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UGA cracks global top 20 in agricultural sciences

Athens, Ga. – Over the past decade, the University of Georgia has been among the world’s 20 most cited institutions in agricultural sciences, according to “In-Cites,” a Web site that keeps tabs on the research that most catches the eye of scientists worldwide.

In agricultural sciences, UGA is the 11th most cited among institutions worldwide, with 7,938 citations of its scientists’ research from Jan. 1, 1994, to June 30, 2004.

In total citations, the university is fifth among U.S. universities, behind California-Davis, Wisconsin, Cornell and Iowa State. It’s first among universities in the South. In papers published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, it ranks second in the nation behind only Cal-Davis.

“In-Cites” is an editorial component of IS Essential Science Indicators, a Web resource that enables researchers to analyze research and track trends in science worldwide.

“I am pleased,” said Josef Broder, interim dean of UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “This speaks well of the dedication and commitment of our scientists and the strong support which our research programs have received from the public and private sectors.”

The 20 most-cited institutions in agricultural sciences emerged from a global pool of 298 institutions. They include both government agencies and large universities worldwide.

Larry Beuchat, a distinguished research professor in the UGA Center for Food Safety in Griffin, Ga., was the third most cited agricultural scientist in the world over the past decade.

Beuchat is a food microbiologist with groundbreaking studies on eliminating and controlling Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and other foodborne pathogens. He has authored, co-authored or edited five books and has published 110 papers in refereed scientific journals in the past five years.

The most cited institution worldwide, with 38,877 citations, is the U.S. Department of Agriculture. France’s Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique is No. 2 with 21,070 citations.

The world’s most cited university, at No. 3 with 13,996 citations, is Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Cal-Davis is fourth with 12,889 and Spain’s Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient!ficas fifth with 12,224.

“The high ranking … is a testament to the talent and hard work of our faculty not only in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,” Broder said, “but also in Family and Consumer Sciences, Forestry, Arts and Sciences, and others who also pursue agriculturally related research.”

The complete report can be found at http://in-cites.com/institutions/agr_1994-2004.html.