P.K. Nair – UF Agroforestry Pioneer – Receives Two National Awards

By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-1773 ext. 281

Source:
P.K. Nair pknair@ufl.edu, 352-846-0880

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.—P.K. Nair, distinguished professor of agroforestry at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), will receive two national awards for his scientific contributions.

The Society of American Foresters will present its Barrington Moore Memorial Award to Nair for outstanding achievements in agroforestry research, and the Crop Science Society of America will present its 2004 International Crop Science Award to Nair for bringing about changes at the international level in practices, products and programs related to crop production.

Nair will receive the Society of American Foresters award in Edmonton, Canada, Oct. 4, and he will receive the Crop Science Society of America award in Seattle Nov. 2.

“Not only is P.K. Nair an internationally acknowledged leader in agroforestry, he is largely responsible for its development as a scientific discipline by applying agronomic concepts and practices to forestry,” said Ann Camp, chair of the Society of American Foresters Science and Technology Board, which makes recommendations for the award. “Because of his work, developing countries no longer need make the difficult choice between growing food or growing fiber. With agroforestry, both can be accomplished on the same piece of ground.”

Jerry Bennett, chairman of UF’s agronomy department who supported Nair’s nomination for the Crop Science Society of America award, said Nair is a well-respected, international leader in agroforestry, and his expertise has been valuable to many around the globe, especially those in tropical and subtropical regions.

Nair said he was “quite pleased by the simultaneous and independent recognition of agroforestry by leading professional societies of forestry and crop science.”

Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create land-use systems that are integrated, diverse and environmentally sustainable. Such practices in North America include windbreaks, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping, silvopasture and forest farming in sustainable agricultural systems.

Nair is a pioneering researcher, educator and world leader in agroforestry. He is director of the Center for Subtropical Agroforestry in UF’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation. He has a doctoral degree in agronomy from Pantnagar Agricultural University, India; a doctor of science in agriculture from Goettingen University, Germany; and an honorary doctor of agriculture degree from Kyoto University, Japan.

He has been editor-in-chief of Agroforestry Systems since 1994 and has served on the editorial board of Plant and Soil for six years. He served as chair of the Global Organizing Committee for the 1st World Congress of Agroforestry in Orlando in July 2004.

The Crop Science Society of America is affiliated with the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy, both of which have previously named Nair a fellow, their highest recognition, and given him international service awards. With this year’s award from Crop Science Society of America, Nair has garnered awards from these three affiliated societies. Nair also is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Wayne Smith, former director of the UF forestry school and interim IFAS dean for research, said agroforestry is a multidisciplinary field, and Nair’s recognition shows expertise in a variety of fields related to agroforestry.

“Certainly P.K. Nair has brought science to the practice of agroforestry,” said Smith. “Winning these awards brings full recognition to his contributions to agroforestry.”

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Posted: August 17, 2004


Category: UF/IFAS



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