues such as food safety, food security, food quality, postharvest solutions, maximized production with limited resources, environmental changes, water scarcity, and water management and technology;
• create mutual research programs for the welfare of other countries prioritized by the U.S. and Israel; and
• enhance cooperation between private sector, and Israeli and U.S. nonprofit research entities.

In 2014, the BARD-NIFA memorandum of understanding identified water for agriculture as a collaboration priority area. For 2015, it includes water for agriculture, a national integrated water quality program, food security, and agricultural and natural resources science for climate variability and change.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.