Carol Chan Discusses Innovative Technology to Combat Counterfeit Seed

As part of our Leading with Science® campaign, we asked our employees to reflect on how they incorporate the latest science and technology into their work at Tetra Tech.

Carol Chan, economic growth specialist for Tetra Tech International Development Services, shares how her academic studies and interests led to her current role managing the U.S. Agency for International Development Feed the Future Uganda Agricultural Inputs Activity. This five-year program aims to increase the use of quality agricultural inputs and decrease the prevalence of counterfeit agricultural inputs in Uganda. The prevalence of counterfeit agricultural inputs, which affects as much as 30 percent of the market, has a profound economic impact on Ugandan smallholder farmers’ productivity and incomes. Carol supported the implementation of Feed the Future’s innovative e-verification initiative using mobile phone technology. Farmers can verify the authenticity of the agricultural inputs they are purchasing by sending a unique code through an SMS to receive product details. Carol leads with science to help farmers improve seed productivity, increase revenue, and ultimately advance local livelihoods.