Innovative Centers to Advance Integrated Programs in Food Systems

To further support conversations regarding innovative centers across The United States, C-FARE is hosted a panel titled  Innovative Centers to Advance Integrated Programs in Food Systems. 

C-FARE hosted this free webinar on Monday, June 14th. The panel of speakers consisted of three leaders, each being a part of the center's management they are representing today.  Gal Hochman, a Professor at Rutgers University and C-FARE Board Chair, moderated the discussion. 

Panelists Jianguo “Jack” Liu (Michigan State University), Paula E Faulkner (MEAMotivate and Educate for Achievement (MEA) Center), and Kathleen Liang (North Carolina A&T State University) discussed their ongoing work regarding the centers they are each representing. 

Jack Liu began his presentation by stating that he is presenting on behalf of the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability at Michigan State University. He then went into the center’s objectives broadly, such as their focus, focusing on “research, education, and outreach.”." Liu provided case studies of success stories from this center, like their students taking positions at high-level institutions such as Harvard and Yale and their “NASA-MSU Professional Enhancement Award Program.”

Liu made sure to acknowledge the effects that global conditions such as COVID-19 have had on the center and how they have had to adapt to no longer being in person. Funding for long-term projects remains his most significant concern for the center, but Jack Liu sees this as expected and stated that “funding for long-term projects is hard to get everywhere, not just here.”

Paula Faulkner’s presentation was titled, “1890 Center of Excellence: Motivate and Educate for Achievement (MEA Center)." She began by displaying a graphic containing the “1890 MEA Center Leaky Pipeline,”," which displays demonstrate how 1890 institutions support the USDA NIFA’sNIFA's Agricultural Education Pipeline. Faulkner then proceeded to provide background on the MEA Center by explaining that USDA NIFA funds them and that they work in collaboration with the 1890 Land Grant University system.

When asked by the audience asked Paula Faulkner what the MEA Center’sCenter's mission is Paula Faulkner stated. She replied that “ "The MEA Center seeks to boost the collective capacity of the 1890 land-grant institutions to provide supportive learning environments and programs to increase the diversity of the U.S. agricultural workforce spanning careers in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.” Currently, 7/ of the 19 1890s Land Grant Universities act as Co-leads with the MEA Center, but Faulkner thinks that these numbers will grow over time. 

Kathleen Liang was the final speaker and presented at the “Center for Environmental Farming Systems.”." Liang stated that The Center for Environmental Farming Systems was one of the first centers to begin field research into organic farming practices over twenty years ago. CEFS also supports a myriad of programs, such as the CEFS Farm to School program and NC 10% Campaign. 

Kathleen Liang broke down CEFS activities into five categories “fundraising, communication, climate change, strategic planning, and faculty engagement.” She sees a rising challenge and opportunity for the center from “embracing interdisciplinary multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary natures.”." Kellogg's endowment funds CEFS is funded by the Kellogg Endowment, grants, fundraising, N.C. Department of Agriculture, and Consumer Services.

Q&A with the audience followed the panelists’ presentations.

This program is supported in part by the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service.