UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ram Neupane, a graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, will be one of 20 members of the inaugural Young Scientists Cohort at the World Food Forum.
The World Food Forum is an independent, youth-led global network of partners facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal is to encourage and empower young people to raise awareness about the global hunger crisis and shape sustainable development goals for agrifood systems.
The Young Scientists Cohort will bring together young professionals to provide scientific evidence and technical knowledge for various initiatives of the World Food Forum. The cohort also will help develop an annual report on specific policy issues related to agrifood systems to help the organization prioritize its initiatives.
“The group is designed to help young people share knowledge and actively create solutions to drive sustainable transformation,” said Neupane. “They also want to engage youth in policymaking, innovation and overall improvement of current agrifood systems.”
Neupane, a first-generation college student, is pursuing a dual-title doctorate in plant pathology and in international agriculture and development (INTAD). He focuses his research on better understanding the biology and epidemiology of bacterial diseases of onion while also working to develop augmented management strategies. He grew up in a rural part of Nepal, where his parents were engaged in agriculture.
“My early childhood upbringing in an agrarian family motivated me to study agriculture,” he said. “I completed my undergraduate studies in agriculture in Nepal. During that time, I also completed various international agriculture-related projects that sparked my current interests.”
One of these projects included an integrative agriculture study, Feed the Future Asia Innovation Farmer Project, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Syngenta and Winrock International. During this project, Neupane worked with growers and other students from around Asia, including Nepal and Vietnam.
After finishing his undergraduate studies, Neupane went to Kasetsart University in Thailand and worked on a project that explored rice diseases. “My experience in Thailand played an influential role in my decision to pursue plant pathology and INTAD at Penn State,” he said. “Penn State has an excellent, internationally renowned program and faculty. I was familiar with Penn State projects in Nepal, which made me excited to be part of the program.”
As part of the Young Scientists Cohort, Neupane will work with a diverse group. “I’m looking forward to networking with other young scientists from around the globe,” he said. “It will be a learning experience for me. Since the cohort is so diverse, there is a lot you can learn about the complexities of the food system and different perspectives.”
“Ram has sought to participate in opportunities that have an international impact,” said Beth Gugino, professor of vegetable pathology and Neupane’s adviser. “The opportunity to be part of this inaugural Young Scientists Cohort at the World Food Forum will enable him to continue engaging in initiatives that address complex agrifood systems issues and network with a diverse group of young international scientists driven to the same call.”
After completing his education, Neupane noted, he wants to continue working in academia. “I envision myself in academia and equally engaged in extension and agriculture-related policy issues,” he said. “I want to continue collaborating and working with scientists in the social sciences. I believe collaboration is the main driver of scientific research and innovation.”