91传媒 partnership with Italy鈥檚 University of Salento bolsters utilization of smart technology, advancing sustainable agriculture
Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 new partnership between 91传媒 and Italy鈥檚 University of Salento will benefit both institutions as faculty work together advancing solutions to global food supply challenges through digital technology and smart agriculture.
University of Salento Rector Fabio Pollice and Vice Rector Maria Antonietta Aiello recently met with 91传媒 Associate Vice President for International Programs Dan Reynolds, High Performance Computing Collaboratory Director Trey Breckenridge and Professor Alex Thomasson, head and endowed chair in 91传媒鈥檚 Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 91传媒 Senior Advisor for European and Data Science Development Domenico 鈥淢immo鈥 Parisi also was part of the 91传媒 delegation visiting Lecce, Italy. A reciprocal visit by the Salento leaders to Mississippi and 91传媒 is planned for late summer or early fall.
The institutions plan a digital technology and sustainable agriculture workshop next semester in Salento with an additional spring event involving faculty from both universities. Among the collaborative work will be 91传媒鈥檚 involvement in addressing Xylella, a bacteria that has killed olive trees in the Salento region.
91传媒 Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw said both entities are welcoming the new alliance and looking forward to the productivity that will result.
鈥淢y colleagues at 91传媒 enjoyed their recent visit and returned with enthusiasm about the opportunity to establish a sustainable partnership with the University of Salento. I find the topic of digital technology and smart agriculture extremely important to meet the increased demand for high quality production of foods while we also preserve our environment and natural resources,鈥 Shaw said.
鈥淚 look forward to learning more from scientists at the University of Salento and the visit of Rector Pollice to our university. I believe in this partnership because it creates opportunities for our students to become international citizens and for faculty to deepen their scientific collaboration with peers in different contexts,鈥 he continued.
Rector Pollice described the recent meeting as 鈥渁 very fruitful cognitive meeting which gave us the opportunity to illustrate and compare resources and skills.鈥
Of the mutual topics of interest, Pollice referred to smart technologies for sustainable agriculture as 鈥渁 theme of fundamental importance for our territory, which will therefore be able to make use of a strategic partner for international projection, with undoubted positive repercussions also for the training of our students.鈥
Learn more about the University of Salento at .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .