Entry: Paul Ntim, WCF intern from Columbia University, and Ghana Cocoa Board,Statistician
I had the opportunity to visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services-Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory (SPCL) in Beltsville, Maryland on July 25, 2007. The visit afforded me the opportunity to see ongoing research activities aimed at addressing diseases and pests that threatens cocoa and coffee production in the world but focuses mostly on Central and South America.
My knowledge in biology and chemistry was refreshed. I had interesting discussion in areas such as biological and chemical disease control and development of agronomic systems for cocoa and alternative crops; environmental quality impacts from pesticides use on perennial crops; molecular characterization and diversity assessment of cocoa germplasm, biodiversity, cocoa farming irrigation as pertains in Australia, Adaptation of cocoa production to climatic changes among others. I visited various units within the laboratory that deal with particular research activities to see research instruments and demonstration of research procedures. In the end, I appreciated the fact that, sustaining the global cocoa economy goes beyond market and economic conditions, policy makers, the farmers, industry regulators among others. In fact, it involves a greater number of stakeholders whose roles and activities should be properly coordinated and integrated aimed at sustaining the global cocoa economy.
The visit was, of course, made possible by wonderful and affable scientists of SPCL made up of Lyndel W. Meinhardt-Research leader, Dapeng Zhang-Genetists, Fernando E. Vega-Entomologist, Francisco Posada, Prakash K. Hebbar, Cocoa Pests and Diseases Specialist of Mars Inc., Robert D. Lumsden- Cocoa Research Specialist and Consultant of World Cocoa Foundation and visit coordinator; and Eric Rosenquist-Tropical Commodities National Program Leader. To them, I say kudos.
Photo: Paul Ntim in the laboratory at Beltsville.