Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development carried out its primary mission of convening experts and educators in the northeast region to address issues surrounding local and regional food systems development; targeted regional economic development, including entrepreneurship; and balanced use of natural resources. The Center co-sponsored three SARE grant applications: "Farmers Harness the Web to Market Their Products," "Expanding and Strengthening a Network of Farmers to Support a Local Foodshed" and "NOFA-NH Local and Organic Food Project." Research-based information was disseminated across the region to community decision makers and local government officials in the form of regional rural development papers, the Network newsletter, the Annual Report, the Board of Directors meeting, webinars, conferences and workshops, and the website. In May 2009 the NERCRD organized and hosted a conference on local and regional foods in New York's Hudson Valley that brought together 98 researchers, Extension educators, and others to explore the scientific research base relating to local food systems and to address emerging opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and institutions. This conference was conceived of by the Northeast Extension Land Use Network. In addition to a technical report on the Social Network Analysis conducted at the conference (RDP No. 47), videotapes of the conference presentations are available on the NERCRD web site and a conference Proceedings was finalized. To our knowledge this is the first time that a social network analysis has been conducted at a workshop for the express purpose of measuring the relationships that were formed at such an event. The research method consisted of pre- and post-conference surveys of participants, eliciting information on the contacts that were formed at the event as well as evaluations of the overall conference and of individual speakers. This technical report provides benchmark information against which future conferences and workshops hosted by Extension can be judged. As a follow up to the Local Foods Conference, presentations were made in Burlington, VT at the Regional Partners for Rural America conference as well as at the Regional Technology Strategies workshop held in Asheville, NC. Teams of experts were formed by the Northeast Center to address critical issues, improving the flow of information across the region and helping to eliminate duplication of effort and programs. The Northeast Center also continued to carry out its mission through the formation of strategic partnerships through conference participation (e.g., Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group annual conference in Albany, NY), publications and its web site, and by identifying current programs that can be shared across the northeast region. Studies on improvements in public policy surrounding land use changes as well as community-level support for entrepreneurship, and rural broadband were disseminated via the newsletter and the web site. One example of peer-reviewed work is a paper that examines the effects of county-level commuting networks on economic growth over time. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators on the NERCRD project included research and Extension faculty, Extension educators and other professionals with rural development interests from land grant and other universities in the Northeast US, as well as representatives from federal agencies such as the Agricultural and Economic Research Services. Stakeholders involved with the Northeast Center included representatives from small business and other organizations, and experts in regional and economic development, local food system development and sustainability of natural resources. Networks of experts from the region were formed to work on specific Center projects, including an organizing committee for the Local Foods Conference with representatives from Penn State, West Virginia University, the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Cornell University, the University of Vermont, the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS, Maine), and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG). Featured speakers and discussants at the conference were from the MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Michigan State University, Cornell University, Penn State University, the Northeast Sustainable Working Group and Colorado State University. The Local Foods conference provided training for research and Extension professionals as well as representatives from organizations with a wide range of interests in local food system development. The Northeast Center continued to collaborate with experts across the Northeast, the US and abroad on issues related to land use, youth entrepreneurship, local foods and other Center projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: The May 2009 conference, Enhancing Local and Regional Food Systems: Exploring the Research, What Works, and What We Need to Learn, targeted 36 research faculty, 41 Extension educators and 21 other organizations representing a wide range of expertise and interests in local food system development. Faculty and Extension professionals in the Northeast US who work in the areas of building community capacity, regional and economic development, assuring balanced and sustainable development of natural resources, and local food system development were brought together by the Northeast Regional Center to develop research-based information that is communicated to stakeholders, community decision makers, and local government officials via the Center's web site, listservs and mailing lists, webinars, the quarterly newsletter and other publications. The AFRI Global Food Security grant application included 20 co-PDs from 10 institutions in 9 northeast states. