Perspectives May 2017 and Annual Review | 页面 21

IFDC Training HostS S u c c e s s f u l S t u dy T o u r IFDC’s specialized trainings attract professionals from many fields, from farmers to non-governmental organization workers to officials from ministries of agriculture. The 2016 U.S. Study Tour, the largest in the annual event’s history, attracted more than 40 innovative farmers, agronomists, soil scientists, researchers, and extension agents from over 20 countries. These participants visited 25 organizations, companies, and universities in six states to learn the latest in agricultural science, and guest speakers – including IFDC staff and other leaders in the U.S. agricultural industry – shared their experience with the group. Participants were introduced to five U.S. agricultural value chains: corn, cotton, rice, soya bean, and vegetable. They were exposed to technology advances in precision agriculture, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and water and nutrient management. In addition, the trip offered many networking and knowledge- sharing opportunities – and several attendees even found time to catch a Cardinals game in St. Louis, Missouri. The study tour was one of IFDC’s most successful, to date, and according to one participant, the training was “a very excellent program…on considering the future of agriculture. I am concerned more than ever before of the need to develop new mindsets, skills, and attitudes in order to transform agriculture in developing countries. I will recommend the program to my colleagues.” Read the whole story at: http://bit.ly/IFDCStudyTour. 20