New ways to work with the Leopold Center |
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How will agriculture meet current and future challenges? What kind of agriculture will Iowa have in 25 years?
Director Fred Kirschenmann posed these questions in November to an audience of Iowa State University researchers who were invited to learn how to work with the Leopold Center. While the answers are not simple, they are relevant to the new focus and operation of the Leopold Center.
“We are interested in research that will make agriculture more profitable for farmers and that can keep the kind of farmers on the land who can best address the many changes,” Kirschenmann told the group. “We think the best way to do this is by three-part approach – in marketing, policy and ecology, the basis for our three research initiatives.”
Before the grants program was reconfigured in 2001, the Leopold Center had issued a general request for proposals each year, resulting in numerous projects with the Center as the sole grantor. Many of the Leopold Center’s current grant projects feature partnerships and alliances among various organizations, both to leverage funding and to bring together those working toward similar goals.
“We see the Leopold Center operating as a catalyst and convener, a force for bringing people together to do the kind of research that will move us forward,” Kirschenmann said. “We think this research can have an impact on the problems facing agriculture today.”
Each initiative will issue individual requests for proposals, or RFPs, that spell out specific areas of research interest. The policy and marketing initiatives issued RFPs in late spring 2003 and projects began in the fall. The ecology initiative issued its RFP in November 2003, and projects will begin in early 2004.
In addition to the competitive grants, each initiative will be involved in other projects and studies needed to further the work of the initiative.
Associate director Mike Duffy, who also leads the policy initiative, said the Center does not want to overlook research that may not fit within the parameters of one of the initiatives.
“If you have an idea, we will listen,” he said. “We want to be flexible and funds will be available for these special projects.”
Kirschenmann said he hopes the Leopold Center can meet with researchers and organizations in other parts of the state to discuss ways to collaborate on projects and to participate in the Center’s initiative-led research program. About the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative The Marketing and Food Systems Initiative operates under the premise that if farmers are to stay in business, they need to take advantage of new marketing opportunities as quickly as possible. This initiative will research and develop marketing systems that enable farmers to produce and retain more value on the farm, based on production systems that contribute to environmental stewardship and community revitalization. Program leader is Rich Pirog, rspirog@iastate.edu, (515) 294-1854. The Policy Initiative will research policy options to foster a sustainable agriculture. This includes policies to help beginning farmers establish ecologically sound and profitable farming and marketing operations, that reward farmers for producing public goods such as ecologically restored landscapes, and that modify regulations which sometimes put locally owned micro-enterprises at a competitive disadvantage. Program leader is Mike Duffy, mduffy@iastate.edu, (515) 294-6160. About the Ecological Systems and Research Initiative The Ecological Systems and Research Initiative will support research and development of ecologically friendly systems that are more resilient and less costly to farmers, communities and the environment. This includes identifying how farming practices can use free ecosystem services, enhance biodiversity, and use natural processes as models to increase agricultural productivity. Program leader is Jeri Neal, wink@iastate.edu, (515) 294-5610. |
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Back to Winter 2003 Leopold Letter
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