March 10, 2008

1. OFPA Convention Set for March 25-26

2. Farm Policy Analyst to Speak on Organic Issues

3. CSES Seminar March 10 at the University of Arkansas

4. Food Science Seminar March 10

5. Research Incentive Grant Proposals Due March 14
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1. OFPA Convention Set for March 25-26

"Sustainability for the Food and Agriculture Industry" is the theme of the 102nd Ozark Food Processors Association Convention and Exposition to be held March 25 and 26. The activities begin with a golf tournament at 9 a.m. March 25 at Shadow Valley Country Club in Rogers. Events then move to the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale where there will be a reception and industry dinner at 6 p.m. that will include a performance by the Trout Fishing in America musical duo.

A series of addresses will highlight the morning session on March 26 following the welcoming remarks at 9 a.m. by Milo J. Shult, University of Arkansas System vice president for agriculture.

The morning's speakers will be OFPA President Earl Wells at 9:15 a.m.; Jay Billings, marketing manager for Ball Corp., discussing sustainable food packaging at 9:30 a.m.; John Tengwall, Ecolab, Inc., vice president for food, beverage and water care, discussing sustainable water at 10 a.m.; Gary Whicker, J.B. Hunt Transportation Services senior vice president of engineering services, discussing sustainable transportation at 10:45 a.m.; Kevin Igli, Tyson Foods senor vice president and chief environmental health and safety officer, discussing sustainability in food processing at 11:15 a.m.; and Craig Watson, Sysco Corp. vice president for quality assurance and agricultural sustainability, discussing sustainability in agriculture at 11:45 a.m.

The winners of OFPA and other scholarships will be recognized at the noon luncheon. The annual food processing exposition from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. will feature more than 100 exhibits of products, services and equipment in the food industry.
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2. Farm Policy Analyst to Speak on Organic Issues

Mark Kastel of The Cornucopia Institute will present "Who Owns Organic?" at 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 10, in room 339 of the Leflar Law Center at the University of Arkansas. Kastel will speak about issues in organic agriculture and will conclude his presentation with a question and answer session. The event is free and open to the public.
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3. CSES Seminar March 10 at the University of Arkansas
 
Michelle McDonald will present "Poultry Litter History Effects on Arsenic Adsorption to Soil" and Ryan Stoner will present "Long-Term Variation in Sediment Phosphorus Below a Rural Effluent Discharge" at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, in PTSC 009.
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4. Food Science Seminar March 10

John Dickerson, associate director of food technology and material development-snacks, coffee, and petcare, Proctor and Gamble, Lewisberg, Ohio will present a seminar titled "Research and Development in the Pet Food Industry" at 3:40 p.m. Monday, March 10, in room D-2 of the FDSC building. For more information, contact Connie Tharel at 575-4605 or ctharel@uark.edu.
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5. Research Incentive Grant Proposals Due March 14

Proposals for the annual Research Incentive Grants Program are due in the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station grants and contracts office by March 14. Since this program uses AES F&A (indirect) funds, only faculty with a greater than 50% AES appointment are eligible to apply.

This program uses AES funds to support small seed grants to develop preliminary data for external grant development. The program consists of three categories: one for new faculty in their first five years of appointment, another for established faculty looking to move into other research arenas and a final category for multidisciplinary grant development. Guidelines are available through the AES grants office website at: http://www.uark.edu/admin/aesbus/grant_files/PDF_files/Guidelines_Research_Incentive_Program.PDF
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