URBANA, Ill. — President Bush has announced his intention to appoint University of Illinois Dean of Agriculture Bob Easter chairman of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD).<br>

Created in 1975 under Title XII (“Famine Prevention and Freedom From Hunger”) of the Foreign Assistance Act, BIFAD advises the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator on agricultural development priorities and issues. The seven BIFAD members, all of whom are appointed by the president, are also charged with monitoring activities under Title XII.<br>

“I’m looking forward to the role of chairman and working with the other board members,” said Easter. “It’s a great thing to be named to this position and to be able to participate on a board that makes recommendations which can impact the entire world.”
Easter was first named to BIFAD in 2006, when his
 office received a call from the White House appointments office.<br>
“I’m not sure how the hands of fate came to rest on my name for the appointment,” said Easter. “One day the phone rang and my secretary said, ‘The White House wants to talk to you.’ I do know that at least four board appointees must be from universities, and the appointments have historically gone to deans of agriculture from those universities.”<br>

USAID is the prime recipient of BIFAD’s efforts and recommendations, benefiting from board members’ knowledge of developments in food and agriculture research and policy. Easter, who was named interim chairman of BIFAD last year, said he is looking forward to coming up with fresh ideas and recommendations for USAID while continuing work on longstanding research projects.<br>

“One of the challenges we have is re-engaging the university community and (USAID) in their joint efforts. (BIFAD) is hosting a conference of deans in April that will address priorities in development and facilitate how to best move forward to work on these activities together,” said Easter.<br>

BIFAD is currently involved with about 10 ongoing university projects, Easter noted, including those focusing on nutrition in peanuts and growing small grains in developing countries.
“There are always matters coming up that are relative to those projects that the board must address,” he said.<br>

USAID is an independent government agency that conducts foreign assistance and humanitarian aid.<br>

Noted swine nutritionist<br>

Robert A. “Bob” Easter was appointed dean of the UoI College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) in 2002. In the six years previous, he served as head of the Department of Animal Sciences after 20 years of faculty work for that department. He currently holds the title of professor.<br>

Easter is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, the British Society of Animal Science, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology and the Illinois Council of for Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR).<br>

He has spoken to audiences in 27 foreign countries and the United States about swine nutrition and has authored more than 75 articles, numerous papers for conferences and industry publications and one book.<br>

Along with his graduate students, Easter has investigated the amino acid needs of lactating sows, the impact of post-weaning nutrition on growth composition to market and the use of various agents to alter lean growth in pigs.<br>

His teaching has been recognized by the American Society of Animal Science. In 1992, Easter received an American Feed Industry Assoc. Award, followed in 1994 with the presentation of the Paul A. Funk Award for contributions to Illinois agriculture from the College of ACES.<br>

“It sometimes seems strange that I would be in this role (BIFAD chairman),” said Easter, “but I am a nutritionist first and an agriculturist second, so it’s not too uncomfortable of a fit.”
Easter was named interim chairman of BIFAD last year and will serve as chairman through August 2009.