FFA NewsLetter October 2012

Faculty of Food and Agriculture NewsVolume 1, Issue 1 October 2012Role of the New Faculty of Food and Agriculture In This Issue: Role of the New Faculty 1 Technology will increase the of Food and Agriculture relevance of these Faculties to Caribbean society Agriculture in Trinidad and 2 by their orientation to a Tobago: How Do We Move greater technological focus. Forward? But by focusing on food and agriculture, the formation of Sustainable Food Production 3 the new Faculty will allow Practices in the Caribbean the University to concentrate on the development of Centre for Food Security and 4 the new technologies and Entrepreneurship systems that are needed to revolutionize agriculture Promotion to Professor 5 in the Caribbean. And I say here the “University”, New BSc Agriculture 6 since the Faculty of Food Programme and Agriculture, although located on the St Augustine NIHERST Top Awardee for 7 Campus, remains a single Excellence in Applied Science Campus Faculty with and Technology 2012 responsibility for teaching, Professor Carlisle Pemberton training and research Agriculture Blog Winners 7 of food and agricultureProfessor Carlisle Pemberton officially took for all the contributing UWI Celebrates 8 over as Dean of the new Faculty of Food and countries to the University. World Food DayAgriculture on August 1, 2012. Prof Pembertonwill fill the post for one year. He talked to UWI Prize Giving Ceremony 10Today about his vision for the new Faculty. Upcoming conferences 12UWI Today: What do you see asthe benefits of the split in the Land Scape Management 13Faculty of Science and Technology? CourseThe new Faculty of Food and Agriculture UWI Today: Whatallows the University to pay greater attention tothe problems of agriculture in the region. Also do you see as thethe formation of a new Faculty of Science andTechnology on the St Augustine Campus and immediate challenges?the renaming of the Faculties on the Mona andCave Hill Campuses as Faculties of Science and • To mould the new Layout and Design – Ms Sarojini Ragbir Faculty into a force for Editors change in the regional – Ms Sarojini Ragbir/Prof Lawrence Wilson agricultural sector. • To meet the Continued on Page 2

Page 2 Faculty of Food and AgricultureRole of the New Faculty of Food and Agriculture choice. Also to become a Faculty offering to the region a stream of technological innovations and operationalContinued from Page 1 solutions that could assist the region’s agriculture to be a developmentalvehicleandameaningfulcontributortothegreat expectations of stakeholders for the solution alleviation of our food and nutrition security concerns.of the various problems facing the regionalfood and agricultural sector. For example: UWI Today: How long have you been at the Faculty? I was a student in the Faculty since 1967 and • Regional farmers and processors are after graduating in 1970, I went on to do the MSc expecting the University to provide solutions (Agricultural Economics) here at the then Department for the rapid death of their coconut trees, of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. • Many Governments of the region want to find After doing my PhD in Canada, I returned to the solutionstothedeclineincocoaandcoffeeproduction Faculty as a Lecturer in 1976 and I have been • St. Vincent and the Grenadines would here since then, with short stints of teaching at the like the University to assist in solving the University of Georgia and Florida State University. problem of declining arrowroot production. • CARICOM Ministers of Food and Agriculture UWIToday:What in yourview was the mostsignificant are expecting the University to contribute change that took place while you have been there? meaningfully to the perennial problem of food and I suppose the most significant change has been the nutrition security in the region, and the areas where increase in the number of females on the staff and in the Faculty is expected to contribute are readily the student body of the Faculty. But academically the identifiable in the recent CARICOM Regional most significant change has been the expansion of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (RFNSP). range of programmes offered in the Faculty. When I • To attain the highest academic was a student, the only undergraduate degree offered standards within the Faculty and to ensure that in the Faculty was the BSc (Agriculture) General all our programmes are internationally accredited. degree. Now our offerings include programmes in Agribusiness Management, Human NutritionUWI Today: You are interim Dean, but you and Dietetics, Geography, Family and Consumermust have a vision; would you care to share it? Sciences, Tropical Landscaping and EnvironmentalI look forward to a Faculty offering programmes so and Natural Resource Management. The Facultyattractive to young people leaving high schools and also now offers a wide range of graduate degrees.other first-time University entrants from the regionand beyond, that we become largely a Faculty of first Source: UWI Today, June 2012Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago: How Do We Move Forward? “Agriculture in Independence”, which was launched by the Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development How Do We Move to mark the nation’s 50 years of Independence. Forward?” is the title The book, which is published by the of an article by Dr award-winning publishing house FIRST, Sharon Hutchinson, is intended to be an information resource for citizens, Lecturer and Deputy researchers, students, tourists or anyone inquiring Dean, Outreach and into the various aspects of life in Trinidad and Internationalization Tobago. It gives an historical context of the nation in the book, while providing the reader with insight to chart “Trinidad and the course over the next 50 years into the future of Tobago: 50 years of Trinidad and Tobago, according to the Ministry.

