Priorities and Solutions Update

Looking for Your Opinion about Priorities and Solutions

What are high-priority research questions for agricultural and applied economists as we address the big challenges facing society? How will we train our students to help answer these questions? How will we engage with other disciplines? What outreach and extension education will be needed?

We need your ideas about these important questions and how answering them will make a difference. Over the next few days you will receive an email about the survey, and we encourage you to respond as soon as possible.

The survey will provide the input for a national workshop to be held May 2-3, 2016, in Washington DC. At that time, the project steering committee, along with representatives from academia, government, NGOs, and industry, will develop a consensus about these important questions that will impact the future our profession. The results of this project will be presented at a general session of the AAEA Annual Meetings in Boston, July 31–August 2, 2016. This will be followed by press conferences and presentations to stakeholders and funding agencies.

Economics research and education can play a key role in solving these global challenges. The “Priorities” report resulting from the Workshop will inform those who support agricultural and applied economic research about future program opportunities. This initiative will influence future research and analysis, the funding of that work, the dissemination of agricultural and applied economics knowledge, and its incorporation into curricula.

Please watch for and participate in the survey that we will be circulating in the next few days. And, let us know if you are interested in attending the Workshop by sending an email to either of us. Gene Nelson (nelsong@tamu.edu) or Caron Gala (CGala@cfare.org).