Cultivating connections: Penn State students make global bonds working in Uganda

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sarah Richards has big plans for her future — she wants to be a leader in finding new ways to help farmers grow food more sustainably, using tiny living things called microbes.

To make that happen, the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences doctoral student knows it’s crucial to improve how scientists and farmers communicate and work together to create science and policy that meets real farming needs.

She saw this practice firsthand as part of a team of faculty, students and early career professionals from Penn State, Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, Stockholm Environment Institute and African institutions hosted in July by Makerere University in Uganda.

Their collective mission? To uplift and empower smallholder farmers and policymakers in Uganda through the Collaborative Learning School, a two-week field workshop led by U.S. and African scientists and practitioners as a part of the SustainFood Network, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations program.

The school, the first of five to be held annually, connects participants with farmers, policymakers and other stakeholders to assess food security challenges and identify innovative solutions using the water-energy-food nexus framework.

“This was an incredible opportunity for me to build my professional network and learn about challenges Ugandan farmers face around soil fertility, water supply, access to extension resources and much more,” said Richards, of Laconia, New Hampshire, who is studying ecology with a dual degree in international agriculture and development. “I met colleagues who also care about sustainable food production and are willing to use their life force to improve it.”

Michael Jacobson, professor of forest resources in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, led the Penn State contingent. A faculty member at the University since 1999, Jacobson’s research has taken him worldwide. Still, he has a particular interest in Africa, a continent designated as one of the most populous and poorest in the world.

“A fast-growing population such as Africa's presents many challenges, with food scarcity and land use among the most pressing,” said Jacobson, a Global Faculty Fellow in Ag Sciences Global. “In Uganda, the challenges are substantial, including high levels of poverty, food insecurity and water pollution, to name a few.”

Jacobson said he believes involving his students in international initiatives is valuable, aiming to expand their comprehension of global issues and concerns.

“Exploring different cultures and empathizing with their struggles offers a bounty of wisdom,” he said. “These insights can be used to improve the lives of people around the globe and benefit people in the U.S. and Pennsylvania.”

The Collaborative Learning School was one such opportunity. In addition to community leaders, approximately 50 smallholder farmers from four villages engaged with the team to identify community-level problems and potential solutions. The first week was dedicated to workshops and farmer field schools in Buikwe County, during which the group met with farmers to learn about their current farming techniques and challenges.

Group members spent the second week meeting with community stakeholders and district-level and national policymakers to advise them on solutions to strengthen the agricultural systems.

Their recommendations included improving relationships with universities, building a solid extension network, and developing farmers cooperatives, which will enable them to find a stable market for their produce and acquire agricultural inputs at a cheaper price.

Also making the journey was Jacob Johnson, of Richard, Virginia, who recently graduated with a dual-title doctoral degree in forest resources and international agriculture and development from Penn State. Johnson’s research has delved into southern Africa and the eastern U.S. agricultural systems.

An impactful aspect of the trip for Johnson, who aspires to advance the science of agroecology through research and extension nationally and internationally, was observing discussions about agricultural extension policy and programming between smallholder farmers and policymakers.

“In my experience, smallholder farmers receive few opportunities to engage the government regarding their priorities, challenges and needs for development,” Johnson said. “Seeing these issues discussed in an open and constructive environment was refreshing. Understanding these perspectives offered deeper insights into Uganda’s opportunities and challenges for livelihood improvement and food security.”

The Penn State students also met counterparts from other universities, including Maina Tendai Muindisi, of Harare, Zimbabwe, a master’s degree student studying agriculture at Bindura University, Zimbabwe, and an agriculture teacher at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of Zimbabwe.

For her, one draw of participation was learning more about climate change adaptation strategies such as using drought-resistant crops, water conservation techniques and climate-smart farming practices. However, the experience went beyond learning about agricultural technology.

“l was among a diverse group of students hailing from different corners of the globe, each bringing their unique perspectives on agriculture, food systems and sustainability,” she said. “l forged lasting friendships, fostering a sense of international cooperation and solidarity.”

Likewise, Richards came away from the experience with new friendships and insights.

“When you consider the overwhelming scale of the world’s most pressing challenges, the only way forward is through a highly functional global network of diverse professionals,” she said. “It was truly an honor to be a part of something that is working toward that.”