Delaware State and Kentucky State Universities Scientists Engage Partners in Selected Crop Production and Food Processing Technologies
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Resilience toward a Food Secure Murang’a Country, Kenya
Empowering Women Gardeners through Strategic Collaboration and Support
Lincoln University Engages with Researchers, Farmers, and Students across the Americas
Smallholder Farmers Trained in Innovative Technologies to Improve Food Security in the DRC
THE 1890 UNIVERSITIES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND DEFENSE
The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD), established in 2020, leverages the collective capacity of all nineteen 1890 land-grant universities across 18 states to carry out work that supports the U.S. national priorities. This includes boosting U.S. agricultural trade, improving economic growth and prosperity of rural communities through increased agricultural exports and expansion of rural employment, safeguarding the U.S. against pests and diseases while fulfilling the nation’s needs for a globally competent workforce:
• Strengthening U.S. agricultural prosperity
• Addressing new and emerging animal and plant pests and diseases that cross borders
• Building strong food systems
• Fulfilling the nation’s needs for a globally competent workforce
Hosted at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, CEGFSD is one of six Centers of Excellence at 1890 universities identified in the 2018 Farm Bill. The Center aspires to be a national model for advancing the long-term prosperity of the U.S. through global food security and defense initiatives through collaborative partnerships between the nineteen 1890 land-grant universities, the 1890 Universities Foundation, and international public and private sector partners by addressing five interlinked priorities.
• Improvement of agricultural productivity
• Enhancement of global food supply chains
• Improvement of food safety
• Application of emerging technologies to support the food systems
• Analysis of the impacts of trade on food availability, access, use, and stability
Dear Stakeholders,
We are delighted to share with you another installment of our Center Newsletter. We are living in challenging times but the security of the global food system remains a top priority for all. While there has been some progress with securing the food systems, challenges abound. The CEGFSD remains highly committed to address challenges in this space.
We also recognize that the Center’s work has to be strongly driven by national priorities. With this said, we continue to focus on targeted core areas including: developing strong food systems, enhancing rural agricultural prosperity, addressing risks from pest and diseases and growing a strong workforce that is ready to address international food system challenges. We are committed to continue growing strong collaborative partnerships to deliver on the core priorities of the Center. To this end we are excited to engage with you as we address common challenges and strive toward a stronger global food system.
– Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC
The CEGFSD engages faculty in teaching, research, Extension and integrated projects designed to address global food security and defense challenges. Supporting economic growth and stability overseas, especially in some of the fastest-growing economies, will lead to the creation of markets for U.S. agricultural products along the value chains, with the potential of impacting
rural prosperity in the United States. Domestic and international scientists will strengthen collaborative research and Extension activities and address transboundary challenges. This will strengthen the capacity of both domestic and international institutions, including universities, research centers and governmental organizations. All nineteen 1890 universities participate in the Center’s activities.
Food insecurity remains a major challenge in SubSaharan Africa, and it’s still the major contributor to protein-energy malnutrition. A gradual stagnation of agricultural productivity in recent years has been a major concern, given the continuous population growth. Yet, smallholder farmers lack basic agricultural inputs, financial support and extension services.
Delaware State University (DSU) and Kentucky State University (KSU) students and scientists, in collaboration with students and scientists at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Nigeria, established an intercropping farming study to examine crop production and food processing practices. More specifically, the project objectives were to train a globally competent workforce, advance sustainable agriculture practices, add value to perishable crops, enhance food availability throughout the season, improve nutrition knowledge through nutrition education and enhance postharvest management strategies to strengthen food security in the region.
The intercropping farming study was conducted at two sites, including the UNICAL Teaching and Research Farm and the Faculty of Agriculture Extension Village in Calabar. The farm provided training and hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students and scientists. While 15 students from various departments (i.e., Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Economics, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Crop Science, and Food Science and Technology) received training, 12 scientists participated in these activities.