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 3Sustainable Food Production Practices in the Caribbean Editors: Drs Wendy-Ann Isaac and Wayne GanpatSustainable Food Production Practices Minister of Food Production receives copy of book from in the Caribbean, was launched on editors. Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal,2nd October 2012 in the UWI St Augustine Prof Clement Sankat, looks onCampus Principal's Office. that, “the book fulfills its mandate as an important A large gathering, representing various vehicle for spreading sustainbale practicesorganizations, was present for the launch, including the among all food producers and the populationMinister of Food Production, Senator the Honorable at large so that “future generations can haveDevant Maharaj, who gave the feature address. access to a consistent supply of safe nutritious food and still enjoy all that nature has given us”. The Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture,Prof Carlisle Pemberton, noted that the book \"is You can contact the editors, Drs Wendy-Anngeared towards sustainable production systems Isaac and Wayne Ganpat, at Wayne.Ganpat@that economize on the use of water, pesticides and sta.uwi.edu or Wendy-Ann. [email protected] chemicals and also conserve the region's edu, for information on sourcing the book.natural resources\". He added that, \"the bookpresents a number of articles written by many staffand graduate students of the Faculty of Food andAgriculture and several of our university graduates\". Professor Dyer Narinesingh, who wrote thepreface to the book, stated as follows, “Unlike mostbooks on food production which tend to focus on thescience and/or technology aspects, this book is uniquein that the authors use a non traditional approach tosustainable food production practices”. He added

Page 4 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship for Food Security and Entrepreneurship was certainly a novel and timely one”. According to Professor Pemberton, “food security continues to be highlighted by recent events and in the CARICOM Secretariat’s Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy (RFNSP). This Policy aims to achieve for the Region, the following major objectives: 1. Increasing the availability and access to food in the Region; 2. Improving the nutritional status of the Region’s population; and The Edghills transfer the land to the 3. Stabilizing the Regional food supply. University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus However, these objectives can only be achievedMr Eddie Edghill, a Barbadian, donated a piece of by Regional food production that is internationally agricultural land to develop “proper and up-to- competitive and which ensures that food isdate teaching and training facilities” in the University made available to consumers at the lowest cost,of the West Indies, Cave Hill. A proposal was while maintaining the highest nutritive standards.subsequestly developed by Dr Chelston Brathwaite, for In other words, entrepreneurship must play a keythe UWI Cave Hill Campus, to use the land for a “UWI role for the achievement of food and nutritionCentre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship”. security. Thus the selection of joint foci of Food Dean Professor Carlisle Pemberton, Security and Entrepreneurship for the proposedrepresented the PVC Clement Sankat, Campus Centre is indeed to be highly commended”.Principal, St Augustine, at a ceremony to mark the He further stated that, “the FFA stands committedtransfer of the land to the Cave Hill Campus by the to support actively and participate in the proposedEdghill Family, on Monday 17th September, 2012 Centre. One immediate area of collaboration can At the ceremony, Professor Pemberton noted be with respect to our graduate programme in Foodthat, “it was an important event for the Faculty of Security, which is currently being planned in theFood and Agriculture (FFA), since it represented Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension”.the first event outside of Trinidad and Tobago He noted that, “the the creation of aand the St Augustine Campus, in CARICOM, at farm at the site for the training of a new cadre ofwhich the FFA has been represented”. skilled persons would certainly be a milestone in He added that, “over the years the faculty agricultural and economic development in Barbados”.had been fortunate to have many brilliant Barbadian Professor Pemberton commended “thestudents and hoped that the initiative will increase generosity of the “Economic Heroes” in thethat flow”. He continued that, “the event marked Edghill family, whose gracious donation ofan important development for the Region’s the land has made this whole event possible.”agriculture and that the aim to establish a Centre

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 5 Promotion to ProfessorOn Wednesday 3rd October, 2012 Dr Carlisle devoted to the mentoring and development of Pemberton was promoted to the rank of graduate students in Agricultural EconomicsProfessor of Agricultural Economics at the University and Agribusiness, having supervised 4 PhD, 6Appointments Committee meeting. He currently serves MPhil and 13 MSc (Agricultural Economics)as the Dean of the new Faculty of Food and Agriculture. theses and 38 MSc Research Projects. Aside from his teaching and research, Professor Professor Pemberton holds a BSc (Agriculture), Pemberton has served and continues to serve a number of professional societies. Currently heMSc (Agricultural Economics) and MSc (Statistics is the President of the Caribbean Agro-Economicwith Distinction) all from UWI and a PhD Society (CAES) and for the Agricultural and Applied(Agricultural Economics) from the University of Economics Association, he now serves as the ChairManitoba. He has published over 30 refereed articles of the Committee on the Opportunities and Status ofand chapters in books and monographs. He has also Blacks in Agricultural Economics (COSBAE) and isbeen the major presenter at the thirteen West Indies a Member of the Quality of Communication AwardsAgricultural Economics Conferences held since 1986. Committee. He is also the Trinidad and TobagoProfessor Pemberton now serves on the Editorial representative on the International Association ofBoards of Tropical Agriculture and the Journal of Agricultural Economists. Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. In the wider areas of public service, he is currently Professor Pemberton has been instrumental the Chairman of the Cocoa and Coffee Industry Boardin the design and implementation of a number of of Trinidad and Tobago (CCIB) and serves on theprogrammes offered by the Department of Agricultural Board of Management of the Bishop Anstey HighEconomics and Extension. These include designing School East and Trinity College East and is a formerand organizing the MSc (Agricultural Economics) and Chairman of the University School Association.the MPhil and PhD (Agricultural Economics) degrees. Professor Pemberton’s has received a numberHe also designed (with Errol Simms and Vidya of awards, including “Lifetime Achievement Award”Seejattan) the BSc (Agribusiness Management) degree. from the Caribbean Agro-Economic Society, Senior Professor Pemberton teaches in the areas of Fulbright Fellowship, World Bank Institute Award andquantitative methods in Agricultural Economics, Scholarship (Development Marketplace), HonourableResearch Methodology and Economic Theory. Prof Mention, Annual Competition Academic Royale desPembertonwasalsoVisitingProfessorintheDepartment Sciences D’Outre-Mer Bruxelles, Belgique and anof Economics, Florida State University 2001 to 2002, Association of Commonwealth Universities Fellowshipwhere he also taught in the College of Human Sciences. and a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship. Professor Pemberton’s research has spanned Aside from all his academic work andagricultural production and marketing, particularly achievement, Professor Pemberton also finds timewith respect to the cocoa industry, but he has also to serve actively in the Anglican Church being ondone research in the area of non-market valuation the Vestry of St Mary’s Church, Tacarigua and aespecially with respect to the valuation of wetlands. volunteer tutor at the St Mary’s Children Home.Currently he is Trinidad Project Leader Thus, we the members of the Facultyof CARIWATNET, a joint project with of Food and Agriculture would like to take thisWageningen University the University of opportunity to congratulate Professor CarlisleHaiti and CIRAD, Martinique on watershed Alexander Pemberton on his promotion.management planning in the Caribbean. Professor Pemberton has been particularly

