Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The focus of this planning grant was to identify an approach and process to foster innovations that address specific challenges facing specialty crop producers and processor. The goals would be achieved by cross-disciplinary and cross-industry collaborations, especially with regional economic development and innovation agencies. Initially a conference was held in late 2009 designed as an extension of two previous conferences - International Conference on Advanced Technologies in Food and Agriculture - with the added subtitled Challenges Facing Specialty Crops. Attendees represented a wide range of specialty crops (vegetables, tree fruit, small fruit, grapes, nuts, greenhouse production) as well as businesses and technology companies in processing, crop consulting, equipment manufacture, distribution and logistics, data management, and advanced technologies. Challenges facing the specialty crops industries (SCI) were identified while researchers and businesses outside of SCI were apprised of opportunities to address these challenges. After the conference follow-up meetings with various agencies that expressed interest in participating in a full grant write-up for the 2011 solicitation with the objectives: 1) Identify new technologies that meet challenges or bring innovation to the specialty crops industries; 2) Foster innovation and entrepreneurship among research and education institutions, specialty crops businesses, and allied industries; and 3) Insure that new technologies, especially those arising from start-up businesses, have a successful path to market. Proposal development was terminated when participating agencies could not produce a sufficient match of non-federal dollars. An agency conference was held on February 23, 3011 to develop an overall strategy for another proposal. The following fundamentals were established: serve the broader SCI; keep the program operational at the regional level in order to link to existing economic development resources; partner with existing programs that can bring resources to the SCI; conduct full assessments of the major SCI in the region; tie activities into national movements and initiatives, e.g., food safety, locally grown foods, slow money, and healthy food financing; be aware of industry drivers, e.g., food safety demands; labor issues; international food needs; and structural changes in SCI over the next 5-10 years. Partners in the process included area educational institutions (Cornell, University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Finger Lakes Community College), regional economic development agencies, state agencies, economists, tech transfer specialists, and venture capitalists. Theses diverse agencies were uniformly supportive of committing resources to the goals, but as in the past, the necessary match to secure their involvement was not available because operational funds for the agencies and institutions were largely derived from federal programs other than USDA. Sadly, we have concluded that our overall goals for technology innovation cannot be achieved when required funding matches exclude federal funds (see Outcomes and Impacts). PARTICIPANTS: Judy Albers, [judy@neworks.biz], Neworks, LLC; Corine Farewell, [CFarewell@ott.rochester.edu], University of Rochester (Tech Transfer Office); *Stephan Goetz, [stepsgoetz@psu.edu], Penn State University (NE Regional Center for Rural Development); Mike Haugh, [mike.haugh@htr.org], High Tech Rochester; Rand Henke, [rand.henke@htr.org], High Tech Rochester; Rami Katz, [rkatz@excellny.com], Excell Partners; Jessica Lyga, [jml73@cornell.edu], Cornell University (Technology Transfer Office;) Jay Martinez, [Jaime.Martinez@greaterrochesterenterprise.com], Greater Rochester Enterprise; Michael Meador, [mmeador@amt-mep.org], Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology; Walter Nelson, [wnn1@cornell.edu], Monroe County Cooperative Extension; Susan Noble, [susann@thetechnologyfarm.com], The Technology Farm; William Romig, [romigwr@verizon.net], MAPSC, LLC; Todd Schmidt, [tms1@cornell.edu], Cornell University (Applied Economics); *Robert Seem, [rcs4@cornell.edu], Cornell University (Ag Economic Development); *Marc Smith [mas265@cornell.ed], Cornell University (Applied Economics); Deborah Streeter, [dhs4@cornell.edu], Cornell University (Applied Economics); Hubert VanTol, [hvantol@pathstone.org], Pathstone Corp.; Roger Williams, [rjw33@twcny.rr.com], LME II Consulting; *-Co-Principle Investigator TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences were all specialty crops producers and processor, technology companies, and economic development agencies. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The outcome of our planned proposal was technology innovation within specialty crop industries (SCI). However, we encountered two major constraints that in combination make it nearly impossible to achieve the technology innovation. The first constraint was the longer-term nature of technology innovation. There were willing individuals and organization outside of SCI who could develop technology solutions to the challenges facing SCI, but funding resources available within those SCI were targeted at short-term and traditional solutions. Successful technology innovation projects funded by SCRI have focused largely on single crop, specific challenge (e.g. robotic harvesting of apples) where the specific SCI and manufacturers could develop an accelerated program. We were attempting to develop a broad-based platform (i.e., a model system) that could be deployed to address a wide range of challenges that faced one or more SCI. Lacking the specificity of focused programs, our model had to rely heavily upon government agencies that foster economic development and technology innovation. The second constraint occurred because state and local agencies that do see the value of technology innovation and often are the means by which the innovation can be started and sustained, invariably derive the majority of their funding from federal sources, some of which also carry match requirements. The result is that although key organizations needed to build a replicable technology innovation platform are not able to participate because very limited non-federal funding sources that can be used as match. This leaves the proposal in the unenviable situation that match for the SCRI must be largely derived from salary match at the participating universities. While significant matches can be derived by this method, it is not sufficient or sustainable. Specifically, participation by agencies like New Yorks Regional Technology Development Centers, Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, Small Business Development Centers, New York Science and Technology Foundation, Pathstone Corp., and Finger Lakes Community College is supported by federal grants from Departments of Commerce, Labor, and Energy, and agencies like EPA, SBA and NIST. It is our conclusion that for the goals we have set, the SCRI program with its required 1:1 match is not a viable program to support innovation development within the SCI when a general economic development and broad-based technology innovation approach is taken. On the positive side, a major outcome of this planning project is an extensive network of businesses, economic development agencies, technology development organizations, universities, and business support NGOs that are ready to help the SCI bring new technologies to production and processing operations. