On July 15th, 2019 Dr. Seifu Tilahun the Scientific Director and Associate Professor of Hydrology at the Bahir Dar Institute of Technology in Ethiopia, presented to over 30 faculty and staff within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
His lecture, Irrigation and agriculture development in Africa: Impact on water quality and ecosystem health in the Ethiopian highlands, focused on a study being done in collaboration with The Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation. This seminar discussed emerging results, noting that evidence points to pollution and degradation associated with agricultural intensification, agrochemical use and poor chemical management practices in a study area in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Through his seminar, Dr. Tilahun highlighted the potential risks to ecosystem and human health while providing recommendations for preventing and addressing the challenges. The ILSSI project is working with colleagues at Bahir Dar Institute of Technology and the International Water Management Institute to improve evidence-based planning and institutional reform to mitigate risks related to rapid agricultural intensification. For more information on this study or the Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation please contact matt.stellbauer@ag.tamu.edu
