FFA Newsletter April 2019

FACULTY of FOOD and AGRICULTURE Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 1 January-April 2019

22 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Newsletter techAGRI Expo 2019 techAGRI Expo 2019 From Left: Mr. Frank The Faculty of Food and Soodeen, Campus Li- Agriculture, The UWI St. brarian; Dean Wayne Augustine, hosted its third dynamic Ganpat; Professor techAgri Expo from 29th to 31st Brian Copeland, March, 2019. There were 100 Campus Principal and booths displaying from handicraft to Pro Vice-Chancellor; agricultural produce. One thousand Mr. Reuben Hamil- and five hundred school children ton Robertson, FAO visited the expo and 12,000 other Representative for visitors attended. Students toured Trinidad and To- the Technology Demonstration bago; Senator Avinash Park, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Singh (Parliamentary Composting Facilities, the National Secretary, Ministry of Herbarium, Plant Factory and Agriculture, Land and Wildlife and Neo Tropical Animal Fisheries), and Profes- Centre. sor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Principal; tour On the weekend, there were techAgri free mini workshops on Landscape Management, Hydroponics, Com- Dean Ganpat with posting Essentials, Basic Home Dr. Julio A. Berde- Gardening, Aquaponics and gué, FAO Assistant Wildlife and Neotropical Animal Director General Management. and Regional Rep- resentative for Latin America and the Caribbean and Mr. Reuben Hamilton Robertson, FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago Visitors at the Mr. Sheldon Blackman singing “grow hydroponics your food”, which was well received, at the technology display opening ceremony of techAgri

Volume 8 Issue 1 3 techAGRI Expo 2019 Continued Exhibitor arranges his plants for sale Senator, the Honorable Clarence Rambharat, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries and Mrs. Yasmin Comeau, Curator of the National Herbarium Patron purchases plants Succulent roasted pig from the University Field Station Professor Gary Garcia gives a lecture on Wildlife and Neotropical Animal Management

44 FFaaccuullttyyooffFFooooddaannddAAggrriiccuullttuurreeNNeewwsslleetttteerr Guyana's Golden Arrow Through his ground Using Science to Solve Award for breaking work in Caribbean rice Regional Problems pathology, Dr. Persaud has changed FFA Graduate lives, particularly those of Guyanese AFrontiers of Science meeting rice farmers. He had a very specific organised by The University Dr Rajendra Persaud problem to solve - how to protect of the West Indies Solutions for the country’s rice crops from blast Developing Countries (UWI On February 23rd, 2019, Dr. and sheath blight. SODECO) and the Royal Society Rajendra Persaud, a PhD of London, was held from 19th graduate from the Faculty of Food He came up with a two- to 21st March, 2019 in the United and Agriculture, was honoured pronged “sustainable disease Kingdom, culminating from two by the Government of Guyana at management strategy”. The first years of consultations between The its 49th anniversary as a republic. was a screening programme to find UWI SODECO (led by Professor Dr. Persaud received the “Golden varieties of rice genotypes that Michael Taylor and Professor Arrow of Achievement”, the fourth are more resistant to the diseases. Terrence Forrester, from The UWI, highest honour in the Order of He screened 103 genotypes and Mona Campus) and the Royal Service of Guyana. The Golden identified the resistant types. He also Society. This was the inaugural Arrow is awarded to “any citizen did molecular work on genotypes meeting for a three-year programme of Guyana who has performed specifically for blast to determine on the advancement of science in an outstanding and specific act what proteins are responsible for the Caribbean and its use to solve of service or achievement of an resistance. big problems affecting the region. exceptional nature.” This award was due to the successful disease This allowed Dr. Persaud Dr. Kegan Farrick, management strategy for rice (based and the Guyana Rice Development Dr. Kerian Ferreira, Dr. Jason on research which he conducted in Board to recommend several more Tambie, Dr. Gabrielle Thongs Guyana for his PhD studies at the resistant varieties to farmers. “These and Ms. Melissa Atwell, from the Faculty of Food and Agriculture) varieties were widely cultivated and Department of Geography, attended and the benefit it has brought to have resulted in higher yields and as well as Dr. Deborah Villarroel- Guyanese society. Dr. Persaud’s profits to the rice farmers and the Lamb, from the Department of Civil scholarly work in plant pathology country itself,” Persaud says. and Environmental Engineering. has earned him coveted positions in academia in the University of The second part of the Dr. Ferreira presented Guyana, The UWI St Augustine and strategy was the development of a poster titled “Multi-Region other institutions. disease-fightings extracts of plants Assessment of the Hadley such as thyme leaf, marigold and Circulation”, and Ms. Atwell clove; bio-pesticides; and new presented a poster titled “Forest generation fungicides. Dr. Persaud Biomass in a Tropical Ecosystem says, “these new products not only as a Function of Land Use/Cover aid in the effective management of and Soil Texture: Implications rice diseases in Guyana but also for Carbon Storage and Climate resulted in better quality paddy Change”. grains, leading to higher yields.” The objectives of the The FFA congratulates meeting were to share knowledge Dr. Persaud on his outstanding and methods among speakers achievement and national award. in the same disciplines and also to encourage interdisciplinarity, Source: UWI Today, May 2019. as participants were given the opportunities to see cutting- edge research in other academic disciplines, with the ultimate objective of offering science based solutions to big problems.

