Recipient Organization
UNIV OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
(N/A)
HATTIESBURG,MS 39406
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Title: "Improving Scholarly Contributions to Agriculture Policy: Fourth Annual Joint Agricultural Economics-Political ScienceConference"Primary Investigator/Conference Chairperson: Dr. Joe Weinberg, University of Southern MississippiThepurpose of this research conference is to foster greater communication among the disciplines that study matters of Agriculture Policy--specificallyAgricultural Economics andPolitical Science. It is apparent that such an exchange is necessary in order to improve scholarly research on agriculture policyand any subsequent policy recommendations. For two disciplines working on (ostensibly) the same issues, there is very littlecommunication between and among scholars. Not surprisingly, US and international agriculture policies are both inefficient andnotoriously difficult to alter. This interdisciplinary conference can help address these problems.This will be the fourth suchconference,the first being held in 2017, the second in 2020 and the third in 2021.All funded generously through NIFA grants.The primary difference for thisconference is that we intend to strategically expland the scope of disciplines beyond agriculture economics an political science in order to better address common problems. Most, if not all, of the past participants have agreed to return and to serve as panel chairs and discussantsforpanels and poster sessions--with the bulk of the papers presented by graduate students and junior faculty.The conference is tentatively scheduled for October 13-15, 2023atthe Sheraton in New Orleans, LA. I will now beginsolicitingpapers through our website www.agpolicyscholars.org. I will then begin "matchmaking" these scholars across the disciplines,based on shared interests, to present and discuss papers on a series of panels organized around the program priority areas forA1641: Economics, Markets and Trade.Each paneltheme combines current needs for the improvement and sustainability of US Agriculture with well-established research areasfrom these two disciplines. Selected papers from the conference will then be compiled, edited, and submitted as a special issueof Food Policy.
Animal Health Component
33%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
34%
Applied
33%
Developmental
33%
Goals / Objectives
The long-term goals of this project:1. To build the body of literature on the politics of agricultural policy formation by establishing and formalizing a workinggroup of scholars dedicated to the interdisciplinary pursuit. With a "unified front" among otherwise unorganized politicalscientists and economists, we will be better able to inform other disciplines of our key findings and coalesce around common recommendationsfor policymakers.2. To increase the capacity of our two disciplines to offer more relevant policy recommendations for US legislators andstakeholders. These recommendations must be based in an understanding that politicians' goals are to maximize both economicefficiency and political expediency. Thus, any recommendations we expect to be taken seriously must acknowledge the dualityof these concerns. Likewise, negotiations with current and potential trading partners must be sensitive to their own politicalconcerns-- which often differ from our own. This project will shed light on the policy-making process under a multitude of politicalconditions and institutional arrangements. Insight into foreign political systems will assist US efforts to expand agricultural exportopportunities.International negotiators, budget-conscious legislators, and vulnerable commodity producers all stand to gain from increasedattention to trade politics. With better information, US agriculture stakeholders will be better equipped to develop more efficientfarm policies that protect US interests at home and abroad.
Project Methods
Most of the participants that have already been identified are senior faculty and returning participants from previousconferences. This year, however, the role of senior faculty will be more of a discussant role, with graduate students and juniorfaculty given priority for presentation time as well as funding. I am also considering opening the field of scholars to include public health, geography, and otherdisciplines pertinent to our shared work. Now that funding is confirmed, I will begin the process of identifying graduate students and soliciting papers, discussants, andpanel chairs. These discussants will be selected for their complimentary specialties. While I focus primarily on trade, I hope thatwe will be able to address all aspects of agriculture policy that might interest our discipline. I will also try to create matchingpairs of scholars well in advance so that they may begin working together if they wish. Formal announcements will be doneelectronically with personal emails and a coordinating website associated with the conference.Papers presented could be joint efforts between new partners, new papers, or even published papers that will be able to getfeedback from a new audience. Each panel theme combines current needs for the improvement and sustainability of USAgriculture with well-established research areas from these two disciplines. Panel discussants will include at least oneagricultural economist and one political scientist.