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GEAPS and Kansas State University Partner for New "International Center for Grain Handling Industry Operations"
As experienced longtime experts across the grain handling operations industry and academia near retirement, a huge knowledge base is at risk of disappearing. At the same time, many hiring managers are experiencing challenges drawing young workers to a steadily growing—but increasingly understaffed—field. It’s a powerful combination that puts the industry at risk as it works to develop the next generation of grain operations management.
A step forward in addressing this challenge was made this month when the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and Kansas State University formally approved a partnership to create an “International Center for Grain Handling Industry Operations” through the KSU Department of Grain Science and Industry.
The ICGHIO will combine GEAPS’ commitment to excellence in grain handling industry operations, continuing education and professional development with KSU’s educational resources, research capacity, and student outreach. Beginning in January 2010, GEAPS and KSU will move forward with establishing workgroups and mapping out the ICGHIO’s mission, next steps and scope of work.
At the Kansas State University Grain Science and Industry department, the challenge of preparing both students and the industry for what’s to come is one that Dr. Dirk Maier is familiar with. As professor and head of the GSI department, he works directly with students preparing for careers in grain operations and processing.
The present U.S. grain handling system was largely developed in the 1970s to serve increased export demand, and the goals then were distribution oriented; however, says Maier, that’s already started to change. Maier notes that the present body of grain operations knowledge is largely made up of current workers who began their careers 30-40 years ago. Those who haven’t yet retired will likely be out of the field before long.
And, says Maier, industry forecasts over the next decade and beyond project not only growth but shifting supply chain patterns as well. Combined with increased needs for more young professionals in the field and other workforce transitions, these conditions signal a need for a new way of preparing students and current workers for changes to the grain handling and operations industry.
Long-term GEAPS member Dr. Charles Hurburgh, professor of agricultural engineering at Iowa State University, echoes the concern. “A higher level of sophistication and professionalism will be required in the grain handling industry while the pool of qualified individuals to develop from within companies is diminishing,” said Hurburgh. “There is a great need to capture the present knowledge base, adapt it to 21st-century needs, develop new knowledge and new leaders, and create a training center to which the entire network, elevator to distributor to processor to end user, can look to for people, thought and action.”
Hurburgh and other GEAPS members and leaders recognized a place in the existing GEAPS programs and services for credible and sustainable grain operations management educational support. Until recently, no such center of thought and action existed in the United States.
“This strategic partnership between GEAPS and K-State will provide an opportunity to create an education center where we will be able to capture this knowledge from experts around the world by converting it into distance learning materials,” said Maier of the partnership. “The ICGHIO will make their expertise plus new knowledge available around the world for the education and training of future generations of grain handling industry professionals.”
In addition to the Center serving as an education and training hub for the global grain handling industry, Maier envisions it also serving as “a global forum for the exchange of ideas, information and knowledge of grain handling industry operations.” A core component of the ICGHIO will be credentialing of current grain operations management professionals.
GEAPS International President Mark “Buzz” Tourangeau shares Maier’s enthusiasm about the ICGHIO collaboration. “Our distance education partnership with KSU has proven to be of great value to the industry and to our members,” said Tourangeau. “GEAPS is committed to ensuring the successful future of the industry through education, a priority shared by the Grain Science and Industry department. This partnership with KSU will allow GEAPS the opportunity to provide continuing education and professional development resources on a larger level than ever before.”
"GEAPS is recognized around the world as the knowledge resource for grain handling industry professionals, and K-State is recognized for its unique faculty and staff expertise in grain handling, storage, processing and utilization,” said Dr. Fred Cholick, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of K-State Research and Extension. “This strategic partnership brings our respective expertise together in a long-term relationship with the sum of the two having a greater impact on the future than either of us separately.”