Page 6 Faculty of Food and Agriculture NEW BSc AGRICULTURE PROGRAMME AT UWIIn keeping with the pedagogical objectives of the BSc Agriculture degree and a Major in Agricultural Department of Food Production (DFP), Faculty of Technology, with key themes of food and nutritionScience and Agriculture, The University of the West security, competitiveness and sustainability of theIndies (UWI), to train critical thinkers and problem agricultural sector and environmental management.solvers to address issues in food and agriculture, These competency-based programmes provideand based on an external review of the Department, comprehensive theoretical and practical trainingit was agreed that a reform of the undergraduate in the major fields of agriculture, includingprogramme was necessary. Specific recommendations agricultural sciences, production, postharvest andmade by the reviewers in this regard included: utilisation/value addition technologies, agribusiness, agricultural extension and human nutrition.(i) the need for greater flexibility of the programme at the upper end to permit students to pursue their interests; Degree options(ii) strengthening of the internships so that studentscould have a better professional experience; and The degree offers options in Commodity Utilisation and Food Quality, Entrepreneurship(iii) discontinuation of the Major inAgricultural Science. (Special), Livestock Production and Management, Crop Science and Management, Soil and Water Science, Agricultural Extension, and Integrated Consultation among major stakeholders Production Systems. Another highlight of the revised degree is the enhanced internship programme that will To achieve these reforms and develop more not only provide work experience and training in liferelevant programmes for food and agriculture in the skills, but will also allow students to elect the optionCaribbean, an exercise was begun in April 2009, of one academic year (two full semesters) of workwhich sought to identify key competencies required experience. Greater emphasis on technology in the newfor the BSc Agriculture programme in accordance major makes it more compatible and useful with thewith best practice. The process involved wide other relevant majors and minors e.g. Agribusiness andstakeholder consultation among major stakeholders Entrepreneurship. Thus, both programmes will provideacross the region in the public and private sectors, students with core competencies in agriculture whilecurrent and past agriculture students and staff. While catering for their professional interests and competenciesthere was satisfaction with the level of scientific and in a range of specific but relevant areas, and emphasisetechnical knowledge, a major concern among all the development of critical thinking and practicalgroups was inadequate use of a hands-on approach skills through experiential learning. Depending on thein the delivery of the current BSc programme. In qualifications of new students, the BSc programme inaddition, to the apparent weakness in practical its revised format will have a duration of three to fourknowledge, both students and employers felt that the years, while that of the Major will be two to three years.programme was deficient in areas such as agricultural These programmes were approved by the Boardextension, business training, management skills and of Undergraduate Studies (BUS) of the UWI in Julyfamiliarity with some important issues impacting 2011, and by the Accreditation Council of Trinidadthe agriculture sector regionally and internationally. and Tobago (ACTT) early this year. The programmes To address these short-comings and to will be offered by the Department of Food Production,provide more relevant training, a departmental Faculty of Food and Agriculture from September 2013.curriculum committee comprising representativesfrom each discipline developed two programmes – a Submitted by: Dr Laura Roberts-Nkrumah, Lecturer, Depatment of Food Production

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 7 NIHERST Top Awardee for Excellence in Applied Science and Technology 2012Professor Neela Badrie, Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, University of the West Indies, St Augustine was awarded the Rudranath Capildeo Prize for excellence inapplied science and technology by the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIHERST). The selectionwas made by a panel of international experts. She also received the gold medal for microbiology, specializingin the field of food science and technology. A gala ceremony was held at Trinidad Hilton and ConferenceCentre on the 29th September, 2012, however Prof Badrie was unable to attend due to her travel to Canada. NIHERST is mandated to promote the development of science and technologyin Trinidad and Tobago. An important aspect of NIHERST’s work is to recogniseand reward citizens for their outstanding achievements in science and technology. Professor Badrie has been the recipient of several awards, among the most recent are the ThirdWorld Academy of Sciences (TWAS) fellow 2011,Trieste, Italy and a Fulbright USA scholar 2009. Agriculture Blog Winners TheAgribusinessSociety(ABS)ofTheUWIhaswonthefirstedition of the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation’s (CTA) Yobloco (Youth in Agriculture Blog Competition) Awards. Keron Bascombe of the Agribusiness Last year the society began a blog which highlights technologies,Society represents Trinidad and Tobago techniques and methods, both old and new that can be appliedas one of the young Social Reporters for to the agricultural sector at any level. The blog won in thethe Global Conference on Agricultural Institutional Category for the Caribbean Region. As part of theResearch for Development in Uruguay, prize package, winners in that category as well as those in the Individual category were invited and sponsored to attend the 3rd 29th October - 1st November 2012 International Association of Agricultural Information Specialist (IAALD)AfricaChapterConferenceinJohannesburgin May 2012. The Caribbean was represented by Keron Bascombe, author and creator of the blog and representative of the ABS. Other regional representatives include Barbadian, Keeley Holder of the Caribbean Farmer’s Network and Jamaican Ivy Gordon of Jefferson Farms. The winners, runners-up and their prolific blogs can be found at the CTA ARDYIS website. The society’s blog is entitled “Technology4agri”(http:// technology4agri.wordpress.com/) Source: UWI Today, June 2012

