Collaborating Across Disciplines in Communicating Social Aspects of Biotechnology

Funding for the project "Collaborating Across Disciplines in Communicating Social Aspects of Biotechnology" is provided by the Farm Foundation which supports programs that improve the economic and social well being of United States agriculture and food system. This questionnaire survey was pre-tested using a small number of participants. The overall goal funds to four land grant universities in four states is to explore issues surrounding acceptability of agricultural biotechnology in the United States. This project will (1) identify and provide an understanding of the social forces that will shape the future to communicate findings of the USDA-funded project so that results can be readily available for stakeholders (farmers, consume move toward a consensus on social, public issues and policies concerning genetically modified crops, and (2) provide a way of encouraging public and private institutions to communicate to the media and the public about the issues facing agriculture.

Project Summary

Title of Project:

Collaborating Across Disciplines in Communicating Social Aspects of Biotechnology

Funding Source:

Farm Foundation

Collaborators:

• Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee (Lead Institution)

• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

• University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

• North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina

Duration:

1 year

Objectives of Project:

1. Set up multiple communication channels to disseminate findings of the USDA-funded biotechnology project to the general public (web-page creation, community forums, workshops, one-on-one meetings with community leaders, and fact sheets, among others.

2. Organize a public forum to explain why and how the collaboration forged between extension and research in this, and other projects, can be strengthened and sustained.

3. Implement a workshop/conference to be jointly delivered by TSU, NCA&T, UARK, and UAPB to showcase the evolution and success of this special USDA grant. The role of the Farm Foundation as a partner with land grant universities in fostering research, education and outreach will be given special recognition at the joint workshop/conference.

Methods:

Producer and consumer focus group meetings were used in collecting data for the larger study supported by USDA grant. Data collected helped the project group identify the social considerations that influence the acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. Input from the focus groups was used in developing a questionnaire that was pilot-tested in summer 2003.

Project Description and Goals of the Farm Foundation in Funding this Project:

The Farm Foundation supports programs that improve the economic and social well being of United States agriculture and food system; consequently this project is in line with the Foundation’s goals. This project will communicate to private and public sector decision makers and a nation-wide questionnaire. This questionnaire survey was pre-tested using a small number of participants. The project provides funds to four land grant universities in three states to explore issues surrounding acceptability of agricultural biotechnology. This project will (1) identify and provide an understanding of the social forces that will shape the future to communicate findings of the USDA-funded project so that results can be readily available for stakeholders (farmers, consume move toward a consensus on social, public issues and policies concerning genetically modified crops, and (2) provide a way of encouraging public and private institutions to communicate to the media and the public about the issues facing agriculture.

Proposed Outreach/Follow-up Activities:

• Group meetings

• Teleconferences

• Workshops/conferences

The following section describes the outreach and follow-up plan for this project. Since this project has involved collaboration between research and extension, there will be significant effort to fully integrate both into the project. The goal of the outreach and follow-up plan is to extend project impact(s) to the public, stakeholders and policy makers. These will be achieved through:

• Occasional summaries (fact sheets) of project activities and findings

• Web information (with links to USDA, Farm Foundation and other related sites)

• Focus group meetings

• Conferences/proceedings

• Community forums, and extension seminars

Evaluation Plans: Accountability, Evaluation and Indicators of Success:

Project evaluation will focus on the project impacts on target audience, effects of outreach activities, impacts on U.S. agriculture, and the food system. Success indicators that will establish the short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals will be used in measuring success. The following plan will be used in measuring the indicators referenced above:

• Assessment of how many people are reached through project outreach activities, including specifically reaching our target audience

• Assessment of how participants think they have benefited through focus group meetings and one-on-one interaction, and group-member contributions and participation levels

• Progress reports

  • Review progress made toward accomplishing all project goals.

  • The financial statements to ensure that the project is moving as planned and that budget is adhered to.

  • Group design of short, intermediate, and long-term criteria to measure the success of the project will be developed.

Collaborating Institutions

	Tennessee State University
	Principal Investigator: Dr. Enefiok Ekanem Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research Tennessee State University 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209-1561 615.963.5823 (voice) 615.963.1557 (fax) eekanem@tnstate.edu
	University of Arkansas
	Principal Investigator: Dr. Eric Wailes Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness 217 Ag. Bldg. University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 501.575.2278 (voice) 501.575.5306 (fax) ewailes@uark.edu
	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
	Principal Investigator: 1200 North University Dr. Mail Slot 4767 University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR 71601 870.575.8154 (voice) 870.543.8035 (fax) balogu-d@vx4500.uapb.edu
	North Carolina A&T State University
	Principal Investigator: Ms. Mary Mafuyai-Ekanem North Carolina Cooperative Extension Program N.C. A&T State University P.O. Box 21928 Greensboro, NC 27420-1928 336.334.7956 (voice) 336.334.7432 (fax) mafuyai@ncat.edu

Progress and Accomplishments

Funding Provided By

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