Approximately quarter-acre plots of okra/cucumber mixed vegetables and a half acre of cassava/ cowpeas mixed crop were planted at the UNICAL and the Extension Village farm, respectively. While cassava growth and production data were expected in August 2025, cucumbers performed very well in terms of vegetative growth and fruit production per acre compared to previous years. Farmers who participated in the workshops gained insight into intercropping farming practice and were willing to expand cowpea production in the region.
DSU and KSU scientists who traveled to UNICAL in summer 2024 organized two workshops and training sessions focused on capacity building for UNICAL’s scientists, students, extension personnel and farmers. During the workshops, Drs. Rose Ogutu and Theoneste Nzaramyimana provided training sessions on best agricultural practices and low-cost food preservation techniques to prevent pre- and postharvest losses and enhance food availability. They also provided training on organic composting and delivering extension services to the clientele — the USA land-grant model. In addition, Drs. Samuel Besong and Frederick Bebe held a nutrition education seminar on various topics, including food for health, how nutrition knowledge can be used to manage metabolic and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, HBP, CVD, COPD, cancer and other nutrition-related diseases; and on the one-health approach to reduce health contrasts.
impact of this farm study was the collaborative efforts among crop and food scientists and students to grow crops, harvest, process and package food products from the farm. The Food Science Department developed three new food products: pickled cucumber (preserved in a brine, vinegar and syrup solution), oven-dried cucumber flakes/cubes and a nutritious cucumber stew paste. The cucumber stew paste with enhanced health benefits will serve as an alternative to tomato paste, while the extended shelf life of cucumber through pickling will ensure the availability of food year-round. ///
The project site, Ithanga, Murang’a County, is in the eastern region of Kenya, known for its low midland landscape, and situated in a semiarid agroecological zone. This area experiences prolonged dry spells and significant moisture stress, which affects agricultural productivity and local ecosystems. The project’s main objective is to enhance agricultural productivity and improve food security in Murang’a County through bridging existing knowledge gaps by integrating scientific findings into conventional farming practices in the region. Partners include Kenyatta University (KU), the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SUAREC).
The project targets smallholder farmers, extension personnel from the county government and Kenyatta University researchers, along with students and faculty, who will focus on integrating ecologically responsive technologies and sustainable farming practices, and promoting food security through research, training and stakeholder engagement. Key to achieving the intended success includes the establishment of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and onfarm demonstration plots planted with crops such as maize, sorghum, beans, cowpeas and fodder.
This project empowered more than 50 smallholder farmers, three county government personnel, two KU postgraduate students and four undergraduate field assistants by equipping them with skills needed to address critical agricultural challenges in the area, such as pest management, water and soil preservation. In addition, the project has developed innovative sustainable strategies to improve fodder production involving the mass rearing of Azolla and the scaled production of duckweed as feedstock for chicken and rabbits. In the project’s first year, key outcomes included developing training materials on integrated pest management (IPM), livestock feed and extreme weather-resistant agriculture. As the project progresses, it is crucial to concentrate more on scaling up successful strategies, empowering farmers, expanding outreach activities and ensuring broader adoption of lessons learned. Through continuous capacity building, participatory research, and a focus on long-term impact, this initiative will lead to a more resilient and food-secure Murang’a County in Kenya. ///
South Carolina State University, in partnership with the Government of The Gambia through the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), and with strategic support from the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, has actively worked with local women gardeners to develop sustainable vegetable production systems and a rural cooperative business and marketing strategy. This initiative, supported by the 1890 Universities Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense, aims to strengthen food security and promote economic empowerment by positioning women as reliable suppliers for institutional markets — most notably the Farafenni army barracks and the weekly Saturday “Lumo.”
On Dec. 16, 2024, a joint on-farm observation visit was led by Dr. Lamin Drammeh, associate vice president for public service and agriculture at South Carolina State University and principal investigator of the project “Cultivating Productivity and Resilience to Mitigate Food Insecurity in West Africa – The Gambia.” This provided Rebecca Taylor, deputy
mission chief at the U.S. Embassy in The Gambia, an opportunity for hands-on engagement, assessment and dialogue with approximately 80 members of the Illiassa Women Garden Kafo and 10 community leaders, including the chief of Illiassa Village.
