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The Future Research Direction of CGIAR: Lessons Learned from One CGIAR
No full textSince its founding in 1971, CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) has been at the forefront of agricultural innovation, credited with launching the Green Revolution and delivering 1.78 trillion USD in net present value (NPV) benefits globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite these accomplishments, CGIAR now faces internal and external pressures that threaten its future impact. The 2019 reorganization into “One CGIAR” aimed to enhance coordination but has been criticized for adding bureaucracy and reducing scientific autonomy. Simultaneously, public funding for agricultural research is shrinking, while private sector investment often overlooks low-margin, high-need areas central to CGIAR’s mission. Understanding CGIAR’s comparative advantages and research priorities is critical to sustaining its relevance and effectiveness in a world of reduced funding for public agriculture. This study surveyed CGIAR researchers across the CGIAR Centers to assess perceptions of the One CGIAR restructuring and to identify research areas most aligned with CGIAR’s mission. Using a max-diff (best-worst) survey design and random parameter logit models, respondents ranked twelve research priorities. The survey also included Likert-scale items to evaluate the effects of restructuring on research capacity and collaboration. Results reveal substantial divergence in priorities across centers. Overall, climate change mitigation received the highest priority (29.25% market share), while minor/orphan crops ranked lowest (0.65%). Center specialization had a strong influence on the results: policy-focused centers prioritized poverty reduction (58.26%), while commodity and marginal-environment centers emphasized yield enhancement (39.56% and 48.21%, respectively), and natural resource and protein centers focused on climate change mitigation. This study is the first to collect multi-stakeholder views on CGIAR’s future research direction systematically. In doing so, it sheds light on the internal diversity of priorities within CGIAR and offers data-driven insights to inform strategic planning amid declining funding. The results contribute to ongoing debates about the CGIAR’s structure and mission, offering evidence-based direction for enhancing its global impact improving livelihoods
Reflection and Gratitude: The Journal of Food Law & Policy from a Twenty-Year Perspective
No full textTwenty years after the Journal of Food Law & Policy published its first issue, I find myself looking back with deep gratitude for the people who helped create it, for the students who sustained it, and for the community that continues to make it thrive. What began as an untested idea has grown into a respected publication and a cornerstone of a still-growing field. This essay is both a reflection on that journey and a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made it possible
An Interview with Former United States Department of Agriculture General Counsel Janie Simms Hipp and Former Farm Credit Administration General Counsel David Grahn: Reflections on the Past & Future of the Field of Agricultural Law
No full textFormer United States (“U.S.”) Department of Agriculture (“USDA” or “Department”) General Counsel Janie Simms Hipp and Former Farm Credit Administration (“FCA”) General Counsel David Grahn have worked as public servants in the field of agricultural law for over forty years. They have led careers that are illustrative of the meaningful impact that a career in agriculture can have, the breadth and value of the Department of Agriculture, and the diversity of experiences and opportunities that a career in agricultural law can bring.
Janie and David graciously agreed to sit for the following interview in recognition of the 20th Anniversary Edition of the University of Arkansas’s School of Law Journal of Food Law & Policy. They both have longstanding relationships with the University’s Food & Agricultural Law Program and took this opportunity to reflect on the origins of their careers, the major lessons they have learned through their experiences working in federal service, and to discuss what they view as the future direction for the practice of agricultural law. The transcript of that interview follows
Barred From Every Angle: Ninety Days To Save Your Life from Arkansas Prisons
Get PDFCharlie Vaughn has been incarcerated since 1991 in Arkansas’s Tucker Unit maximum security prison, serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder he did not commit. His actual innocence is simply irrelevant in the State of Arkansas due to strict adherence to procedural court filing rules. He has only been denied without opinion or procedurally barred. Despite both state and federal constitutional protections safeguarding liberty and freedom through various rights, including to counsel, to remain silent, a speedy trial, a jury of peers, and due process, wrongful convictions persist. Arkansas stands out among other top incarceration rate states as one where notably few exonerations have occurred. A closer look at the stringent limitations and practical implications of the state’s primary post1conviction remedy, Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 37 (“Rule 37”), reveals that very few inmates with innocence claims ever receive a review of their case on the merits because their claims are often procedurally barred just ninety days into incarceration. This Comment begins with Charlie Vaughn’s story, followed by an overview of how a defendant progresses through Arkansas courts after being found guilty of a felony, providing a past to present overview of collateral post-conviction remedies available. Part II focuses on analyzing the practical implications of Rule 37, the primary state remedy available to wrongfully convicted defendants seeking to overturn their original conviction. Part III concludes with specific recommendations for achieving stated goals of the state in post-conviction relief remedies while defending life and liberty as guaranteed by the Arkansas Constitution
Activity-Based Protein Profiling on Nucleophilic Amino Acid Residues with Pyrocarbonates
Get PDFThe complexity of the proteome requires strategies that efficiently characterize protein functions. Activity-Based Protein Profiling (ABPP) is a method that identifies enzyme activity by targeting key catalytic residues. This study focused on histidine, a residue involved in enzymatic catalysis, metal coordination, and protein-protein interactions. Despite its importance, histidine-specific chemical probes are limited due to its variable reactivity. This work developed and characterized a histidine-specific probe using a pyrocarbonate-based mechanism. Singleresidue assays confirmed selective reactivity of the probe with histidine over other nucleophilic amino acids. Further testing on enzymatic proteins and lysed cell proteomes showed that the probe modified histidine residues with minimal off-target effects. Liquid chromatography confirmed selective labeling of histidine on the small-molecule scale. These results demonstrate the utility of pyrocarbonate probes for characterization by ABPP. These probes provide a method for studying enzyme activity and protein function, with applications in enzymology, drug discovery, and biomarker identification
Reframing Fitness and Nutrition for Women: Understanding Hormonal and Metabolic Differences
Get PDFThis thesis explores how women can consider approaching fitness, nutrition, and recovery based on the physiological differences between men and women. While much of the existing fitness and nutrition research has been based on male participants generalized to women, this paper aims to woman-centric, tailored recommendations. By focusing on hormonal cycles, metabolism, and muscle physiology, my paper will suggest a need for women to adjust their exercise and dietary practices for optimal health outcomes, including fat loss and raised energy levels. My suggestions in this paper are supported by the latest research, including Dr. Stacy Sims\u27 insights on female health, strength training, and sprint interval training (SIT)