Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
A:Private sector protocols which guarantee food safety and sustainable farming practices are competing for dominance in the global food industry. B:The region is stuck in intractable problems;out migration, racial divisions, poverty, drug and violence problems and a reluctance to change cultural norms. C:In an economy founded on innovation and change the key to prosperity is to bring ideas and technology to the marketplace. D:Often the discussions about the future of the region don't include voices from young people. E:Under the Farm Bill 2002 Congress established the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority to provide assistance in implementing the recommendations of the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission, and more. A:The burden of compliance will be heavier on small and medium sized farmers without further research and understanding. B:The Meadowlark Project will build living examples of systemic change and through these demonstrated examples create a
vision of the region as a place of opportunity for all people. C:The Red River Valley Research Corridor initiative serves as a catalyst for the development and growth of science and technology-based economic opportunities. D:NGP will create a regional rural youth network,which will provide young people the chance to take part in discussions about the future. E:NGP is specifically mentioned in the federal legislation establishing the Authority as a research and advisory support body to the Authority.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
Northern Great Plains Inc. proposes to complete five objectives in this application. The first objective is to continue NGPs research on the impact of private sector protocols a globally harmonized system of on-farm production protocols on the regions producers and to develop regional strategies for gaining marketplace advantage for producers and processors in the Region through this research and analysis. The work will include development of a regionally based system of protocols that could be benchmarked with the emerging global standards. The second objective will be to continue work on the Meadowlark Project: A Leadership Laboratory on the Future of the Northern Great Plains. The purpose of the Meadowlark Project Leadership Laboratory is to build living examples of systemic change and through those examples demonstrate that the northern Great Plains is a region of opportunity for all people. The third objective will be to continue support of the Red River Valley
Research Corridor and the Red River Valley Research Coordinating Center whose purpose is to catalyze the development and growth of science and technology-based enterprises throughout the Red River Valley region in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba. The Red River Valley Research Coordinating Center coordinates the initiatives and programs of the RRVRC and serves, when appropriate, as a facilitator and promoter of collaborative activities among researchers and the business sector. The fourth objective is to create a regional rural youth network. Rural Youth Action (RYA) is an initiative that will provide young people the chance to take part in discussions about the future of the northern Great Plains region. NGP will establish a Youth Advisory Council that will provide guidance and organization to hosting youth forums, discussions and a regional RYA conference. NGP with the RYA youth council will identify issues most important to rural youth, will create discussion
groups and forums around these issues and will create the opportunity for youthful voices and ideas to be involved in regional future planning. The fifth objective is to continue providing start-up, research and project implementation support to the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority as described in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
Project Methods
NGP approaches its work by utilizing a look, analyze, act and evaluate system for addressing needs and opportunities in the Region. NGP identifies trends and needs and the related opportunities or challenges. It then carefully researches and analyzes the trend, need or opportunity to understand the implications for the Region. NGP follows with appropriate actions based upon our analysis, such as a strategy report, a training program, or a demonstration project. Finally, it evaluates the results, determining whether the work effectively addresses the need or opportunity involved and leads to measurable results that can be used throughout the Region. The mission of NGP is to maximize the potential of the northern Great Plains region through regional collaboration. It accomplishes this by identifying and promoting policies and practices that support an integrated approach to economic opportunity, a healthy environment and vital rural communities.