During the visit, the women gardeners shared their experiences, challenges and aspirations. Joining Taylor were several key partners and stakeholders, including Dr. Ismaila Mbenga, head of the Integrated Pest Management Directorate at NARI; Dr. Lamin Dibba, director of research at NARI; Besenty Gomez, a women’s empowerment and sustainable agriculturist; and Abdoulie Jammeh, a program management consultant. Isatou Dibba, secretary general of the Illiassa Women Garden Kafo, welcomed the delegation and facilitated the daylong event, which included a tour of the garden. The visit provided an opportunity for targeted technical advice and meaningful community dialogue.
A central theme throughout the discussions was the need to strengthen partnerships and enhance market access. The team emphasized that coordinated branding and communitydriven marketing strategies could improve visibility, competitiveness and profitability for the gardeners. Practical solutions were also discussed to address day-to-day agricultural challenges. A key recommendation focused on water management: the team advised filling reservoirs during peak sunlight hours to ensure a more consistent water supply for irrigation, which is particularly vital during the dry season when water scarcity limits productivity.
Local leadership played an active role in the discussions. The village Alkalo (chief) expressed enthusiastic support for the project, highlighting the value of unity, organization and mutual support among the women. The village Imam raised an important concern regarding the women’s vulnerability to exploitation by middlemen and underscored the need for a structured, fair marketing framework to ensure reasonable prices and longterm sustainability.
The team emphasized that coordinated branding and communitydriven marketing strategies could improve visibility, competitiveness and profitability for the gardeners.
Another promising opportunity discussed was the potential formation of a vegetable cooperative and the construction of a cold storage facility. Such infrastructure would allow the women to preserve perishable crops longer, reduce post-harvest losses and access more distant markets — factors critical to the success of small-scale producers.
The collaboration between South Carolina State University researchers and extension specialists, the Government of The Gambia through NARI and the University of The Gambia Undergraduate Internship Scheme represents more than agricultural assistance; it is a model of community-driven empowerment. By placing women at the center of rural economic development and blending expert knowledge with local insight, the initiative is laying the foundation for a more long-term, well-rounded agricultural economy in The Gambia.
As the project moves forward, continued community engagement, technical guidance and infrastructure development will be essential. The strong commitment shown by stakeholders thus far signals a promising future — one in which women are not only cultivators of the land but leaders shaping sustainable rural livelihoods. ///
Lincoln University conducts five international disease symposia in its contribution to the Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (CEGFSD). These events were designed to foster international partnerships with Latin American peers that would strengthen agricultural integrity in developing countries and engage international researchers in addressing new and emerging pests and diseases. To date, there have been 22 separate countries participating in the symposia with a combined 1,250 attendees. The largest proportion of participants were students, followed by teachers, extension agents, researchers, and farmers (Figure 1)
The biannual, daylong symposia titled “Monitoring Emergent Plant and Animal Diseases for Food Security in the Americas” adheres to a consistent format featuring plant diseases in the morning sessions, followed by animal diseases in the afternoon. Topics are selected through participant feedback and by needs highlighted by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The international planning committee for each symposium includes two researchers from Lincoln University, Dr. Jessica Epple-Farmer and Dr. Homero Salinas-Gonzalez, as well as Dr. Avelino Hernandez of Mexico and Dr. Walfer Martinez of Guatemala.
