A Peanut Information Network and Train-the-Trainer Program

Approach

The goals of this project were to setup an information support program to collect information (such as research results) and make this available to a diverse group of users and beneficiaries (scientists, researchers, students, development workers, extension staff, practitioners, government personnel, policy makers, and others). The project will update the information weekly and revise the PINS website periodically to enhance the system and add new sets of information. Links will be established with international and national research institutions and programs like CRSPs, development projects, universities, NGOs and other institutions as sources of updated peanut related information. There are many common constraints to production, post-harvest and value-adding processes of peanuts worldwide, hence, an information network and training program that address all three major sectors (producer values, processor values, and consumer values) of the peanut value chain would benefit from one common source. A program such as PINS would ensure the quality and timeliness of the information.

Achievements

A worldwide web-based Peanut Information Network System (PINS), was initiated to share ongoing information developed worldwide by the Peanut CRSP and other peanut research organizations, publications, training programs, production practices, peanut -based foods, meetings, workshops and related news and links. Key are links to the research and publication sections of the Georgia Peanut Commissions (GPC), American Peanut Research and Education Society (APRES) journal, International Crop Research Institute for Semi- Arid Tropics journal, the Annual Hot Topics on Peanuts workshop, peanut-specific farming and processing equipment and manufacturers and the USDA germplasm database. Dr. S. K. Sefa-Dedah, HC co-principal investigator, Ghana, has been named to coordinate input from the African countries.

This project has received matching funds ($2000) from the Georgia Peanut Commission on the Hot Topics workshop, and a grant ($7500) from the National Peanut Board through the Southeastern Peanut Research The initiative to study the “Functionality of Peanut Ingredients in Production of Peanut Pancake Instant Mix,” showed the support for this program by the peanut industry. The PINS, during one year had a total of nearly 18,000 visits and over 47,000 hits with an average 49 visits and 130 hits a day. A needs survey was underway to develop an annual Train-the-Trainer program to address peanut production, harvesting and storage practices and constraints. Because of the peanut butter recall from the Peanut Corporation of America, the focus of the speaker presentations on the Hot Topics workshop presented on PINS was on food safety, a topic of worldwide importance.

New information added to PINS in 2011 include; APRES Annual Meeting abstracts from 2003-2010, reports on Georgia Peanut Commission funded research, USDA National Peanut Research Laboratory publications, and increased information in the Producer and Processor Values section. The Hot Topics session during the 2010 Georgia Peanut Tour included presentations on Harvesting and Post-Harvest storage. Seven speakers were on the program and 90 attended the conference. The Georgia Peanut Commission provided $2,500 in matching funds for Hot Topics and a grant from the National Peanut Board provided a grant through the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative ($17,000) on “Peanut Biscuit Ready Mix as a Nutrient Dense Food”. The 2011 Hot Topics session on the Georgia Peanut Tour was on “Processing and Quality”, with five speakers and 90 people in attendance. The Georgia Peanut Commission provided $2,500 to help support the Session. The principal investigator also received a grant of $5,000 from the Georgia Peanut Commission for “Development of a peanut ice cream mix from peanut flour to increase overall market potential of peanuts.” The 2012 Hot Topics session on the Georgia Peanut Tour focused on “Peanut Diseases” with six speakers and about 100 in attendance and $2,000 in cost shared fund support by the Georgia Peanut Commission. The PINS had a total of 6,013 visits with 11,387 pages viewed from Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012.