Through mentorship and global exposure, one mentor is helping Guyanese students claim their place on the international agricultural stage

WHAT began as a long-held vision to “reach back and help” has grown into a pathway of opportunity, connecting Guyanese students to the global poultry and animal science industry. At the heart of that effort is Dr. Colwayne Morris, whose mentorship has helped place University of Guyana students on international platforms such as the International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) and the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, some of the largest poultry-focused conferences in the world. Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine last year during Agriculture Month, Dr. Morris championed the impact of education in developing what is already one of Guyana’s most successful sectors: agriculture.

While he has spearheaded and guided various batches of Guyanese students to higher education exposure in America, his most recent batch of students say this year’s conference was more than a reminder of how far Guyana still has to go, but an eye-opening experience that highlighted the strides already made. Held annually, these conferences bring together academics, researchers, students, and industry leaders to share research, showcase new technologies, and explore developments across nutrition, genetics, processing, feed, and food safety. Student Shamar Simon was a part of this year’s attendees and sat down with Pepperpot Magazine to share this experience and next steps.

Sitting down with Pepperpot Magazine once again, Dr. Morris spoke with pride about the most recent conference and the participation of Guyanese students. The International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta is a two-day event, but it remains a pillar of the international agricultural science community. As Dr. Morris shared, “The International Production and Processing Expo is one of the largest poultry expos in the world, and it’s held in Atlanta every January. Companies from around the world come to showcase what they offer to the poultry industry.” He added, “The conference has research-based sessions for about a day and a half, usually from Monday to Tuesday at noon. That is where students showcase the research they have been doing and interact with academics and industry professionals.” Here, students at various levels from across the country and beyond see what each other are working on, including research, findings, and even a few breakthroughs.

Dr. Morris’ drive to help young Guyanese agricultural scientists began almost a decade ago, in 2017, when a Guyanese undergraduate student began working with him. It was there, Dr. Morris said, that he saw the challenges education could address and the role he could play in helping Guyanese access that information. “This vision started back in 2017 when I brought a Guyanese undergraduate student to work in my lab at the University of Missouri. That experience planted the seed for always reaching back and giving others similar opportunities.” This effort later grew into a well-thought-out collaborative initiative to support Guyanese students studying abroad under Dr Morris’s guidance. “The University of Guyana faculty nominated three scholars. Others who had already graduated were also included, and we scheduled meetings with professors across different universities so students could share their research interests and graduate goals.”

This batch in particular, consisting of eleven scholars from Guyana, underwent five months of working alongside specific professors, conducting research and completing projects that also fulfilled their undergraduate requirements at the University of Guyana. This rigorous research period proved successful, Dr Morris said, with all students completing their work and several presenting their findings on the international stage. “Despite challenges like severe weather during the conference, they performed exceptionally well. Seeing peers present at an international level motivates others to believe they can do the same.” He added that, like himself, students are reminded of the larger responsibility they carry. “Students are reminded that they are representing something bigger than themselves. They represent Guyana and those coming behind them, so presentation quality and professionalism are critical.”

For Shamar Simon, a recent graduate of the University of Guyana and one of the few students to formally present his work, the conference was both eye-opening and affirming. Having presented research at IPPE before, he described the experience as one that broadened his perspective, highlighted Guyana’s limitations, but also reinforced that local students are not far behind international standards. His work in food safety has since placed him on a PhD track at the University of Georgia, a transition he credits to exposure, mentorship, and preparation. Having been in agriculture for several years at just 27, Simon said his work in the field is fuelled purely by passion. “My journey into agriculture wasn’t driven by a single moment. It was a gradual process shaped by my experiences at the School of Agriculture, secondary school, and hands-on work with animals.” He added, “This was my second IPPE conference. At both conferences, I delivered presentations. The first focused on nutrition, and the most recent one was based on my final-year undergraduate research project at the University of Guyana.”

Apart from networking, learning, and teaching opportunities, the conference also prompted a shift in Simon’s perspective. He shared that, from a Guyanese standpoint, the experience broadened his understanding of where Guyana’s agriculture sector stands internationally. “From a Guyanese perspective, it is one of the most eye-opening conferences I’ve attended. It broadens your horizons and shows both how limited we are back home and where opportunities for development exist.” He added, however, that internationally, Guyana is performing better than often assumed. “It exposed me to different cultures, professional standards, and ways people interact outside of Guyana. It shifted my perspective and showed that while we have work to do, we are not as far behind as we sometimes think.”

For students like Simon, the experience represents more than a conference or a line on a résumé. It marks a turning point, one shaped by exposure, discipline, and belief in what is possible beyond Guyana’s borders. Now on a PhD path, Simon’s journey reflects what can happen when talent meets opportunity and guidance. His story, alongside those of his fellow scholars, stands as a reminder that Guyanese students are capable of competing, contributing, and excelling on the international stage.

For Dr. Morris, the journey is far from complete. His work continues to centre on ensuring that Guyanese students not only access global opportunities, but return equipped with knowledge, confidence, and a responsibility to uplift others. As more young Guyanese scholars step onto international platforms, the ripple effect grows, strengthening Guyana’s agricultural future through education, exposure, and the power of reaching back.