Students = 45%
Extension Agents = 18%
Researchers = 15%
Teachers = 17%
Farmers = 7%
Figure 1
(by country attending the December 2025 Symposium)
Anthracnose - fungal disease affecting trees, fruit & vegetables x x
Aphid (legumes, cowpea, walnuts, yellow, sugarcane) x x x
Bark beetles (pine) x
Bean beetle x
Black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus x x
Black rot x
Blight (late) (tomato, potato) x x
Cabbage Moth (Cabbage looper) x
Citrus greening (Huanglongbing (HLB)) x
Coffee leaf rust x
Corn Tar Spot x
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) x x
Forages diseases and pests x
Fruit tree pest and disease x
Fruit flies (Spotted Wing Drosophila) x x
Fusarium (fungus affecting bananas, barley) x x x
Golden nematode x
Japanese beetle x x
Leaf Blotch x
Leaf Spot x
Lepidopterous larvae (caterpillar, moth, butterfly) x
Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) x x
Mediterranean Fly x
Mosaic Virus x x
Mycotoxins x
Neopestalotiopsis ssp. (strawberries) x
Phytoplasmas x
Pine weevil x x
Potato/tomato psyllid x
Powdery mildew x x x x
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis) tomatoes & potatoes x
Root rot (Phytophthora) x
Root nematodes x
Rust x x x
Small Hive Beetle (bee) x x Spider mite x x
Spittlebugs x
Stink bugs x
Texas root rot (cotton)
Thrips
Weevil
Whitefly
White mold x
Wireworms (click beetles) x
Witchweed (Stringa gesnerioides) x
The composition of this committee ensures participant engagement across all areas of the Americas during the symposium.
With the growing importance of agricultural trade as a component of the U.S. economy, the plant and animal pests and diseases that affect U.S. trading partners are of interest to U.S. officials and U.S. agriculture. As part of the CEGFSD mission, plant and animal diseases of concern to the group‘s Latin American partners are surveyed and the data is used
to drive future research and training agenda. In the globally integrated world, the growth and stability of these partners has significant implications for the U.S. national food security and for the global food system as a whole. CEGFSD shares with its Latin American partners the important cultivation of vegetables, fruits, grains and lumber, as well as the production of poultry, sheep and goats. It is this commonality of shared food that this symposium helps to address food security and defense. ///
The training of University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) agricultural technicians at the UNIKIN farm has received notice. In June 2024, University of Maryland Eastern Shore faculty and staff — including Drs. Nadine Burton, Simon Zebelo and Stephan Tubene — trained UNIKIN agricultural technicians on plasticulture and drip irrigation systems.
Plasticulture, a mulch used to cover the soil before planting a crop, is an efficient technique for weed control and moisture retention while ensuring water is brought to crops through drip irrigation. On the UNIKIN farm hills, a newly plowed piece of land was utilized by UMES scientists to introduce the plasticulture technology to UNIKIN, considering the hilly land and following the topographic contour lines.
In January 2025, upon their return to the UNIKIN farm, Drs. Caleb Nindo, also of UMES, and Tubene discovered major changes implemented by the farm manager, Dr. Mafwuila, and his team of agricultural
technicians. These changes included establishing an irrigation system, the plasticulture and a related drip irrigation system at the UNIKIN farm as the basis for training Ndjili Brasserie’s smallholder farmers, who primarily grow vegetables for the Kinshasa market. This ingenuity was inspired by the training they received the prior year from UMES scientists.
Twenty farmers from the Ndjili Brasserie area surrounding the UNIKIN farm have been trained at the farm on the best cultural practices, including crop plant spacing, grass mulching and comparative analyses of different crop systems. Nindo and Tubene also used the farm facility to train farmers on various technologies and processes, such as crop rotation, legume inclusion in the cropping system and postharvest technologies.
Ndjili Brasserie’s farmers were knowledgeable of the improved agricultural practices learned at previous training sessions. ///
technology.
Posing for a photo are farmers trained on seedlings reproduction, plant and animal pests, and diseases management, water management, postharvest and food processing at the UNIKIN experimental station.
Director Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D. DIC Professor and Dean
Associate Director Stephan Tubene, Ph.D. Professor and Chair
Contact us: email: cegfsd@umes.edu Trigg Hall, Suite 1122 University Blvd. S. Princess Anne, Md. 21853 ph: 410-651-6740 www.umes.edu/sans/ncoe/cegfsd/
Assistant Director Maricelle Saullo, MBA, M.Ed.
Program Coordinator Carlos Cruz, BA
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions. CEIED Award 2020-38427-31514 and CEGFSD Award 2021-38427-34838.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you require a reasonable accommodation or need materials in another formation, please contact: ADA@umes.edu or call 410-651-6135
The CEGFSD Newsletter is published by the Office of Agricultural Communications. agcomm@umes.edu | 410-651-6084