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Local Foods Conference led to the solidification of key contacts with other scientists and practitioners within the Northeast concerned about regional and local foods systems. A regional research inventory was compiled jointly by the Northeast Center and the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at Tufts University. This effort is on-going, and the collaborators will meet again at the NESAWG conference in November 2010 to build upon the earlier work. A large group of collaborators submitted a Global Food Security grant application to USDA-NIFA ($5.0 million). Whether or not the grant is funded, a core group of dedicated researchers and practitioners has come together to work on access of underserved urban and rural populations to local and regional food systems. The stakeholders across Northeast U.S cities (including New York City and Baltimore) number over 100. Comments from collaborators on the AFRI grant included, "...I couldn't have imagined a better leader for this important project and remarkable collaboration... We're looking forward t... begin this work and continue to develop this critical and timely foundation for rethinking of our food system," and ... This is the most organized proposal I have been a part of and I credit it to your leadership." The social network analysis carried out by The Center has attracted the attention of a number of groups and partnerships that have requested similar analyses to allow for self-assessments. One stakeholder sent an unsolicited letter referring to a local foods overview chart that The Center produced, notin "...this char... is the best I've ever seen in terms of (1) explaining the components of a food system (especially to urban people who are just realizing that there is such a thing as a food system) and (2) succinctly comparing local and global food systems." The SARE grant "Farmers Harness the Web to Market Their Products" alerted farmers to the economic potential of using wvfarm2u.org as a direct marketing tool. A presentation on the website was made to approximately 250 people at the WVU Extension Small Farms Conference and 87 signed onto the website. The SARE grant "Expanding and Strengthening a Network of Farmers to Support a Local Foodshed" designed programs to give potential and new farmers a broad background of usable skills. Through these programs the farmers' network that can potentially supply local produce and meat to the Delmarva Peninsula has expanded, and a group of new farmers has emerged who are eager to learn about sustainable farming techniques. Through the grant "NOFA-NH Local and Organic Food Project," local food networks in Canterbury, New Hampshire have been strengthened. An online farmers market was created and 15-20 vendors participated in 2008 and 2009. Many participants were vendors who could not manage a regular booth at the farmers market, but were able to generate sales and create more awareness of their products and businesses via the online market. The project brought together community members who now meet regularly to pursue common goals. All three grants expanded the use of the web in rural communities in the Northeast.
Publications
- Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, H. and W. Whitmer. 2009. Enhancing Local and Regional Food Systems: Exploring the Research, What Works, and What We Need to Learn. Conference proceedings. 6pp. http://nercrd.psu.edu/LocalFoods/Proceedings.pdf.
- Brasier, K. and S. J. Goetz. 2010. A Social Network Analysis of the May 2009 NE-RCRD Local Foods Conference: Technical Report, The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, Rural Development Paper 47. 27pp. http://nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp47.pdf.
- Goetz, S. J., M. Partridge, S. C. Deller, and D. Fleming. 2010. Evaluating U.S. Rural Entrepreneurship Policy. Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy. 40(1):20-33.
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Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the past year, the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development continued its primary mission of convening experts and educators in the northeast region to address current regional and economic development topics. Current research-based information was disseminated widely across the region to community decision makers and local government officials via Center publications and the NERCRD web site. A proceedings from the 2008 youth entrepreneurship symposium was finalized and distributed across the region and the US; other Center publications included four land use policy briefs from the 2007 Land Use conference (prepared for Farm Foundation), four NERCRD quarterly newsletters and the 2008 annual report. The Network newsletter and annual report were sent to key members of Congress as well as to the Extension and research directors in the Northeast US. In May 2009 the NERCRD hosted a conference on local foods in New York's Hudson Valley that brought together 98 researchers, Extension educators, and others to explore the scientific research base relating to local food systems and address emerging opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and institutions. Videotapes of the conference presentations are available on the NERCRD web site and a conference proceedings is being finalized. Teams of experts are being formed by the Northeast Center to address critical issues, improving the flow of information across the region and helping to eliminate duplication of effort and programs. Two additional Associate Directors have been hired by the Northeast Center, one located at Cornell University, and the other at the University of Vermont, to develop more Extension and outreach products from the Center's research. Additional networks of working groups and listservs have been created, and current projects and initiatives have been posted to the NERCRD web site. The Northeast Center continued to carry out its mission through the formation of strategic partnerships, conference participation, publications and its web site, and by identifying current programs that can be shared across the northeast region. Studies on farm viability, improving public policy surrounding land use changes, and rural broadband were disseminated via the newsletter and the web site. