PROJECTS
1 PROOF OF CONCEPT
Several years ago, when we heard our first accounts of missionaries in search of agricultural expertise, we were surprised to learn they had not first searched for expertise in their host country. We also wondered if these stories were just outliers, or whether there might be a more widespread phenomenon, in which the Church genuinely desires to get involved in food and agricultural development, yet is missing out on all the technical resources at its disposal. We needed to know more.
We developed a survey with input from scientists on the front lines of agricultural research in the developing world. Since 2016 we've surveyed three missions organizations, representing about 500 missions teams across the globe. The representative response was pretty obvious. Of those respondents serving in rural communities, 92% stated they saw a need for improvement in agricultural productivity, yet only half of these were aware of agricultural expertise and resources which they believe could address the need they see.
Next, we wanted to hear from scientists. We had conversations with researchers from across the US who have dedicated their careers to working on agricultural issues plaguing smallholder farmers in the developing world. In every conversation, we heard several recurring sentiments: 1) Scientific discovery could allow agricultural productivity to keep pace with global population growth, 2) but only if new advancements in science can be put to use on the farms of poor farming families, 3) and this requires new and better strategies for delivering the latest scientific advancements to poor farming families who could benefit. We heard it again, and again: our latest breakthroughs to increase agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers are often left "sitting on the shelf" without being shared with those who need them. We see an opportunity for the Church.
2 Asset Mapping
As we began to understand more about the need for connecting science with faith-based efforts in the developing world, it became apparent that our initial task would be, in simplest terms, connecting the dots. To help wrap our heads around making linkages on a global scale, we started by creating a map of the premier international research institutes across the globe, the CGIAR (Google it; the institutes comprising this organization have been increasing the productive capacity of agriculture in almost every corner of the planet for nearly 60 years!). We also mapped the best efforts of the US government in its USAID Feed the Future projects around the world.
Looking at the map below, one starts to get a sense of the ongoing work and resources available to the Church in its effort to address hunger and food security in local communities. The backpacker icons in our map represent respondents to our survey who expressed a desire to get involved in agriculture as ministry; the blue dots represent CGIAR research centers; the green dots indicate research focus areas of the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs. Click the dots on the map for more details, but this is just the beginning.
We've begun building a network. Starting with a relatively small initial group of researchers, little by little, we're making connections with scientists and agriculturalists across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. All of them to ready and willing to offer their assistance and expertise to benefit smallholder farmers.
3
3 Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria
A missions team in Nigeria responded to our survey in late 2016 (when EGX was still just a glimmer in our eye!). Their survey responses and the need they were seeing stood out to us at the time. Then, in mid-2017, as EGX was just starting to organize, they began to come to mind very regularly. We had an initial conversation in December of that year, and a second in January of 2018. Neither the team in Nigeria nor EGX had a clear roadmap, but the need, desire, and opportunity to improve agriculture was becoming evident.
Through the close ties EGX has to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we are beginning to establish connections to researchers and extension professionals within Nigerian institutes. We've also had an initial discussion with scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA, part of the CGIAR), which conducts research across the continent but is conveniently headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria. IITA has ongoing breeding efforts which include breeding for varieties adapted to the unique climate of the Plateau and has offered to provide whatever technical resources and assistance they can.
We are now (June 2018) in what we refer to as the reconnaissance phase of a potential project, learning all we can remotely, before getting on the ground; making contacts at various institutes in the country, learning what we can regarding the climate, topography, and other details of the agroecosystem, and discovering who has the appropriate expertise and who is conducting the latest research applicable to our target region. Stay tuned.
