September 30, 2010
AMES, Iowa — A member of the Russian Parliament and president of a farmer organization will present a lecture at Iowa State University Oct. 18.
Senator Vladimir Plotnikov, a member of the Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament, is president of the Association of Private Farmers and Cooperatives of Russia (AKKOR). The lecture will be Monday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the South Ballroom of the Memorial Union.
Plotnikov will be introduced by Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean of the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
AKKOR works to protect the rights and interests of small- and medium-sized Russian farmers and represents farmer associations and partnerships in the Russian Federation. The organization also coordinates farmers' entrepreneurial activity to increase the efficiency of farming, enhance the quality of life in rural communities, and make sure farming is recognized as an important component of the Russian economy.
Plotnikov, who has a doctorate in economics, led a group of Russians to Iowa last year to participate in events related to the 50th anniversary of Khrushchev's visit. During that 2009 trip, AKKOR signed a letter of intent with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation to revive programs that were once successful and establish new exchanges that would be beneficial to both organizations.
This year Plotnikov and nine other Russians will be in Iowa Oct. 13-20. They will attend the World Food Prize events. In addition, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the American Farm Bureau Federation and AKKOR will take place Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Waterloo Room of the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel.
The Oct. 18 lecture at Iowa State is cosponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Economics, World Affairs and the Committee on Lectures. More information here.