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators on the NERCRD project included research and Extension faculty, Extension educators and other professionals with rural development interests from land grant and other universities in the Northeast US. Stakeholders involved with the Northeast Center included representatives from small business and other organizations, and experts in regional and economic development, local food system development and sustainability of natural resources. Networks of experts from the region were formed to work on specific Center projects, including an organizing committee for the Local Foods Conference with representatives from Penn State, West Virginia University, the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Cornell University, the University of Vermont, the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS, Maine), and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG). Featured speakers and discussants at the conference were from the MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Michigan State University, Cornell University, Penn State University, the Northeast Sustainable Working Group and Colorado State University. The Local Foods conference provided training for research and Extension professionals as well as representatives from organizations with a wide range of interests in local food system development. The Northeast Center continued to collaborate with experts across the Northeast, the US and abroad on issues related to land use, youth entrepreneurship, local foods and other Center projects. TARGET AUDIENCES: The May 2009 conference, Enhancing Local and Regional Food Systems: Exploring the Research, What Works, and What We Need to Learn, targeted 36 research faculty, 41 Extension educators and 21 other organizations representing a wide range of expertise and interests in local food system development. Faculty and Extension professionals in the Northeast US who work in the areas of building community capacity, regional and economic development, assuring balanced and sustainable development of natural resources, and local food system development were brought together by the Northeast Regional Center to develop research-based information that is communicated to stakeholders, community decision makers, and local government officials via the Center's web site, listservs and mailing lists, webinars, the quarterly newsletter and other publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
In September 2008 the Northeast Center underwent an external review. The review team reported that "the NERCRD has set the gold standard for research among the four regional rural development centers. It undertakes in-depth analyses of pressing issues identified by its board and staff as critical to the economic prosperity of the Northeast Region. The Center is extremely well-functioning and productive. Its program partners appreciate the Center, the role its Director plays as catalyst, mentor and researcher, and the services of staff in facilitating regional research and extension conferences and workshops. The Center program includes a wide range of successful initiatives in critical issue areas. Its staff interacts effectively with program partners and supports and mentors new professionals." After the May 2009 conference, Enhancing Local and Regional Food Systems: Exploring the Research, What Works, and What We Need to Learn, the Center received many favorable comments from the participants, including this statement from a Program Officer at Winrock International: "This conference served a large need for those of us who work in regional food systems research, and is to my knowledge the first conference of its kind to ever take place. What really made it special was that there were people from all over the country, and this in itself was the proof that the conference filled a very large void. The conference especially served those of us who work across various topics of research, by providing a sort of one stop shopping for connecting to people and learning about specific research topics within food systems work; and was especially helpful to my work by giving me ideas and connections for making the case for what we do, to diverse audiences (policy, business, funders, etc.)." Another attendee, who is director of the Farm to School Center at Cornell University, said: "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Local Foods conference. It was one of the most useful gatherings that I have attended in a long time. I hope that this will be the first in a series of conferences on the topic of local food system research." Nearly 100 stakeholders responded to a 2008 survey of the Center's priorities and perspectives. Among many comments on the usefulness of Center programs was this one: "I watch for and avidly read the newsletter; for additional resources I visit your website. This helps me stay involved even though I am not able to personally participate in conferences due to limited travel budget." One SARE sustainable community innovation grant funded by the NERCRD increased the amount spent by the public in buying West Virginia products by encouraging farmers to use the web as a direct marketing tool. We provided geographic information-based maps and related materials to K. Ruhf of NESAWG and this was used, in part, in preparation of a grant application to NE-SARE. We also succeeded in securing USDA-SCRI funds (at Cornell Univ.) for a conference planning grant that builds on our social network analysis.
Publications
- Fleming, D., D. McGranahan, and S.J. Goetz. 2009. Natural Amenities and Rural Development: The Role of Land-Based Policies, invited paper at the Experts Consultation on Rural Policy. OECD Headquarters. Paris, France. 21pp. http://nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp45.pdf
- Gale, T. and D. Kantor, Editors. 2008. Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium (Land Grant YES) Proceedings. 40 pp. http://nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp42.pdf
- Goetz, S.J. 2008. State Entrepreneurial Climate Estimates: An Update Based on the Kauffman Index. 27 pp. http://nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp41.pdf
- Goetz, S.J., Editor. 2008. Dec. 2008 Improving Public Policy Surrounding Land Use Changes, Special Theme Issue, Choices. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/magazine/issue.php
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Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development compiled and disseminated research-based information on problems facing rural communities via Center publications and the NERCRD web site. The Center promoted and extended through outreach both think tank-level and peer-reviewed studies of agricultural development, entrepreneurship, land use and community vitality, including work that addresses farm industry clusters. In September 2007 the Center hosted a Transatlantic Land Use Conference, which brought together experts from ten different countries to discuss land use issues. Two scientific books based on selected papers from the conference are being prepared, and four policy briefs have been written on strategic issues that were discussed at the conference. Various regional working groups have been formed by the Center to address critical emerging issues in the area of rural development. Working space has been set up on the NERCRD web site for members of the working groups to share relevant resources. The Center sponsored a Land Use Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium in June 2008 that drew attendees from as far away as the state of Washington and American Samoa. This symposium addressed an unmet need that was identified in the Rural Entrepreneurship Listening Sessions that were held across the country in 2005. A symposium proceedings is being finalized, and a national youth entrepreneurship communities of practice group has been developed as a result of the event. One goal is to create a national database of existing youth entrepreneurship curricula so that educators can compare programs and select the most appropriate tool for their area, thus avoiding duplication of effort. A conference, Enhancing Local Food Systems: Exploring the Science, What Works, and What We Need to Learn, is planned for May 2009 in Kethonken, New York The conference will bring together researchers, Extension educators, and other practitioners to explore the science, opportunities and challenges inherent in evaluating and promoting local foods as a critical component of an enhanced food system and vehicle for rural community and economic development in the Northeast. The Northeast Center continued to develop and communicate original research on rural development policy issues to decision makers, and facilitated training of investigators and extension staff in the area of rural development. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who were involved in the NERCRD project included Extension and research professionals with rural development interests from land grant and other universities in the northeast US, representatives from small business and other organizations, and experts in community development/entrepreneurship and land use issues. Working groups from the region were formed to work on these specific issues and members of the planning committees for conferences on youth entrepreneurship and local foods issues represented nearly all of the states in the northeast US. Conference sponsors included the other Regional Rural Development Centers, USDA-CSREES, Cornell University, the University of Connecticut, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of Vermont, and West Virginia University. The Northeast Center collaborated with experts across the region, the US and the world on project-related issues and provided training for research and extension professionals through its land use and youth entrepreneurship conferences. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Land Grant Youth Entrepreneurship symposium targeted 4-H and other Extension professionals who work with youth programs and who develop or use various curricula to educate youth on entrepreneurship. In May 2009, the Local Foods conference will bring together researchers, Extension educators, and other practitioners to explore the science, opportunities and challenges inherent in evaluating and promoting local foods. Extension professionals and faculty in the northeast US who work in the areas of community development, land use and local foods/farm clusters are brought together by the Center to develop research-based information that is widely disseminated via the Center web site, NERCRD listservs and mailing lists, the Network newsletter and other Center publications. Strategic information on pertinent issues targets community decision makers and local government officials. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Northeast Center project disseminated research-based information to rural communities and policy makers to help them address the social and economic problems they face. The Center facilitated community discourse, and built human capital and capacity within communities through formal teaching and educational programs in the areas of land use, community development and entrepreneurship. The Center has created regional networks of faculty and extension professionals with rural development interests and facilitated multi-state collaboration across the northeast region, making existing activities more effective and avoiding duplication of effort. New, integrated research, teaching and extension activities have been developed in the entrepreneurship/youth entrepreneurship/job creation and local foods/farm clusters areas in the region.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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