Institute for Food & Agricultural Literacy (IFAL)
UC Davis World Food Center
The World Food Center Institute for Food & Agricultural Literacy (IFAL) serves as a global resource for
science---based information on food and agriculture, with two overarching goals:
1. Provide science---based information about food and agriculture to consumers, policy makers,
non---governmental organizations (NGOs), journalists and other stakeholders.
2. Prepare faculty and students to communicate the social, economic, biological, environmental
and ethical aspects of food and agricultural technologies and policies.
The Chair and Executive Director of IFAL and the Director of the World Food Center will work in
collaboration with Jon Entine and the GENeS staff to achieve the goals of the Institute. This
Memorandum of Understanding outlines the terms of the partnership.

1. UC Davis will appoint Jon Entine and Robin Bisson as “temporary affiliates" with IFAL/WFC. The title
for Jon would be Senior Fellow, the UC Davis World Food Center’s Institute for Food and
Agricultural Literacy. Suggested title for Robin: Research Fellow (this can be modified as needed). Both
Jon and Robin will have access to campus email, library etc.
2. IFAL/WFC will host the 2nd Biotechnology Literacy Project Bootcamp at UC---Davis, back to back with
the First Annual IFAL/WFC Symposium (IFAL is in the process of recruiting the keynote speaker). Jon,
Robin and the RA will assist in hosting and organizing the bootcamp. Funding anticipated from BIO
would cover hiring of a director under the auspices of the GLP and funding for travel and expenses for
key attendees. UC---Davis would supply facilities, catering and other 'basics.’ Jamison---McClung will assist
the bootcamp director and GLP director Entine and assistants in organizing the logistics of the
bootcamp.
3. Jon will participate as an instructor and mentor in the Designated emphasis in science communication
Graduate program (Martina is directing this program). His teaching commitment will be worked out via a
separate agreement depending on IFAL/WFC needs, Jon’s availability and funds available for Jon's
compensation. Jon will also assist with launching journalist---scientist---policymaker initiatives and
conferences in collaboration with IFAL as opportunities arise. Any teaching done by Jon, outside of the
‘Biotech Bootcamp’ project, would be agreed upon later as there is not yet approval for developing and
providing a Designated Emphasis in Science
Communications.
Once
the Designated
Emphasis is approved, the WFC/IFAL will have a better sense of the responsibilities resulting, and how
they will be paid for, and reimbursed. Martina will follow up on such details with Jon and include him in
the proposal to develop the Designated Emphasis. Included in the proposal will be funding for Jon and
other non---UC Davis employees that are part of the course(s) developed.
4. GENeS: The GLP will cover Robin's salary and health benefits. GENeS would be a joint UC Davis--IFAL/GLP project. IFAL will support shared office space for IFAL and Robin in the UC---DC office complex

 ($4452/year). Jon will sign the agreement with the DC director Marj
Beachy and IFAL chair Ronald will sign too if needed.

Dickinson.

WFC

director

5. The WFC will provide and additional $21K in funding to IFAL to support a 0.5 research assistant to be
located in the DC office with Robin. These funds will cover a part time salary for the RA, benefits and
travel costs for Robin (and/or the RA). The RA will carry out the following duties:
-Liaising with key stakeholders & setting up meetings for initial consultation recommendations
-Gaining the contact details of key groups of journalists and building mailing lists
--Managing relationships with scientists, journalists, NGOs and IFAL
-Helping with recruiting scientists, experts and their relevant press officers to the database
-Assisting in all aspects of setting up the project, including building the database and developing
and overseeing a functional website
-Managing office IT and administration for the Genetic Literacy Project, Sense About Science and
IFAL at the University of California---Davis
-Providing administrative and research support to the Genetic Literacy Project, Sense About
Science and the Chair and Executive Director of IFAL at the University of California---Davis
Robin will make a trip to UC Davis soon after he arrives in the US. This gives us all an opportunity to
meet with him, set the work plan, find ways to coordinate IFAL activities on rapid response, etc. It will
also provide an opportunity to partner with other institutional initiatives, (e.g. Cornell) etc., and discuss
other possibilities, perhaps even expanding the scope of GENs beyond GMOs into other areas of
agriculture and food. After the trip, Robin will be better able to predict when he will need the RA: it will
certainly require time for Robin to set up and get underway.
IFAL and GENeS recognize the need to hire full time research assistants. Ideally one full time RA will be
located at the UC DC office and one at UC Davis. The groups will work together to raise additional
funding for this purpose. The WFC has agreed to make IFAL one of the priorities for seeking donor
funding (with input and involvement of IFAL, Jon, Robin and/or others, as necessary). Therefore, one of
the early priorities of IFAL is to work with the WFC to develop a plan for raising additional funds for
IFAL. The IFAL and GENeS teams will also explore other sources of funding.
6. The WFC will sponsor Robin’s J1 visa and pay all visa related costs. Martina has initiated
the application for a J---1 Visa for Robin in collaboration with the International office and Plant Pathology.
The WFC will bear the cost of filing.
7. Jon Entine will retain his journalistic independence. He will consult on his own time and will present
his journalistic actives as independent from UC Davis IFAL.
8. The joint UC---Davis---GENeS activities will be approved by Entine as director of GLP and Ronald as chair
as IFAL. We will engage the IFAL board as needed.

8-29-2014
Jon Entine, Ph.D.

Date

 Pamela Ronald, Ph.D.
Chair, IFAL

Date

September 15, 2014
Roger Beachy, Ph.D.
Director, World Food Center

Date