The Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Lab (PMIL) participated in a meeting with some of the key staffers of the United States Senate Agriculture Committee, followed by a reception, in Washington D.C. on Wednesday September 17th, 2014.
The importance of the Innovation Labs and the Feed the Future Initiative was the main topic of the presentation and discussion before the Senate Agriculture Committee staff.
The meeting also touched on topics such as cross-university research collaboration, food security and national security.
The Innovation Lab Directors who spoke at the event included:
- Irv Widders, Michigan State University, Grain Legumes
- Tim Dalton, Kansas State University, Sorghum and Millet
- Dave Hoisington, University of Georgia, Peanut & Mycotoxin
- Richard Bowen, Colorado State University, Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change
- Betty Bugusu, Purdue University, Food Processing and Post-Harvest Handling
- Jonathan Lynch, Pennsylvania State University, Climate Resilient Beans
At the reception, immediately following the Ag. Committee Staff meeting, many of the Innovation Labs, including PMIL, were able to meet and discuss their work with many stakeholders. Kansas State University hosted the reception on behalf of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab Council, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development.
John McDermott and Kitty Cardwell, members of PMIL’s External Advisory Panel also attended the reception.