February 8, 2021
Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab hosts virtual annual meeting with partners, collaborators from around the world
The Feed the Future Lab on Collaborative Research for Sustainable Intensification, or SIIL, at Kansas State University hosted its 2021 virtual annual meeting Jan. 26-28. More than 170 participants were in attendance, including research partners and funding recipients of the lab, along with local leaders and participants. These included individuals from numerous countries across the globe.
Over the three days, each project and consortium had a highlight promotional video and a presentation of its research on sustainable agriculture innovations followed by a question and answer session. This provided time for engagement and cross-functional collaboration between the multiple projects and consortiums.
Richard B. Myers, K-State president, spoke for the official opening on the first day of the meeting. He expressed gratitude to all the individuals connected to the SIIL for their commitment to making positive impacts on the environment.
"Do not underestimate the impact you are having on our world," Myers said, directed toward those who are involved with the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab who are researching and implementing sustainable intensification practices.
Also present at the meeting were members of the United States Agency for International Development and the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab External Advisory Board. Board members commented on the work the lab is achieving and proposed questions about ways each project and consortium can enhance the work underway pertaining to sustainable intensification.
Charles Taber, provost and executive vice president of K-State, spoke about the importance of the global work the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab executes.
"This was such a pleasure to join in for the SIIL annual meeting," Taber said. "I am so proud of our work in the SIIL and our other innovation labs."
Comments from USAID partners included appreciating the immensity of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab portfolio, the positive engagement through the meeting and the dedicated work to find innovative ways to combat global food and nutritional security.
"For the past five years, the SIIL delivered important and meaningful impacts that advanced the goals and land-grant mission of Kansas State University," said Ernie Minton, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension.
Vara Prasad, university distinguished professor and director of the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, highlighted the positive impacts of the SIIL in each of its focus countries.
"We have the ability to identify problems, solutions and options through research and translate those into appropriate innovations for smallholder farmers," Prasad said. "The SIIL has formed networks and established relationships with host -country organizations around the world to scale up innovations to have maximum positive impact."
This was the first year the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab hosted its annual meeting virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
All presentation and highlight videos from each project and consortium can be found on the lab's YouTube channel.