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these constraints with SCRI administrators.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The focus of this planning grant was to identify innovations and specific challenges facing various components of specialty crops, writ broadly. Conference planning occurred during the summer and early fall of 2009 with the culmination of a conference on 3-4 December 2009. The conference was designed as an extension of two previous conferences - International Conference on Advanced Technologies in Food and Agriculture. The 2009 conference utilized the same general title but with the added subtitled "Challenges Facing Specialty Crops." Approximate 100 people attended the conference represent a wide range of specialty crops (vegetables, tree fruit, small fruit, grapes, nuts, greenhouse production. Also represented were businesses and technology companies in processing, crop consulting, equipment manufacture, distribution and logistics, data management, and advanced technologies. Keynote speakers followed the theme of the conference with presentations on fruit and vegetable supply chain, food value chain, technology solutions with agricultural equipment, and social networks. This was followed by breakout sessions that addressed challenges facing tree fruit and nuts, grapes and berries, vegetables, green house and ornamental horticulture. Cross-cutting breakout sessions addressed how technologies might address the challenges in: production and processing; food safety, traceability and packaging; automation and mechanization; and distribution and logistics. The conference concluded with reports from the breakout sessions as well as a general presentation and discussion about the role of retail product marketing. After the conference the organizers summarized and evaluated the outputs. A continuing effort has also been made to network across the region with companies, agencies, and institutions to identify how regional resources can be brought to bear to assist and enhance all phases of specialty crop production. We also developed methodologies to identify new uses and technologies for specialty crops. This activity took the form of a Technology Expert in Residence (TEIR) who was a knowledgeable of the specialty crop industry, and worked with researchers in universities and entrepreneurs in the private sector. The intent of this "technology mining" was to foster innovation and new business development in specialty crops. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: PIs - Robert Seem and Marc Smith (Cornell University); Stephan Goetz (Penn State University) and Seth Mulligan (NY Agri-Development Corporation) and subcontractor Susan Noble (Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park) served as the organizing committee for the conference and project execution. William Romig (Mid-Atlantic Perishables Commodities Service, LLC) served as the project Technology Expert in Residence (TEIR) and developed the methodology for the TEIR component of the project. Mary Jean Welser (Cornell University) provided administrative assistance to the project PIs. Partner Organizations: Cornell University, The Pennsylvania State University; New York Agri-Development Corporation (not-for-profit industry organization); the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park Corp. (not-for-profit economic development corporation); and Mid-Atlantic Perishables Commodities Service LLC (for-profit consulting business). Collaborators and Contacts: Cornell Center for Enterprise, Technology and Commercialization (university technology transfer office), High Tech Rochester (regional technology development center), Greater Rochester Enterprise (regional economic development corporation). Kathy Braise (Penn State) collaborated with Stephan Goetz on social networking. TARGET AUDIENCES: Our target audiences are diverse and inclusive. We include all specialty crop producers, processors and marketers in the Finger Lakes and Western New York region. We also include any technology development business or research organization that can contribute to innovations and solutions in specialty crops. Finally, we include all regional economic development agencies, technology commercialization agencies, specialty crop industry organizations, and seed and venture capital organizations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The International Conference on Advanced Technologies in Food and Agriculture: Challenges Facing Specialty Crops produced quite a list of challenges and potential solutions. A common thread among the different specialty crops represented included: labor and the need for labor-saving technologies and mechanization; modified crop production practices to deal with variable soil and climate conditions; better pesticide application technologies and alternative pest management technologies; better energy management though efficiencies and new technologies; streamlined compliance with regulations and reporting including traceability; stabilizing market swings; advanced logistics to get fresh produce to consumers; and efficient use of water and reducing waste streams. Of course, specialty crop producers still desire good management practices, varieties that meet consumer needs and expectations, and environmentally acceptable, but effective pest management. Challenges we often do not consider are better records management, securing investment capital, the struggle between small production and the perceived need to grow and consolidate businesses, and the prediction of consumer interests and demands. By planning a conference with a very wide range of participants ranging from grower to technology specialists, we started the networking process where discussions of the innovations and challenges in specialty crops are carried beyond the conference venue, and new ideas and solutions process continue well after the conference. The organizers recognized the absolute importance of establishing sustainable networks that include the widest range of individuals. It is further recognized that the social networking as it applies in this context must be better understood so that replication of the networks can be achieved in other regions. We have found that solutions to specialty crop challenges are not confined to the food and agriculture producer, agencies or institutions. Since everyone must be concerned about food, interest in creating solutions can come from anywhere: information technology; medical sciences; advanced manufacturing; photonics; venture capital providers, economic development agencies; and more. Our efforts cannot be confined to just those people and organizations we know. Rather we must reach out to a virtual consortium of businesses, agencies and institutions. Land grant institutions and cooperative extension are just a part of the larger consortium. Furthermore, the networking functions best in a region where its food production is understood and appreciated, especially from an economic development perspective. The technology mining aspect of the planning project has yielded a substantive methodology. Surprisingly, researchers do not necessarily understand the potential of their research and entrepreneurs do not necessarily identify the best market position for their new technology. We have established a methodology that in concert with a university's technology transfer office and business-based market assessment more clearly defined the best specialty crop opportunities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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