Announcing the UTIA Smith International Center

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture was officially launched Friday, November 16, on the UTIA campus. Established through a gift of UT alumni Donald and Terry Smith, the Smith Center brings science-based, sustainable agricultural solutions to meet the challenge of nourishing the world’s population while restoring the planet on which we depend.

The Smith Center facilitates UTIA faculty and staff in developing partnerships with local organizations and institutions around the world. The official launch celebrated the Smith’s generosity and showcased ongoing activities across the six focus regions of Smith Center activities: Central America and the Caribbean, East Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, China and Brazil.

The Smith Center has already secured funding for ongoing projects from private foundations and a range of federal agencies, including USAID and USDA. Among the active projects is a partnership involving Zamura Feeds, Ltd. in Rwanda with support from USAID/Rwanda and the African Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) Foundation. The effort involves providing expertise, training and resources for broiler chicken production by Rwanda farmers. The goals of the project include improvements in both household income and nutrition for project participants in Rwanda’s Musanze District.

“We wanted to say thank you and celebrate the Smith’s vision and transformational giving, which is already helping UTIA and global partners meet the challenge of feeding more than 9 billion people by 2050,” said Tom Gill, Smith Center Endowed Chair for International Sustainable Agriculture.

For more information about the UTIA Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture visit the Center’s: ag.tennessee.edu/international.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrates 50 years of excellence in providing Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery and service. ag.tennessee.edu.