Dominica born doctor of plant medicine insightful book on the Science of Modern Agriculture
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Dominica born doctor of plant medicine insightful book on the Science of Modern Agriculture

By Gabriel Christian Esq
November 23, 2012 6:10 P.M



field to food
Dr Baron's 'From Field to Food'.
Washington, DC (TDN) -- Osmond Baron was born December 4, 1954 in the leafy heights of Montine Grandbay, Dominica. His father Hillary Baron plied the choppy waters of Dominica Atlantic coast, casting line and net to eke out an existence as a fisherman.

His mother, Theresa John Lewis left for England as a young woman to join the legions of West Indians seeking a better life in the Mother Country. She would work amidst the clang of machinery and the beehive of industrial activity that marked her life as a factory worker in London.

Little did they know that their son would become a doctor of plant medicine, one of the first three graduates in the history of that program at the University of Florida; and now an author of an eye opening work on modern agriculture.

Dr. Baron made Dominica proud through his historical milestone of becoming the first black person to earn a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree.

Despite his hefty tasks as Plant and Plant Pest Permit Team Leader at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dr. Baron was able to find time to author Field to Food – Organic vs. Conventional Food: What Science tells us.

Produced in collaboration with Pont Casse Press, and with the support of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences, the work is the first of science book of its kind by a Dominican born scientist. The book teaches that mastery of science and scientific methods is critical to food security and human survival.

And that science, in his words, tells us that the nutritional content of foods is influenced primarily by genetics and not farming methods. Some highlights of the book:

· No organic farming or conventional farming can prevent a food crop like cassava from producing hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid) – a natural poison which can be fatal to the consumer;

· No organic farming or conventional farming will intentionally contaminate food with salmonella and other human pathogens which can be fatal to the consumer;

· No organic farming or conventional farming is responsible for post harvest environmental contaminants which can be fatal to the consumer;

· Both organic and conventional farming utilize pesticides made up of toxic organic substances which can be fatal to the consumer.

The book explains that nature has evolved transformation in gene structure via cross pollination. And that, without the Green Revolution via which human intervention produced high yielding rice and wheat crops, hunger would be a greater problem than it is today.

Baron attended the Tete Morne Government School and is eager to commend his early academic mentors such as math teacher Johnas Paul and Principal Bennett John Rose. He credits his Dominica Grammar School (DGS) teachers such as Hubert Charles, Kay Polydore and McDonald Alexander as role models for excellence.

He recalls fondly his gold medal in the 100 meters for Dawbiney House while at the DGS. He revels in his retelling of his days playing soccer, basketball and cricket for his school; he also played cricket for the Berican Cricket Club.


field to food
Author Dr. Osmond Baron.

Baron is proud to state that his time as a Boy Scout and DGS Army Cadet instilled a healthy dose of discipline in him. Dr. Baron has also been a leader of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences and served as a panelist on Agriculture and Dominica’s Future at the Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposium held on December 7, 2001 in Brooklyn, New York.

That event still resonates in that the networks it bred among development oriented Dominicans still produces valuable work as represented by this worthy publication which add to our knowledge base.

At a time when global warming has spawned violent storms and drought which threaten plant life, we must be open to genetic engineering to modify plant life which can resist harsh conditions and flourish. From Field to Food demolishes many prejudices in its careful explanation of the facts vs. fiction.

Baron taught elementary school on Dominica, prior to spending eighteen years as a senior agriculture officer with Dominica’s government (Banana Replanting Scheme) and the Dominica Banana Marketing Corporation (DBMC).

He is a graduate of the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture (ECIAF) where he earned an associate’s degree in agricultural science; he earned a post-grad diploma in agricultural extension from the University of the West Indies; A Masters of Science degree in Agriculture Extension from Reading University in the United Kingdom; an MBA from Florida Metropolitan University and a Doctorate in Plant Medicine (DPM) from the University of Florida.

He has been an adjunct professor in international business at Mountain State University in West Virginia. He recently concluded research work on sequencing the gene in apples which allows that fruit to overcome stress such as occasioned by drought conditions.

His current work requires him to review and approve permits for scientists doing research work on plants and plant pests.

Baron is eager to pay tribute to his uncle Horace John Lewis, an evangelist. Baron states that “Horace was like a father to me.”

He has ten siblings in the UK and Dominica and two children. He is proud of his two children Naisha Baron, a US Army Lieutenant in the reserve who also works at Bank of America and Urbane Baron an electrician and musician. He was married to Monette Baron, the mother of his two children.

Field to Food can be bought on line at http://www.field2foods.com , http://www.Amazon.com , and http://www.MyTropix.com.

Gabriel J. Christian, Esq. is the President Pro Tem, Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences


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