PRINCESS ANNE, MD- (June 30, 2020)- Dr. Moses T. Kairo is the incoming chair of the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy.  Kairo, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s dean of the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, was elected to the post during the organization’s fall meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 25.  He will serve a one-year term commencing July 1.

ESCOP is the “representative governing body of the Experiment Station Section, a unit of the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources, Board on Agriculture Assembly.”  Kairo, as ESCOP chair and in consultation with its executive committee, will lead the 1890 and 1862 agricultural experiment station directors and appoint representatives among them to other committees, agencies, associations and organizations.  ESCOP handles the continuing business, organization and policy issues on behalf of all the land-grant universities.

Each agricultural experiment station director or research director participates in an independent regional association affiliated with APLU and that has representation on the ESCOP.

“Research by scientists in the nation’s Agricultural Experiment Stations have transformed agriculture and food production as well as the management of both natural and managed ecosystems. Indeed, I have no doubt that the solutions to many of the current challenges we face including how we will feed 9.5 billion people in the year 2050 will be generated by these scientists,” Kairo said.

Kairo has over 24 years of experience in senior administrative and scientific leadership including over 15 years in the land-grant system, seven years of which have been at UMES as the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences dean. Kairo has previously provided leadership for the 1890 Agricultural Research Directors and served in other committees of the Board on Agriculture Assembly. Prior to his academic career, Kairo worked in international development and has implemented projects in many countries.

Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, School of Agricultural & Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.