Dean Lela O'Toole International Speaker Series: Montague Demment

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Expert focuses on links between improved human nutrition and economic development

Associate Vice-President for International Development of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Montague (Tag) Demment will be the guest speaker for the Dean Lela O’Toole International Speaker Series at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, in the Noble Research Center 106. Oklahoma State University’s College of Human Sciences is sponsoring the event as part of Human Sciences Week 2012. The public presentation is a collaborative effort for the Global Briefing series with OSU’s School of International Studies and Outreach. 
 
Demment’s presentation Building Human Capacity: The Foundation of Social and Economic Developmentwill reflect his extensive research in East Africa. As a professor of agronomy at University of California-Davis, he led US Agency for International Development funded projects that show the value of animal-source foods for cognitive and physical development of children in developing countries. His findings reveal direct links between economic growth and improved nutrition. The impact of early micronutrient malnutrition results in stunted growth, lower cognitive abilities and severe health issues. These factors in turn lead to limited education, lowered physical work capacity and shortened life expectancy. Lowered productivity capacity of the population constricts its ability to participate in economic sustainability and growth.
 
Demment has worked to demonstrate the need for more productive interaction between agricultural scientists and nutritionists. Nutrition interventions with animal source foods have been shown to be excellent investments in development. Investing in human capital begins with improved access to food sources that deliver the micronutrients necessary for children to develop cognitively and physically.
 
Established in 1995, The Dean Lela O’Toole International Speaker Series in the College of Human Sciences focuses on timely and relevant topics related to public policy, ethics, and international issues in the scholastic areas of the college. Lela O’Toole served as dean of the College of Human Sciences from 1951-1975. She believed universities have an important role in the conduct of international and world affairs. Dean O’Toole’s interest in the world community led the college and Oklahoma State University to a position of international leadership during the mid-twentieth century.