Page 8 Faculty of Food and Agriculture UWI Celebrates World Food DayThe Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA), UWI, which all play roles in meeting the growing demand St Augustine joined the globe in observation for food in local, national and international markets.of World Food Day on October, 16th 2012. This Therefore, they contribute to poverty alleviation, food security and the eradication of hunger.year’s theme was “Agricultural Cooperatives – Key The FFA is collaborating with the Cunupia Farmers Association Cooperative Society in theto Feeding the World”. This theme was chosen to International Development Research Centre (IDRC)/ CARICOM Food Security project on the themehighlight the role of cooperatives in improving food ‘Improving the nutrition and health of CARICOM populations by increased food availability and diversitysecurity and contributing to the eradication of hunger. through sustainable agricultural technologies’. There is a general agreement that smallholders must Food is now at the very top of the global provide much of the extra food needed to feed more than nine billion people by 2050. In Trinidad andagenda and food security has become “buzz words’ Tobago (T&T) about 87% of agricultural holdings are on plots of land of 5 acres or less. T&T’s smallin the Caribbean. In 1996, the Food and Agriculture farmers produce a range of food crops, animals and products for both their families and for the market.Organization of the United Nations defined ‘‘food One of the major strategic initiatives for the FFA will be to increase food production throughsecurity, at the individual, household, national, the discovery of new technology and the translation of that technology into valued-added productsregional and global levels [is achieved] when all via the promotion of agribusiness to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of food security inpeople, at all times, have physical and economic the Caribbean region. One major area of investment in the new FFA is the relocation of the Universityaccess to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to Field Station to Orange Grove. The development of the 200 acres would involve commercial activities.meet their dietary needs and food preferences World Food Day was commemorated with a display by “the Division of Science andfor an active and healthy life”. Technology, Food and Agriculture at UWI Main library”, Faculty of Food and Agriculture booth AmongthemandatesoftheNationalActionFood displays and demonstrations at the agricultural exhibition at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago,Plan of Trinidad and Tobago 2012-2017 are the reduction organized by the Tobago House of Assembly, participation by the Dean of FFA, Professor Carlisleof the food import bill, and inflation driven by food prices, Pemberton and other academics at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Antigua and Barbuda.and improvement of the country’s food security status. Submitted by Professor Neela Badrie, Microbiologist A cooperative is a special type of enterprise. and Deputy Dean of Faculty of Food and AgricultureIt is a social enterprise that balances two goals (1)satisfying its members’ needs and (2) pursuing profitand sustainability according to the Food andAgricultureOrganization. Cooperatives and producer organizationsare central in building small producers’skills, providingthem with appropriate information and knowledge,helping them to innovate and adapt to changing markets.Some enable farmers to build their capacity to analyzetheir production systems, identify their problems, testpossible solutions and eventually adopt the practicesand technologies best suited to their farming systems.There are many examples of local cooperatives such as:• Trinidad and Tobago Goat and Sheep Society Cooperative,• Cunupia Farmers Association Cooperative Society Limited• Citrus Cooperative Growers Association,• Coconut Growers Association• Cedros Fishing Cooperative

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 9Faculty of Food and Agriculture Celebrates World Food Day in TobagoStaff from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension interact with primaryschool children and their teachers Students from the Department of Food Production demonstrate how to prepare goat’s cheese Student from Agribusiness Society demonstates hydroponics system

Page 10 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Faculty of Food and Agriculture Prize Giving Ceremony Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, Prof Clement Sankat, with Deans: Prof Indar Ramnarine (Science and Technology) and Prof Carlisle Pemberton, at the prize giving ceremony The Faculty of Food and Agriculture held its prize giving ceremony, together with the Faculty of Science and Technology, on 23rd October 2012. Students who received prizes for academic achievements are listed below. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND EXTENSION RECIPIENTSYear IMikhail Samaroo. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Agribusiness ManagementRheva Davidson.The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human EcologyN’Yasha Cabera. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human Nutrition and DieteticsYear IIAshley Dowden. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Agribusiness ManagementRhonda Charles. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human EcologyMikhail Lutchmed. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human Nutrition and DieteticsYear II & IIIChrystal Joshua. The Joe Pires Memorial Prize (formerly The Caribbean Chemicals & Agencies Ltd. Prize)-Awarded for the Best Performance in Agricultural Extension over Years II & IIIYear IIIJeal Nicholas. Dr. Sunney D. Alexis Memorial Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human Nutrition andDieteticsCarla Beache. Dr. Sunney D. Alexis Memorial Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Human Nutrition andDieteticsSheen Pantin.The IICA Prize (formerly The Chelston W.D. Brathwaite Prize)-Awarded for the Best Final Year Projectdemonstrating excellence in Agribusiness ManagementKernelia Thomas. The IICA Prize (formerly The Chelston W.D. Brathwaite Prize)-Awarded for the Best Final YearProject demonstrating excellence in Human Nutrition and DieteticsRandel Esnard. The Marketing and Distribution Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in MarketingRandel Esnard. The Scotia Bank Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in Finance & AccountingCherisse Bob-Mitchel. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in BSc Human EcologyPetal Joseph. The Head of Department Prize (Evening University)-Awarded for the Best Performance in BSc HumanEcologyRandel Esnard. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in BSc Agribusiness Management(replaces Petrotrin prize)