Volume 8 Issue 1 5 Tackling Child Obesity Technology Stewardship for Agricultural Extension Take 10! The faculty organized and hosted this blended course Dr. Anisa Ramcharitar-Bourne, Principal Investigator with online and interactive classroom-based formats. It At least 50 per cent of primary and secondary was designed to enable practitioners in the agricultural school children in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) sector to capitalize on the availability of low cost ICTs are overweight and are at risk of becoming diabetics. and digital information services. According to the President of the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Andrew Dhanoo, chil- Recent research in the Caribbean concluded that dren are developing diabetes and non-communicable ICT capabilities are now a requirement for extension diseases before their parents in some cases. officers and related practitioners, and that ‘to better meet the needs of farmers in Trinidad and Tobago, extension Effective prevention of overweight and obesity officers need on-going professional development with among preschool children therefore remains a pressing ICTs to meet farmers' changing and diverse needs.’ public health priority, given the adverse impact on health and quality of life in childhood and later, into adulthood. The classroom component was conducted from 8th to 9th April 2019 at the Faculty of Food and As part of The UWI’s Triple A strategy, the Agriculture. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension (DAEE) has partnered with the International Life Participants were invited to share their Sciences Institute in an attempt to mitigate and prevent experiences working with ICTs, while being asked childhood obesity in TT, through the implementation of to participate in a series of activities based around an the ‘Take 10!’ programme. Two graduates (from DAEE) emerging leadership model of ‘technology stewardship.’ who are registered dietitians, Ms. Gabriella Alphonso and This model is intended to provide conceptual and Mr. Keron Floyd, and Dr. Anisa Ramcharitar-Bourne, the practical skills to encourage innovative ICT-based Principal Investigator, are working on this programme. practices within a community of practice framework. Working closely with the Ministry of Health’s The course is part of an ongoing research National Strategic Plan for the prevention and control collaboration with two Canadian universities—the of non-communicable diseases 2017-2021, Take 10! University of Alberta and the University of Guelph—to is a classroom-based physical activity programme and advance leadership practices in ICT adoption and use for is geared towards reducing and preventing childhood agricultural extension and outreach. obesity, through the development and introduction of curriculum at an early stage to foster good dietary There were 20 participants and the instructors practices and physical activity patterns. It will target were Dr. Gordon Gow from the University of Alberta children at the preschool level, in order to increase and Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury from the University of the time spent in structured physical activity during Guelph. preschool hours; to provide staff with a user-friendly physical activity programme; and to link the physical Dr. Gordon Gow interacts with participants activities with related preschool educational content.

