When Shannon Alford traveled to Ethiopia to help establish a regional soil-testing laboratory, she expected to share Clemson University’s expertise. She returned with new knowledge that could strengthen services for South Carolina farmers.
Alford, director of the Clemson Regulatory Agricultural Service Laboratory, joined scientists from Ohio State University, Auburn University and private industry to install laboratory equipment and train technicians at a new soil-testing laboratory in Woliso, Ethiopia.
The project is part of a broader effort led by the Bethel Agricultural Association in the U.S. and the Bethel Environmental and Agricultural Association in Ethiopia to develop an agricultural teaching and training center.
Benefiting South Carolina farmers
The experience gave Alford firsthand exposure to emerging technologies and new approaches to farmer outreach that could enhance services offered at Clemson. Some new outreach ideas include establishing a soil clinic at the laboratory to demonstrate testing services and holding workshops during field days at the Clemson Research and Education Centers to give farmers opportunities to learn about what crops grow well in their soil type and climate.
Another idea is to have speakers at workshops who speak the farmers’ native language.
“Any time we have an opportunity to learn new ways of serving agricultural communities, we bring that knowledge back to South Carolina,” Alford said.
While working in Ethiopia, Alford gained experience using a microwave-plasma atomic emission spectrometer, a tool for determining macronutrients and micronutrients in soil and other agricultural samples. This tool is fueled by nitrogen. The current tool used in the Clemson lab is fueled by argon gas. Because nitrogen is more readily available, the technology could provide greater operational flexibility during compressed gas shortages.
Beyond the technology, Alford said the project reinforced the importance of connecting scientific information with the farmers who rely on it.
“I gained a renewed appreciation for and desire to communicate well regarding services the Clemson Ag Service Lab provides, and the breadth of services and information Clemson PSA makes available to the South Carolina agriculture community,” she said.
Agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship
Although Ethiopia has a national soil laboratory in Addis Ababa, many soil samples are still sent abroad for analysis. The new regional laboratory will expand access to testing while supporting the long-term goal of improving agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship across Africa.
“We have been told our laboratory will be a game changer for Ethiopia and I believe that is accurate,” said Warren Dick, emeritus professor of soil, crop and environmental sciences at Ohio State and director of the Bethel Agricultural Association. “Currently, many farmers are farming blindly because they do not know the pH (acid level) of their soils, nor the fertility status of their soils. Having access to reliable soil testing will help farmers make better decisions about where to invest their resources and improve their returns.”
Since returning to Clemson, Alford has continued supporting the project remotely while reflecting on the value of international collaboration.
“Language and other barriers do not affect our ability to work together successfully,” Alford said. “Working alongside the team of Americans and Ethiopians is genuinely a joy, honor and privilege.”
The project also reflects the University’s commitment to addressing global challenges through collaborative research and outreach. Jagger Harvey, director of the Clemson University Global Research Initiative, said this work is an excellent example of the initiative in action.
“By sharing Clemson’s expertise with partners in Ethiopia, we are helping address agricultural challenges that have global significance while creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation and learning that benefit communities both abroad and here in South Carolina,” Harvey said.
Scenes from Ethiopia
