NIFA chief to CSU: 'Let's walk together' to feed Ohio, the world

Above: Dr. Manjit Misra, director of the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), speaks during the Central State University Land-Grant 10th Anniversary Celebration.

During his short visit to Central State University last week, Dr. Manjit Misra, director of the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), commended CSU's commitment to its 1890 Land-Grant mission, a historic designation it won in 2014 — 125 years after its first attempt.

"I just want to express my thanks for how wisely you are investing the funding that you have obtained from NIFA. We remain ready to have this conversation (about the way forward), to have this collaboration." — Dr. Manjit Misra

Peppering his April 26 luncheon keynote speech with personal anecdotes that easily drew laughter from his audience, Misra said: "I travel a bit in Africa and one thing they (Africans) say is, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'" 

He said NIFA will continue to work with Central State, Ohio's only public Historically College or University (HBCU), in its research, Extension, and education mission to feed the state and the world through sustainable agriculture. 

"Let's go together" to go far, he said. 

Misra spoke about the 4Cs that he noted are important to NIFA: capacity, collaboration, cultivation, and communication. 

"The 4Cs, that's where NIFA is going to be focused on, that's where you are focused on. I can tell from your research, from your Extension activities," he said. 

At the same time, Misra cautioned that capacity is "not just the physical capacity, but the faculty, the staff and equipment." 

Dr. Morakinyo Kuti, incoming President, vice president for Research and Development, and director of the 1890 Land-Grant Program, echoed Misra's words, adding that CSU shares the same 4Cs and will continue to work to align with NIFA's goal for sustainable agriculture throughout the nation and around the world. 

The celebration and open house ended with tree planting in the CSU Seed to Bloom Botanical and Community Garden in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Land-Grant Program, Arbor Day, and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expressed delight over Central State's impressive growth in 10 years.

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Takeaways from the celebration

By several accounts and assessments, University officials and organizers agree that Central State University’s Land-Grant Open House/10th-anniversary celebration was a success (a “terrific event” in the words of one of them) — due in no small measure to beautiful spring weather and impressive turnout of invited legislators, public office holders, and stakeholders from across Ohio.   

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From research lab and demonstration farm tours, to showcases of Extension and research displays, to visiting National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) director's luncheon keynote speech, to the tree-planting ceremony with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in the Seed to Bloom Botanical and Community Garden, some takeaways emerged from the day's celebration. Here are just a handful of them:

• Misra, director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, connected strongly with his audience in his measured, good-natured, folksy storyteller style. He drew a sustained applause with some insight about NIFA: "The two strong pillars we (NIFA) will base our program is diversity and equity. I understand that there is some backlash regarding these two (ideals in society today), but NIFA is going to remain true to diversity and equity."
• Misra freely offered heartwarming and encouraging words to Central State students and their mentoring professors he met in labs and demonstration farms who shared with him some insight into their ongoing agricultural research projects.
• CSU students expressed a sense of accomplishment as the next generation of agriculture professionals and for being a part of their University's Land-Grant history. On their part, the research professors voiced optimism for the future growth of the Land-Grant Program.