6 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Newsletter Alternatives to Hazardous Pesticides in Vegetable Disease Management Alternatives to hazardous pesticides in vegetable Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Mark Wuddivira, Head disease management, a one-day field workshop of the Department of Food Production, addressed took place on 27th March 2019. The workshop was the participants. Dr. Ganpat emphasized the use organized as part of the project, “Disposal of obsolete of personal protective equipment for spraying of pesticides including persistent organic pollutants, chemicalpesticides to avoid direct exposure to farmers. promotion of alternatives and strengthening pesticides Dr. Wuddivira alluded to some of the 17 sustainable management in the Caribbean”, which is funded by the development goals targeted for 2030, namely “End Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Food and hunger and food security, good health and well-being, Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production patterns”, and the need to reduce Demonstration trials were established hazardous pesticides to accomplish these goals. to showcase the efficacy of biopesticides in the control of Phytophthora rot in hot peppers, bacterial Mr. Robertson emphasized the need for wilt in tomato and leaf spot disease in lettuce. partnerships between various stakeholders; The UWI, FAO, farmers and private industries, on transforming The workshop was attended by a wide cross technologies for successful use of safe alternatives section of persons representing vegetable farmers, the to hazardous pesticides in the management of plant Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago, private diseases. pesticide companies, authorities from the Pesticide Control Board, North Regional Administration and The training, held at Mrs. Ramona Branche's Extension Training and Information Services, Ministry farm in Maloney, Trinidad, was facilitated by Dr. of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries. Dr. Wayne Ganpat, Duraisamy Saravanakumar, Senior Lecturer in the Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Department of Food Production. Reuben Hamilton Robertson, FAO Representative for Dr. Saravanakumar with participants in the field Mr. Reuben Hamilton Robertson, FAO Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, addresses participants

Volume 8 Issue 1 7 Blockchain Technology to Fight Experts Discuss Water Food Fraud Resource Management Do We As Consumers Know Where Our Food In commemoration of World Water Day, 2019, Comes From? Is it a small farm in Cedros or a the Department of Food Production (DFP), in retailer in the United States of America? We could collaboration with Caribbean WaterNet, CapNet never be sure; even if the place of origin is specified UNDP and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences, on the label. So why do we need to know this? Well, hosted a panel discussion on March 29th, 2019 on because of pertinent issues of food safety, food Water Resource Management in Trinidad and Tobago, fraud, food waste and food sustainability. But one with special focus on the Agricultural Sector. can ask, why do these issues exist? Addressing this question was Dr. Nigel Gopie, Global Digital and Panelists included, Dr. Sharda Mahabir Marketing Leader for IBM Blockchain, with focus (Project Manager of the Adopt a River Programme, on Blockchain solutions for the Agri-Food Industry. Water and Sewerage Authority); Mr. Hayden Romano (Managing Director of the Environmental Dr. Gopie presented an open lecture on Management Authority); Retired Captain Neville Blockchain Technology in the Agri-Food Industry Wint (Operations Manager of the Office of on 7th March 2019 at the FFA. According to Dr. Disaster Preparedness and Management); Senator Gopie, “Issues arise because of lack of trust and Avinash Singh (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry transparency. IBM Food Trust uses Blockchain of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries); Ms. Wendy Technology to create unprecedented visibility and Nelson (Analytical Chemist, Institute of Marine accountability in the food supply, enabling trust Affairs); and Professor Jacob Opadeyi (Professor of and transparency to help make food and agricultural Geoinformatics, The UWI). systems safer, smarter, and more efficient.” He stated that there is a lack of transparency and The feature address was given by the Minister limited access to timely information along the supply of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator, The chain, from farm to the retailer and everything in Honorable Clarence Rambharat, which ignited calls between. “We don’t have the necessary visibility for further research efforts and dialogue towards across the entire supply chain so that something improved management of our water resources. like a recall may go on longer than it should. It can The Minister also praised the initiative, stating take days or weeks to discover where something that it is a key step towards addressing the long happened in terms of a food safety issue in the standing issue of fragmented governance that has traditional way,” says Dr. Gopie, “but a Blockchain- plagued our system and undermined the sustainable based system is able to trace back very, very quickly. use and management of our natural resources. The event closed with the launch of a book titled “Water Quality in the Americas: Risks and Opportunities”. One chapter on “Gender, Women and the Quality of Water” was co-authored by Professor Neela Badrie of the DFP. From Left: Dr. Wayne Ganpat, Dean, Faculty of Food and From left: Senator Avinash Singh, Dr. Sharda Mahabir, Senator Agriculture; Dr. Nigel Gopie, Global Digital and Marketing The Honorable Clarence Rambharat, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, Leader for IBM Blockchain; and Dr. Sharon Hutchinson, Mr. Hayden Romano and Ms. Wendy Nelson Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

