Professional Societies in Agriculture:

Their Roles and Functioning

Tom Hammett

Director, InnovATE, Virginia TechRUFORUM 4TH Biennial Conference,

Mozambique

July 25, 2014Innovation for Agricultural Training and Education

Who is innovATE?The program is implemented by a consortium of US universities:

Virginia Tech with:• Tuskegee University, • Penn State University,

and • University of Florida• Others to be added

Session Objectives: Share experiences and best practices

of professional associations Increase influence and strengthen

roles Improve efficiency Build capacity through collaboration

and partnerships Bolster agricultural development and

food security through the work of professional associations

Benefits of Professional Associations:

Networking opportunities Training and Mentoring programs Conferences that highlight research

and share experiences Professional publications such as

journals and newsletters Improve public awareness Provide forums to stay up to date on

innovations

International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO)

“IUFRO is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists, which promotes global cooperation in forest-related research and enhances the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees” www.iufro.org

Forest Products Society

“The Forest Products Society is an international not-for-profit technical association founded in 1947 to provide an information network for all segments of the forest products industry.” http://www.forestprod.org/about

NACTA Forum for discussion of teaching tips and strategies

Improve post-secondary teaching of agriculture through examination of courses and curricula, teaching and testing techniques, facilities and materials

Reward instructional excellence

Promote research through their annual conference http://www.nactateachers.orgAssociation for International

Agriculture and Extension Education Forum for professional networking

Initiate new educational programs

Annual Conference

Scholarly Journal and newsletter https://www.aiaee.org/

Professional

Societies

Jordan- Water User’s Association

Uganda-Uganda Seed Trade Association

Nicaragua-AmCham

Research and Innovation

Build Capacit

y though training

Public Awarene

ss

• Online network of agricultural

development professionals

• Collaborative discussion spaces for

AET and agriculture

• Resource sharing and project

development

• Global training events database

• French and Spanish discussion pages

The innovATE Community of Practice

www.innovate-community.oired.vt.edu

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Innovation for Agricultural Training and Education

Tom Hammett, DirectorVirginia Techhimal@vt.edu www.oired.vt.edu 540-231-2716

InnovATE is supported by a grant from USAID and managed by Virginia Tech’s Office of International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED). This project was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development and the generous support of the American people through USAID Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-L-12-00002

Thank you to RUFORUM for allowing us to present and to our sponsors and university partners who collaborated in order to complete this project.