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 11 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Prize Giving CeremonyElijah Williamson. The Head of Department Prize (Evening University)-Awarded for the Best Performance in BScAgribusiness ManagementTricia Maingot. The Dean’s Prize-Awarded for the Best Performance in the Diploma in Institutional and CommunityDietetics and NutritionDianne Ramdhan. The Agribusiness Community Service Prize-Awarded for Outstanding Service to the AgribusinessCommunity donated by Agribusiness Alumni DEPARTMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTION RECIPIENTSYear ITeshawn Maynard. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in B.Sc. General AgricultureChristopher Saunders. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in GeographyZakita Bethel .The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in Agricultural ScienceYear IIRenold Ramdial .The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in B.Sc. General AgricultureKenson Richards. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in GeographyAriel Pantin.The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in Agricultural ScienceYear IIINekelia Gregoire .The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in B.Sc. General AgricultureKiron Neale.The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in GeographyRajiv Jalim. The Head of Department Prize-Awarded for the best performance in Agricultural ScienceYear II - IIIRussell Smith.Frederick Hardy Prize-Awarded to the Part III student who obtains the highest marks in courses taken inSoil Science at the Parts II and III examinations including the Project.Year I - IIINekelia Gregoire. Principal’s Prize-Awarded for the best performance in B.Sc. Agriculture-GeneralYear II-IIINekelia Gregoire. Le Gendre & Co. Ltd Prize-Awarded for the best performance in crop science over years II & IIINekelia Gregoire. W.E. Freeman Prize-Awarded for the best undergraduate final year project in cocoa and is joint Schoolof Agriculture/School of Science prizeAlicia Jessamy-Benjamin.Thompson, Badrie-Maharaj & Associates Attorneys-at law Prize- Awarded for the best finalyear project in microbiology or food safety in Agriculture.Ayanna Ramsumair . Norman Girwar Award for excellence -Awarded to the academically excellent student, best finalyear undergraduate project in the Department of Food ProductionKiron Neale. T. P. Lecky Award Challenge Trophy Donated by CARDI-Awarded for the best performance in all thedegrees in School of Agriculture over Years I to IIIWinston Scott . Currie Memorial Prize -For the student who excelled in extra curricular activities, subject to satisfactoryacademic performanceJesse Jarvis. The Professor Lawrence Wilson Prize-Awarded for the best undergraduate final year project in PostProduction Technology.Avidesh Seenath. The Exim Bank Prize-Awarded for best graduating student in Geography Continued on Page 14

Page 12 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Upcoming Conferences 30th West Indies Agricultural Economic International Congress on the Manage- Conference ment of Amazonian and Latin AmericanThe Caribbean Agro-Economic Society Wildlife announces the 30th West Indies AgriculturalEconomic Conference which will take place The International Congress on thefrom June 30th – July 6th, 2013 at the Hyatt Management of Amazonian andRegency Hotel in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, W.I. Latin American Wildlife (CIMFAUNA),Papers are invited within thebroad theme of the Conference; will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from August 17 Agribusiness Essential for Food Security: to 22, 2014. Empowering Youth and Enhancing Quality The Congress will be held for the first time Products outside of the South American continent. The congressand may focus on one of the following subthemes: aims to help advance and improve the management• Enhancing Quality for Food Security• Value Chain for Sustainable Agribusiness of wildlife [non-domesticated animals] in the Neo-• Tertiary Education for Food and Nutrition Security tropics [the Tropics of the New World (Central• Price Volatility• Agro tourism America, South America and the Caribbean)].• Risk to Food and Agriculture• Global Impact of Food and Nutrition It is the only congress of its kind that focuses on Insecurity Neo-tropical Animals and related Subjects and Issues.The Conference will be held jointly with theCaribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS), and the The Congress will be conducted in threeInternational Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). languages, English, Portuguese and Spanish.For more information please contact:Dr Hazel Patterson-Andrews, Secretary of the CAES, Accommodation would be at Sir Arthur LewisDepartment of Agricultural Economics and ExtensionFaculty of Food and Agriculture Hall of Residence of the University of the West Indies.The University of the West IndiesSt Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West [email protected] or check the CAES at For more information contact:www.caestt.com Professor Gary Wayne Garcia President/Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies St Augustine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies [email protected] or [email protected]

