USDA administrator seeks agricultural research partnerships with SC State 1890 Research & Extension
SC State 1890 Research & Extension is the division within the SC State Public Service & Agriculture unit that carries out the university's land-grant mission of research, outreach and extension services.
Conducting research is among its core functions, including in areas such as data science for food and agricultural systems and food safety and health.
Joon Park, administrator of the Agricultural Research Service for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, visited SC State during its Ag & Land-Grant Celebration Week activities Sept. 8-12.
He was the featured speaker at a Farmer's Forum held in the Bulldog Student Lounge on Sept. 11. He then held a one-on-one session with USDA/1890 National Scholars and 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholars in the auditorium of the James E. Clyburn Engineering Complex.
Park said the best research begins by listening to the problems of farmers, ranchers and producers and then delivering options that will increase the durability and profitability of their operations.
"That's why partnerships with institutions like South Carolina State University matter so much. ARS and South Carolina State are working together to identify vegetable germplasms and varieties suited to controlled environment agriculture (production)," Park said.
"This is the land-grant mission at work," he said.
The university is working with the Charleston, South Carolina-based U.S. Vegetable Laboratory on the project. The effort is part of ARS' broader mission to improve vegetable crop genetics by combining disease and pest resistance with desirable quality and yield traits, as well as to develop knowledge for environmentally sound management systems.
"Controlled environment systems can potentially extend the growing seasons, increase yields, provide year-round availability of some foods and create new opportunities for producers and consumers," Park said.
He said it is wonderful that the university and ARS have a common mission to serve and support South Carolina farmers, ranchers and producers.
"In doing that, we want to collaborate whether it's on soil health, disease resistance or pest resistance of our crops that our South Carolina farmers depend on. There are so many opportunities," Park said.
ARS has 95 field research laboratories spread across 43 states, one foreign nation and one U.S. territory, conducting research on more than 600 projects.
"We offer a network of research laboratories across the country we know will be profitable and helpful to South Carolina and beyond," he said, noting that he wanted to ensure SC State and other land-grant institutions were able to successfully compete for major USDA grants.
"And maybe sometimes not compete, but partner with other land-grant universities. We want to make sure we connect the dots to that," Park said.
He said he was also impressed by the various extension offices SC State has across the state through its 1890 Research & Extension program.
"They're the ones that are helping take our solutions and provide it to the farmers so that we have these solutions be adopted. So without South Carolina State, for example, our mission would be great, but we might fall short. So, we have to continue to collaborate," Park said.
The 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholarship Program provides full scholarships and is designed to support high-achieving students in agriculture and agriculture-related fields. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program provides full scholarships and career opportunities for students at 1890 land-grant universities pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or related fields.
Park was encouraged by the future of agriculture after meeting with farmers and producers and the university's scholars.
"Being with them gives me confidence, gives me hope that while there are plenty of challenges in agriculture, there is plenty of talent and desire and skill for us and for me to be really optimistic moving forward," he said.
Students talk about impact of 1890 Research & Extension
SC State junior agribusiness major Eli Moore, an 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholar, presented his chickpea research project during the Farmer's Forum.
"SC State prepared me a foundation for my future in agricultural research by providing me with great mentors, a research internship and opportunities for growth," Moore said.
"I have been able to work on a farm, fly a drone, receive education in Python coding, present my research at conferences across the country and more," he said.
Moore said Park's address to students was impactful.
"I had the opportunity to ask about graduate school opportunities available through the ARS. In total, it was a great experience that helped me better understand how essential the Agricultural Research Service is to our country," he said. \
1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholar Skye Taylor, a junior agribusiness major from Charlotte, North Carolina, said her scholarship has provided opportunities for professional development, including three internships where she gained hands-on experience in using research to solve real-world challenges.
"My research has the potential to benefit both the agricultural industry and local farmers by providing valuable insights into the quality and marketability of goat meat," Taylor said.
"During my one-on-one session with Mr. Park and the other 1890 Agriculture Innovation Scholars, I learned that networking is one of the most valuable tools for building a successful career," she said.
USDA/1890 National Scholar Idris Uqdah, a senior civil engineering major from Atlanta, said the chickpea research he conducted through SC State's 1890 Research & Extension Program has benefited him.
"Having this exposure early in my college career allowed me to develop hands-on research skills, learn the importance of data collection and analysis and gain a greater appreciation for how agricultural research can address challenges faced by farmers," he said.
Uqdah said Park was influential in getting him to think more about how he can use his engineering degree to contribute to the agricultural industry and benefit communities.
"I learned that success in this field requires not only strong technical skills, but also meaningful professional relationships and a willingness to continue learning," he said.