8 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Newsletter International Extension Educators visit the Faculty Linking, Innovating, Motivating, and Engaging period and will oversee the planning of the next for Resilient Agricultural Systems was the theme conference due to take place from 20th to 23rd April, of the Association for International Agricultural and 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. The participants Extension Education (AIAEE) 35th annual conference were hosted by the Faculty of Food and Agriculture on and professional development sessions, which Thursday 4th April where they were given a lecture on were held from 1st to 4th April, 2019 at the Hyatt “Extension in the English speaking Caribbean\", by Dr. Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, Ganpat. After- Trinidad and wards they en- Tobago. joyed some local The con- cuisine (doubles, ference was roti, corn soup attended by 134 etc) before they participants. headed to two There were 61 field trips; a visit oral and 37 poster to farmers’ fields presentations. in Maracas Bay Dr. Way- and a visit to the ne Ganpat was Lopinot cocoa elected as the growing district President of the to experience the association for diversity of co- the 2019/2020 coa. Visitors relax on the FFA's lawn with some local cuisine Participants listen attentively to Dr. Ganpat as he presents his lecture on \"Extension in the English Speaking Caribbean\".

Volume 8 Issue 1 9 Hydroponics Basic Workshop Health Column There is an increasing demand Development Unit will continue its Nutritional Facts of Maize or among the population of outreach activities by hosting both Corn (Zea mays L) Trinidad and Tobago to grow their basic and advanced hydroponic own food for income or food. workshops throughout the year. 1. Every 100 g of dried field corn However, the availability of land (corn) provides 365 calories while continues to restrict the expansion Course participants building every 100 g of younger corn on the of traditional crop production. hydroponic systems cob (sweet corn) provides 86 calories. As a result of this, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, through 2. Carbohydrates content of corn is 75% the Business Development Unit, and in sweet corn is approximately 18%. offered the Hydroponics Basic workshop from 27th April to 1st May 3.Water content of corn is about 10% and 2019 for home owners, gardeners, water content in sweet corn is about 75% horticulturists, farmers, extension officers, and interested persons at 4. Corn and sweet corn provide a all levels. wide variety of vitamins (carotenoids, This course aimed to thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), provide an understanding of niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folate, soilless technology for improved ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin E crop production along with and vitamin K), minerals (calcium, an introduction to controlled magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, environment agriculture. It was first sodium and zinc) and resistant starches. offered in 2017 with 12 persons and has grown in popularity attracting 5. The presence of essential fatty 30 persons in this cycle. The course acids, especially linoleic acid in corn was developed and conducted by oil plays an important role in the Mr. Nkosi Felix and Ms. Jessica diet by maintaining blood pressure, Churaman, graduate students of regulating blood cholesterol level, and the faculty who are conducting preventing cardiovascular disorders. research in the field of controlled environment agriculture to address 6. Whole grain corn is rich in nutrients climate related threats to food and bioactive compounds including supply. fiber, vitamins, minerals, and Participants were taught phytochemicals. plant physiology, plant nutrition, choosing the right hydroponic 7. Maize grains, especially yellow system, pest prevention and control, variety, contains large quantities and advancements in hydroponics. of the carotenoid pigments, which As part of the course, participants is important in reducing the risk of constructed hydroponic systems. chronic diseases, including different To further engage the types of cancer. However, different public in this new entrepreneurial varieties of corn contain significantly field through knowledge and different phytochemical profiles in technical resources, the Business terms of flavonoids and carotenoids. 8. Maize is believed to have potential anti-HIV activity due to the presence of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) lectin also referred as GNA-maize. Excerpt from an article submitted by: Dr. Sa'eed Bawa, Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

10 Faculty of Food and Agriculture Newsletter Students from Guadeloupe visit the Faculty of Food and In This Issue AgricultureTechnology Demonstration Park on The UWI Campus techAgri Expo 2019 1 Golden Arrow Award for 4 FFA Graduate Using Science to Solve 4 Regional Problems Take 10! 5 Technology Stewardship 5 for Agricultural Extension Alternatives to Hazardous 6 Pesticides Blockchain Technology to 7 Fight Food Fraud Experts Discuss Water Resource Management 7 International Extension 8 Educators visit the Faculty Hydroponics Workshop 9 Health Column 9 Visits to Technology Demonstration Park 10 Layout and Design Ms. Sarojini Ragbir Photography Mr. Terry Sampson, and contributors Editors Ms. Sarojini Ragbir and Dr. Wayne Ganpat Primary school students from St. Xavier's Private School in Trinidad, visit the Faculty of Food and Agriculture Technology Demonstration Park