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 13 Landscape Management Course Participants from the Landscape Management Short well structured and that Course, August 2012, with Mrs Wendy Lee Yuen the opportunity for group and Dr Sharon Hutchinson study helped in sharing experiences and ideas. For the past 10 years the Business The Landscape Management Development Unit (BDU) has been for Entrepreneurs short courseconducting Landscape Management courses which has proven to be one of thehave trained over 1,000 individuals over 2005 to 2012. courses that continues toAlthough the course is targeted towards landscapers, attract a variety of audiences,home gardeners, groundsmen and entrepreneurs, from Customer Servicepeople from all walks of life including teachers, Representatives to Mechanics.accountants, machine operators, therapists and more Participants who haverecently nurses, civil technicians and secretaries have completed the Landscapeexpressed a keen interest in the field, some even Management Short Coursehoping that the knowledge they acquire would enable have gone on to establish smallthem to start and conduct successful businesses. corporate ventures of their own whilst other members On 20th August, 2012, the BDU conducted went on to establish the Landscape Association ofanother Landscape Management Short Course. The Trinidad and Tobago, which was formed in 2005.facilitator, Mrs Wendy Lee Yuen held discussions and Eighteen potential members were present at itsexchanged ideas with 25 participants who obtained first meeting on Thursday September 15th, 2005.skills in garden design, garden maintenance, site The group felt the need to come together to start anpreparation, garden establishment, and preparation of Association that would serve as a vehicle to helpa basic proposal for a landscape project. Participants solve many problems identified and to serve as aattended six evening sessions from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 facilitator in the establishment and improvement ofp.m. and also enjoyed a field trip to Mrs. Lee Yuen’s businesses in the industry. The membership has sincehome in Talparo, where they gained practical experience. grown to 105 landscapers. The association is mainly At the closing ceremony, participants were involved in the development of the knowledge andawarded certificates of merit, honours and distinction skills and looking after the needs of the members.and the general comments were that the course had The Association has also been involved in Corporateproven to be extremely informative, effective and Social Responsibility activities such as giving presentations to CEPEP contractors and employees of Phoenix Park Gas Processors on establishing a garden. The BDU has also trained persons throughout the region by Distance Education and face to face short course progammes. It was developed out of the expressed need for relevant,up-to-date and cost effective training specific to the needs of the private and public sectors. The goal of the BDU is continuing education for adults of all ages and in particular, entrepreneurship training so as to foster the nurturing of a business-oriented cohort empowered to create their own jobs and generate their own wealth. Submitted by: Sally Ann Henry, Clerical Assistant, BDU.

Page 14 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Faculty of Food and Agriculture Prize Giving CeremonyContinued from Page 11Nekelia Gregoire . The Gary Garcia Prize-Awarded for the best graduating student in Livestock ScienceKiron Neale. CIC Insurance Brokers Ltd. Prize-Awarded for the best final year Geography ProjectAyanna Ramsumair. The ADB Prize-Awarded for the Best Livestock ProjectLaurence Salandy. TECU Credit Union Prize-Awarded to the Best Year 1 Tropical Landscaping MajorClyde Griffith. The Garden Club Prize-Awarded for the Best practical paper on a horticulturally related topicSherrae Franklyn. Prize for the Honorable Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs-Awarded for the bestperforming student in the core courses of the Diploma/M.Sc Agri-Food Safety and Quality AssuranceAudience attending the Faculty of Food and Agriculture Prize Giving Ceremony

Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 15Faculty of Food and Agriculture Prize Giving Ceremony Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, Prof Clement Sankat, greets members of staff and audience Los Alumnos de UWI entertains the audience

Page 16 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Faculty of Food and Agriculture News Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Faculty of Food and Agriculture The University of the West Indies St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago West Indies