March 8, 2013
Agronomy professor appointed to board of International Agriculture Center
Chuck Rice, university distinguished professor of agronomy, has been appointed to the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, or CIAT, board of trustees for his expertise on soils and climate.
The center’s mission is to reduce hunger and poverty, and improve human health in the tropics through research aimed at increasing the eco-efficiency of agriculture. Rice will be one of 10 board members.
In additional to his role on the board, Rice will serve on the Independent Science Panel of the CGIAR Research Program, Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, or CCAFS. CCAFS is a strategic partnership of the CGIAR and Future Earth, an international research initiative for global sustainability. International Center for Tropical Agriculture is the lead center for CCAFS, which helps smallholder farmers adapt to and mitigate the effects of rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable rains.
Rice is one of only two members from the United States on the 13-member Independent Science Panel. The independent science panel oversees Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security partnership and makes decisions on strategy and resources.
The membership of the independent science panel consists of internationally recognized scientists in the field of climate change and food security. Members are appointed for three years with possible reappointment for an additional period of up to three years.
Established in 1967, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture is one of the oldest and most prestigious international agricultural organizations. It has a large staff of about 200 scientists and collaborates with hundreds of partners to conduct high-quality research and translate the results into development impact. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture is backed by the Colombian government and the Rockefeller, Ford and Kellogg foundations.
CGIAR is a global consortium that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. Its mission is carried out by 15 centers. CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.