Food price spikes in 2008 left the over 1 billion chronically hungry in worse shape than ever while adding to their number. The U.S. government's new global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future (FTF), is unique in its approach. Instead of merely providing money in an emergency-like response, FTF will address barriers to food security with two objectives: increase agricultural growth and improve nutrition. After identifying and removing political, financial, and capacity-wise barriers, the program will develop a realistic food security plan for each country. SANREM CRSP and the other CRSPs are in the process of being transferred to the new USAID Bureau of Food Security, which will oversee FTF, and are viewed as integral components of the FTF strategy.
Yearly Archives: 2010
Dr. Kelly named interim SANREM program director
Interim SANREM CRSP Director Mike Kelly
Following Theo Dillaha’s departure as program director at the end of this year, Dr. J Michael Kelly will begin as SANREM’s interim program director effective January 1, 2011.
Kelly was the dean of the College of Natural Resources (now College of Natural Resources and Environment) at Virginia Tech from 2004-2009, and continues to work with the college as dean emeritus. During his time as dean, the number of new students in the college doubled and external research funds increased by over 60 percent.
Agronomist joins SANREM CRSP Management Entity
Michael (Mike) Mulvaney joined the SANREM CRSP Management Entity on March 1 as assistant program director and senior research associate. He received a PhD in agronomy and soils last December from Auburn University and holds a Bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Connecticut. Continue reading
SANREM team escapes Haiti quake
A team of SANREM CRSP researchers from LTRA-6 was in Haiti when the devastating earthquake struck the island nation on January 12, 2010. The six Virginia Tech faculty members and one graduate student had left Port-au-Prince less than an hour before the disaster and were driving to the Central Plateau north of the city to begin field work.