TUESDAY MORNING NOTES - APRIL 1, 2014

Tue Apr 1 13:45:06 MST 2014

TMN submittal:
http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/tuesday/form/submittal_form.html 

Tuesday Morning Notes 

April 1, 2014

FROM THE DIRECTOR – Norman Borlaug Centennial:

Not only is 2014 Cooperative Extension’s (CE) centennial but it is also Dr.
Norman Borlaug’s 100th birthday year. Credited with doing more than anyone
in the 20th century in developing the tools necessary and teaching the world
to feed itself, he is often referred to as the “Father of the Green
Revolution.” He proved that Paul R. Ehrlich’s and Simon Hopkins’ (amongst
others) dire predictions of imminent Malthusian catastrophe were not forgone
conclusions but simply a call to action; solving the problems were another
step in humanity’s uniquely punctuated cultural evolution. Today he provides
us with the inspiration we need to combine ingenuity, invention, innovation,
entrepreneurialism, and social justice to solve today’s challenges and take
the next vertical step in our human journey to make the world more
sustainable—environmentally, socially, and economically.

Ironically, although this 1970 Nobel Laureate is arguably the most
outstanding and effective Extension professional ever, he was never actually
employed in a CE organization. Today though, he provides us here in Arizona
with a model for contemporary Extension that embraces the cutting edge and
pushes the science and technology envelopes. In CE we are focused on the gap
between academia and industry, in that area not covered by the non-profits
and for-profit companies. We do those things that are too high risk for
companies to tackle, that investors will not get behind, and that which is
critical for our common public good.   

Born in Iowa on 25 March 1914, raised on an Iowa farm, and educated at the
University of Minnesota where he received a plant pathology Ph.D., he spent
most of his career in Mexico directing a wheat breeding and improvement
program. When he started his work in 1944, with the International Maize and
Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT, Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de
Maíz y Trigo), Mexico was suffering domestic wheat production shortages.
Twenty years later, because of his team’s work, Mexico became a wheat
exporter.  He then transferred the program to Pakistan and India, which
resulted in almost doubling of wheat yields from 1965 to 1970. 

I had the good fortune to meet Dr. Borlaug on three occasions. The first was
in 1975 while I was an agronomy student at Kansas State University. I heard
Dr. Borlaug’s emphatic statements that his contributions had been trivial
and what he referred to as the “population monster” was not yet beaten.  He
implored us all to gain a strong science foundation, then get out and get to
work in the field to extend and apply the newest information and
technologies directly into crop production systems.   He was passionate
about the importance of developing good science-based technology and making
the appropriate applications by working with farmers and others at the field
level.  I met him again when I was back visiting K-State in 1978 and then
finally in 2006 when we were both on the program speaking at the “Foro
Global Agroalimentario” in Mexico City, his role being much more important
than mine of course. Dr. Borlaug had the same enduring message almost a
third of a century later,  except this time he delivered it in Spanish and
he could now embrace the proper use of the newest technologies like
genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Yes, this Nobel Laureate was an advocate of properly used GMOs.  He clearly
understood the demands on global food production in a world with 9 billion
people by 2050. He understood the need to keep the planet healthy and to
have a strong economy.  He understood that we people of developed nations
have what to others is the “luxury” of abundant, safe, and extremely cheap
food. Our people do not see the demands and limits on food production that
others around the world do daily.  He urged us all to engage in the
essential research at the basic, translational, and applied levels; but
then, very importantly, to transfer the science and technology to users with
demonstration and effective public education. He knew we need this
critically today as we did when he started his work in 1944.

On 12 September 2009, at 95 years of age, Dr. Borlaug passed away. His life
and career serve as an outstanding model and inspiration and his message
resonates with me today as much as it did in 1975.  This is why I am so
proud to be a CE professional bringing science to bear on practical problems
and in taking university-based information to the public.  I am, like you,
working to fill that critical public-good need in our economy and yes, we
are working as we should at the sharp edge of the gap between the
university, communities, and industry helping to maintain the planet and its
people.  

Extension is the model organization through which we can deliver the
educational programs necessary in science and technology to the public
beyond the university campus so that people can make knowledgeable and
fact-based decisions.  I am sure Dr. Borlaug would have agreed with a friend
and colleague of mine who recently reminded me that “opinion is not a
surrogate for science.” The U.S. should be proud of inventing Cooperative
Extension in response to another hour of need a century ago.  I also think
it is good to remember Dr. Borlaug who did so much to transfer science and
technology to the grand challenge of global hunger, for which he received
the Nobel Prize for Peace.

FOCUS ON FACULTY:

David Kopec was recently awarded the Ike Grainger Award from the United
States Golf Association.  This award is given to committee members who have
provided long term service to the USGA.  Dr. Kopec has served on the USGA
Western Section Greens Committee for 25 years.  The award was presented at
the USGA Western Family Committee meeting held in Scottsdale at the Arizona
Golf Association headquarters.

FOCUS ON PROGRAMS:

Arizona Water Festival Call for Volunteers - Arizona Project WET is seeking
volunteers to help teach 4th graders about water science and conservation at
Arizona Water Festival community events located in Tucson on April 17,
Apache Junction on April 23, Glendale on May 2, Maricopa on May 9, and
Sahuarita on May 16.  Volunteers will be grouped in teams to help students
learn about the water cycle, water conservation, watershed, and groundwater
flow using fun activities and interactive games.  You can register online
<http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA4A622A5FC1-arizona>  to volunteer,
visit the official website
<https://arizonawet.arizona.edu/programs/arizona_water_festival>  for more
information, and contact Tina Sleeper <mailto:tsleeper at cals.arizona.edu>
with any questions.

NEW CE CENTENNIAL VIDEO:

The new CE Centennial video has been released and can be found at this
YouTube link <http://youtu.be/W4zBYeMDr4M> .  My special thanks to our CE
Centennial Marketing team, our actors, and especially Cody Sheehy, Video
Production Coordinator for CALS.

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth
Associate Dean & Director, Extension & Economic Development 

Associate Director, Arizona Experiment Station

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
PO Box 210036
Tucson, AZ  85721-0036
520.621.7205
520.621.1314 (fax) 

To submit tips, suggestions, ideas for changes and anything that could help
us be more effective, use the “Director
<http://extension.arizona.edu/state/directors-suggestion-box> ’s Suggestion
Box” – all submissions are anonymous.  

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