Recipient Organization
MAINE FARMLAND TRUST
97 MAIN STREET
BELFAST,ME 04915
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
This proposal is a request for funding in support of a conference focused on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of agricultural systems, including soil, water, and agricultural animals & plant products. The conference is a two-part series in collaboration with Michigan State University. As the agricultural sector in the United States confronts the emerging and expansive problem of PFAS contamination in agricultural systems, this conference series will establish a strong network critical for identifying solutions that enable farm viability and sustainability, safe food production, and promote agricultural animal welfare. It will consist of 1) a collaborative two-day symposium organized by the University of Maine, Maine Farmland Trust, and Michigan State University (MSU) entitled "PFAS: Current Knowledge and Applications for Agricultural Production"; the "Symposium") at MSU's Center for PFAS Research; and 2) a post-Symposium, one-day regional meeting in Maine based at Colby College in Waterville ("Maine Regional Meeting"). The Maine Regional Meeting will incorporate a visit to a research site on a PFAS-impacted farm to explore on-farm research and demonstration efforts and enable core research material from the Symposium to be widely used by impacted agricultural producers.This two-part conference series will: 1) initiate collaborations and broaden engagement between PFAS research efforts in Maine, Michigan, nationally, and internationally; 2) promote on-farm research and demonstration projects between farmers and researchers; 3) increase the flow of information between stakeholders ranging from researchers to farmers to regulators to establish a cross-sector network around PFAS contamination research, response, and policy; and 4) provide opportunities for students, post-doctoral researchers and early career scientists to deliver posters and network, as well as develop leadership capacity on key action areas.This funding proposal would support both the participation in the Symposium of a strong delegation representing the University of Maine, impacted farmers, agricultural support organizations, state agency officials, and other stakeholders, as well as the organizing of the Maine Regional Meeting to bring key learnings back from and build regional coalitions around the actions initiated at the Symposium.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
90%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The objectives of this two-part conference series are to:Initiate collaborations, share findings, and discuss research opportunities to broaden engagement with PFAS research in Maine, Michigan, nationally, and internationally to accelerate research projects, solution development and implementation.Exchange research ideas and information between farmers and researchers to promote on-farm research and demonstration projects and expand opportunities in Maine, Michigan and other impacted states.Increase the flow of information between stakeholders from the local to international level, including parties ranging from researcher to farmers to regulators, and establish a cross-sector network around PFAS contamination research, response, and policy.Provide opportunities for students, post-doctoral researchers and early career scientists to deliver posters and network.
Project Methods
ApproachThe two-part conference series is intentionally designed to carry the conversation around PFAS contamination and response beyond a traditional academic audience, facilitating dialogue and collaboration between participants representing a range of sectors.The collaborative Symposium at MSU will feature plenary speakers and panelist discussions, sessions that are focused around agricultural systems, health, policy and regulation, and dedicated networking sessions based on the World Cafe model. This design lays the foundation for the integration and network building needed to support and strengthen future collaboration and robust idea exchange that will lead to action.Following the Symposium, the Maine Regional Meeting will be informed by discussions at the Symposium as well as the pressing needs of Maine agricultural producers impacted by PFAS. This will increase the flow of information between all interested parties and establish a working network of stakeholders from many sectors focused on PFAS research and response. An on-farm field trip will highlight the on-the-ground experience of farmers, researchers, state agencies, and nonprofits in Maine to center the broader conversation on problem-solving to address PFAS contamination in agriculture.The two-part conference series is designed to meet the most pressing needs of both researchers and producers. For researchers grappling with pivoting their research programs to respond to this crisis in near real time, establishing new collaborations will provide critical support through expanded access to resources and expertise. For farmers, connecting to researchers that are exploring solutions as well as other impacted farmers will both connect producers to the research needed to pivot their businesses and continue production as well as enable the establishment of networks focused on support and problem solving.The Symposium will be designed to set the stage for the Maine Regional Meeting; Symposium participants will be asked to provide materials for a producer audience that can be taken back and circulated in their respective regions. The plenary session at the beginning of the Symposium and a Panel Discussion with impacted farmers from Maine and Michigan will be both live streamed and recorded, so that they will be accessible to participants from around the world. In addition, the networking portion of the Symposium is designed to facilitate cross conversations between sectors around specific goals, with a wrap-up session including action items. These action items will be taken to the Regional Meetings in Maine and Michigan to gather momentum and leadership to advance action items. Finally, the general public will be invited to learn about the complexity of this process through the culmination colloquium held at the end of the Maine Regional Meeting. The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) intends to build on this two part series with a conference to be hosted in early 2024. USDA ARS has been a key collaborator in the development of both proposals and will synergize topics and build on action items at the 2024 conference they intend to hold in Washington, DC. Beyond that, the groups planning the 2023 and 2024 conferences are developing a vision for future PFAS in agriculture symposia that includes an annual or biannual series that is hosted around the nation as more states contend with PFAS impacts to agriculture and develop solutions. Maine hopes to host the second annual/biennial symposium in 2024 or 2025 depending on the needs of the research, technical service provider, and producer communities.Two-part conference structure The Symposium will take place October 22nd - October 24th, 2023, at MSU, East Lansing, MI. More specific information about the structure of the Symposium can be found in the MSU conference application, which is included as an attachment. University of Maine will send members of an established PFAS research group, including graduate students, to the conference. Maine Farmland Trust, through its robust network of farmers, including those impacted by PFAS contamination, will ensure that impacted farmers attend the MSU Symposium. These attendees will serve as speakers, panelists, poster presenters, facilitators, and more. The post-symposium Maine Regional Meeting will take place November 7th at Colby College, in Waterville, Maine. The University of Maine and Maine Farmland Trust circulated a survey request to inform the proposed meeting structure and content and received 30 responses from government officials, researchers, agriculture service providers, and producers. Further, both University of Maine and Maine Farmland Trust meet monthly with all relevant State agencies and agricultural service providers to discuss PFAS updates and initiatives. PI Ellen Griswold of Maine Farmland Trust and Co-PI Gail Carlson of Colby College both serve on the Maine PFAS Fund Advisory Committee Subcommittee on Research. With these strong and active networks, we expect attendance of approximately 100 at the Maine Regional Meeting. In order to remove barriers for underrepresented groups, the Regional Meeting will be free of charge and farmer participants will receive stipends to offset their travel costs to the meeting.