Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS
(N/A)
AMHERST,MA 01003
Performing Department
Center for Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
The Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment provides leadership, administrative support and maintains the facilities and physical infrastructure needed for the research and educational programs delivered by the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and UMass Extension. The Center coordinates faculty research initiatives and provides oversight and supervision in the following disciplinary areas: childhood obesity, youth development, climate change, economic development, environmental stewardship, sustainable energy, food safety and food security. Center administration initiates the required, participatory decision-making, planning and reporting, as well as the development and maintenance of policies, processes, organizational priorities and new strategic initiatives. Center leadership is accountable for the management and cultivation of resources, is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs and for communicating with the public and the university community.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
35%
Applied
30%
Developmental
35%
Goals / Objectives
The goals of the Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment are to understand the status of agriculture within Massachusetts, to share this information with stakeholders across the state and region, and to use stakeholder input to design and carry out research and outreach programs that directly target stakeholder concerns. Specific objectives and outputs flow directly from these goals. To be a source of information on the state of agriculture, food and the environment in Massachusetts To provide constituencies within the state access to agricultural and other resources To facilitate continuous identification and discussion of the issues critical to agriculture, food and the environment in Massachusetts To provide agricultural and other leaders a direct electronic communication forum for the timely exchange of information on activities and issues To insure that the research performed by the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and UMass Extension actively address the needs of under-served and under-represented populations of the state To coordinate, facilitate and support research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and at agricultural research facilities around the state: Cold Spring Orchard, Hadley Equine & Livestock Center, Troll Turf Facility, South Deerfield Crop and Animal Research Center, and Wareham Cranberry Station.
Project Methods
Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment administrators will pursue a variety of organizational approaches to link research to public issues and problems, facilitate effective collaboration among faculty and staff and ensure that the results of our efforts are shared broadly. A key avenue for effective dissemination and communication will be the Center for Agriculture website. The Center is also placing a renewed emphasis on the importance of assessment, and professional staff will provide the expertise and support needed to help faculty measure and document the impact of various initiatives. Detailed descriptions of the specific methods that faculty, staff and administrators use to achieve goals and outcomes are requested for all projects associated with and administered by The Center.