266.39 Leopold center for sustainable agriculture.
1. For the purposes of this section, "sustainable
agriculture" means the appropriate use of crop and livestock systems
and agricultural inputs supporting those activities which maintain
economic and social viability while preserving the high productivity and
quality of Iowa’s land
2. The Leopold center for Sustainable agriculture is
established in the Iowa agricultural and home economics experiment
station at Iowa State University of science and technology. The center
shall conduct and sponsor research to identify and reduce negative
environmental and socio-economic impacts of agricultural practices. The
center also shall research and assist in developing emerging alternative
practices that are consistent with a sustainable agriculture. The center
shall develop in association with the Iowa cooperative extension service
in agriculture and home economics an educational framework to inform the
agricultural community and the general public of its findings.
3. An advisory board is established consisting of the
following members:
a. Three persons from Iowa State University of
science and technology, appointed by its president
b. Two persons from the State University of Iowa,
appointed by its president
c. Two persons from the University of Northern Iowa,
appointed by its president
d. Two representatives of private colleges and
universities within the state, to be nominated by the Iowa
association of independent colleges and universities, and appointed
by the Iowa coordinating council for post-high school education.
e. One representative of the department of
agriculture and land stewardship, appointed by the secretary of
agriculture.
f. One representative of the department of natural
resources, appointed by the director.
g. One man and one woman, actively engaged in
agricultural production, appointed by the state soil conservation
committee.
The terms of the members shall begin and end as provided
in section 69.19 and any vacancy shall be filled by the original
appointing authority. The terms shall be for four years and shall be
staggered as determined by the president of Iowa State University of
science and technology.
4. The Iowa agricultural and home economics experiment
station shall employ a director for the center, who shall be appointed
by the president of Iowa State University of science and technology.
The director of the center shall employ the necessary
research and support staff. The director and staff shall be employees of
Iowa State University of science and technology. No more than five
hundred thousand dollars of the funds received from the agriculture
management account annually shall be expended by the center for the
salaries and benefits of employees of the center, including the salary
and benefits of the director. The remainder of the funds received from
the agriculture management account shall be used to sponsor research
grants and projects on a competitive basis from Iowa colleges and
universities and private nonprofit agencies and foundations. The center
may also solicit additional grants and funding from public and private
non-profit agencies and foundations. The director shall prepare an
annual report.
5. The board shall provide the president of Iowa State
University of science and technology with a list of three candidates
from which the director shall be selected. The board shall provide and
additional1ist of three candidates if requested by the president the
board shall advise the director in the development of a budget, on the
policies and procedures of the center, in the funding of research grant
proposals, and regarding program planning and review.
