FAO: The State of Food Insecurity in the World

FAO: The State of Food Insecurity in the World

Distance Learning in Agriculture and Allied Sciences – Preparation for a Field in High Demand

Distance Learning in Agriculture and Allied Sciences – Preparation for a Field in High Demand

Several universities have recently started offering distance learning in agriculture programshydroponics, weed sciences, pasture management, animal nutrition and husbandry amongst several other agriculture-related disciplines.
that make it easy for you to get qualified in agricultural engineering and allied sciences from the convenience of your own home. Some of these include agronomy, turf-grass management, plant pathology, horticulture,

In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing demand for salaried agricultural and food scientists for conducting lab research in a variety of areas that directly impact the food and agriculture industry. There has also been a rise in demand in recent times for qualified staff for managing the technically challenging aspects of agribusinesses. Let us take a look at some of these distance learning in agriculture programs, and the courses they offer.

Kansas State University

This University distance learning in agriculture program is accredited by the Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers a master’s degree program in Agribusiness that is geared towards advanced learners. If you plan to register for this program, you would be required to make two one-week on-campus visits annually, for the duration of the course.

Oregon State University

Oregon State University offers an online B.S. degree in General Agriculture, through the Universities’ Extended Campus. To be eligible for applying for this course, you would have to complete educational instruction worth a full year of biology and two terms of chemistry, all having lab components. The University is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of Illinois Online

University of Illinois Online offers the following distance learning in agriculture programs:

Professional Development Sequence In Dairy Science (Certificate)
The program is open to undergraduates and students with a bachelor’s degree. Classes are conducted via the internet.

Online Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education
This is a professional degree for students who wish to become high school or community college instructors of agriculture programs. The minimum requirement is a four-year degree in agricultural education or allied fields of study.

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University offers a Master of Agriculture online degree program that is intended to prepare individuals for a fulfilling career in natural resource management, plant sciences, poultry sciences and life sciences. This is a non-thesis degree program. Texas A&M University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Delivery methods include videoconferencing over the internet and CD-ROM presentations for interactive learning. There are no residency requirements.

University of Georgia (Center for Continuing Education)

The University of Georgia offers a distance learning in agriculture certification course on the Principles of Turfgrass management. This course was originally designed and developed in association with the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA).

Iowa State University

Iowa State University currently offers two masters degree programs:

Master of Agriculture
This degree aims to provide graduates, who are professionally involved in the agricultural and food system with advanced training in the science, technology and business of agriculture. The course also emphasizes leadership development and the use of statistical analysis.

Master of Science in Agronomy
This distance learning in agriculture program emphasizes the development of technical skills involved in crop management, soil and water management, and pest management. It is a non-thesis degree. Both these programs are delivered in the state of Iowa via the Iowa Communications Network, and in the U.S. and Canada via the medium of the internet.

'Ban on Bt brinjal hurting Indian scientists'

By Killugudi Jayaraman, Bangalore, Jan 26 : A leading Indian biochemist has urged the environment and forests ministry to lift the moratorium on Bt brinjal, the country's first genetically modified (GM) food crop developed using a technology supplied by the US multinational seed giant Monsanto.

"The moratorium is not affecting the multinational companies but India's own scientists who are ready with more than a dozen GM crops, including (Vitamin-A rich) golden rice," said Govindarajan Padmanabhan at the Indian Institute of Science here.

Cultivation of GM brinjal containing the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) gene - derived from a soil bacterium - was approved by the ministry's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in October 2009.

But in February 2010, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh clamped a moratorium due to pressure from the anti-GM lobby. The ban is yet to be lifted.

Padmanabhan said a great opportunity to improve nutritive quality of foodgrains "is being frittered away and it is sad that activists are ruling the roost".

"Bt brinjal can substantially decrease pesticide sprays and benefit the farmer from increased yield and decreased exposure to such sprays," he said in a report in the latest issue of the journal Current Science, published by the Indian Academy of Sciences.

"The least the environment ministry can do is to let limited independent trials in farmers' fields to verify the claims," he said.

"When a biotechnology revolution can offer technologies to improve agriculture and food security in free India, it is dithering and procrastinating to the point of self-defeat," he said.

He argued that the Bt gene was not toxic to humans, animals or the environment. Millions of people in different parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and China, were consuming Bt corn over several years without any authenticated reports of a mishap.

The fear that the antibiotic markers used in the process of producing Bt brinjal may cause antibiotic resistance in people who consume the product is unwarranted, he said, adding that "antibiotic resistance is actually caused by over-prescription of the same for treatment by physicians and not by GM crops".

Padmanabhan pointed out that a report recently prepared jointly by six science academies in India supported the introduction of Bt brinjal for limited trials, but it was debunked following "a hue and cry about plagiarism since part of the report is a verbatim copy of an earlier article", Padmanabhan said.

"The intention of the activists is to divert attention to an irrelevant issue (of plagiarism) since the facts stated (in the report) are irrevocable," he said.

"I am disappointed that the environment ministry is also being led by activists to spend time in trashing the academy report, rather than look to ways of lifting the moratorium," Padmanabhan said.

He said he was also distressed that "even the science ministry, which is investing in research and development with GM technology, is keeping mum (on the Bt brinjal issue)".

He pointed out that the Philippines was using Indian data on Bt brinjal to introduce its version in the country; Argentina has blazed a trail as leader in GM crop cultivation among developing countries and the European Union has accepted GM potato.

Even African countries are drawing inspiration from the success stories of countries like Brazil while China has approved commercial trials of Bt rice, said Padmanabhan.

"This means that Bt rice could be available in the market in a few years. I will not be surprised if we import Bt rice from China sooner than later. Are we blind to what is happening elsewhere in the globe?" he asked.

According to Padmanabhan, in developed countries, modern methods of agriculture were providing 80 percent of the theoretical yield of food crops and GM technology can push it up to 90 percent.

Productivity levels in India are at 30-40 percent and any technology that can push up the yield to say 60 percent would have a tremendous impact, he said.

"Everyone talks about improvement in agricultural technology to enhance yields and to address under-nutrition in the country. Here is a technology which at least provides a window of opportunity to leap forward," he said.

Taking a dig at his own fraternity, Padmanabhan said that few scientists in the field speak up for fear of being attacked by friends and activists.

"We are even afraid to stand by the science academies of which some of us are fellows," he said, adding that scientists "have to take up a defensive position to justify a technology based on sound science, ethics and concern for society".

(Killugudi Jayaraman can be contacted at killugudi@hotmail.com)

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