U of I announces $3 million nematology endowment

By John O’Connell

University of Idaho

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) has raised more than $3.2 million from stakeholders toward an endowment honoring the career of nematologist Saad Hafez and supporting the hiring of another world-class nematologist.  

The new Saad Hafez Presidential Endowed Chair in Nematology was established thanks to generous donations from J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, Amalgamated Sugar Co., McCain Foods USA, the Idaho Potato Commission and the Nyssa-Nampa Sugarbeet Growers Association.

It will be the university’s first presidential endowed chair, a category recognizing endowments of at least $3 million.  

Annual distributions from the endowment will be used at the discretion of the new faculty member for graduate student and research support. The endowment will help the university attract a global leader in the field to replace Hafez, who will retire at the end of October.  

“This is a significant milestone for our university,” U of I President C. Scott Green said. “Establishing our first presidential endowed chair not only affirms our commitment to academic excellence but also strengthens our ability to attract and retain distinguished faculty members who are leaders in their fields.

“This endowment will serve as a catalyst for innovative agricultural research, enhanced learning opportunities and new partnerships that will benefit Idaho’s agricultural industry and contribute to the field of nematology. It is a testament to the belief in our mission and the bright future ahead for our institution.” 

The ability to identify nematode species and develop economical control practices to address the issues they pose is hugely important for agriculture. While some of the microscopic worms cause considerable harm to crops, others benefit soil health, feed on parasitic insects and may be used as tools to boost management programs.

According to a U of I study, every $1 invested in the university’s nematology program has returned $53 to Idaho agriculture. 

In addition to Hafez, CALS employs Professor Louise-Marie Dandurand, who directs the university’s pale cyst nematode project; Professor Edwin Lewis, an expert in nematode biology and using nematodes for biological control; and Professor Juliet Marshall, a plant pathologist whose laboratory works with nematodes.

The researchers are the core of an evolving center of excellence in nematology at U of I.   

“There are few other colleges in the U.S. that can match our focus on nematodes, which are not easily understood and represent an important research frontier as we seek to help farmers improve soil health, boost yields and become more sustainable in their operations,” CALS Dean Michael Parrella said. “We are strengthening our position as leaders in nematology, and the work we do through our center of excellence will have national and international applications for agriculture.” 

The new nematology position will be based at the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health, which opened last fall at the Parma Research and Extension Center. The state-of-the-art facility includes a dedicated nematology lab, which was funded in part by Amalgamated Sugar and is also named in honor of Hafez.   

U of I and its stakeholders in Idaho agriculture enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship, with industry support making it possible for CALS researchers to advance science tackling some of the greatest challenges facing food production.

“The J.R. Simplot Co. is proud to partner with the U of I College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and honor Saad Hafez’s achievements in the field of nematology,” said Craig Richael, director of research and development for Simplot Plant Sciences. “We value our work with Idaho’s land-grant university and an investment in this presidential endowed chair supports the company’s mission to steward our natural resources and grow delicious, more sustainable food."  

Nematodes first arose as an issue in Idaho in 1976, when plant-parasitic root-knot nematodes were found to be widespread in soil survey samples. Hafez led U of I in establishing its first nematology laboratory in 1981.

To date, the program has reported 32 genera and 117 species of nematodes on 31 unique host plant species from 21 Idaho counties.

In 2006, Hafez discovered pale cyst nematode in potato tare dirt samples from the Shelley region of Idaho, marking the first discovery of the destructive pest in the U.S. The discovery enabled the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a quarantine and eradication program, addressing the threat and protecting important trade markets for Idaho potatoes.  

“Nematodes present real and significant production challenges for Idaho’s growers of potatoes and sugar beets. In addition to being a concern in the growing of these crops, they can also be a pest of concern in the export of Idaho potatoes to markets around the world,” said Lloyd Knight, deputy director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. “Ongoing research to assist growers in the management and eradication of harmful nematodes is essential to ensuring the success of Idaho agriculture and our ability to export our famous potatoes around the world.”