SERA039: Public Policy Issues Education
Statement of Issues and Justification
The Public Policy Issues Education (PPIE) SERA is being created to provide an organized framework for facilitating public policy education coordination regionally and nationally through a structure for regular information exchange and professional development for Land Grant University research and Extension professionals and faculty. Statement of needs and justification are provided as follows:For more than 50 years, the Farm Foundation, through its sponsorship of the National Public Policy Education Committee (NPPEC) conferences and activities, facilitated public policy education materials development and delivery through faculty at land grant universities. However, reductions in Extension staffing and budgets, as well as changes in the nature of public policy issues in agriculture, natural resources, community development, and the food system necessitate a new approach for coordination. The Farm Foundation is diversifying its financial and leadership support and the NPPEC has been disbanded. Thus, in this new vacuum, national or regional public policy education objectives are not being addressed in any coordinated or synergistic way.
The Southern SERA-PPIE is proposed to largely continue and expand the mission of the NPPEC. A SERA will provide a framework around which PPIE can be organized to work efficiently and effectively to enhance the delivery of relevant policy education to targeted audiences. Since public policy issues occur at the state and national level, multi-state collaboration is needed to address the global issues plus allow the leveraging of analysis and education programming efforts to compensate for the fact that fewer policy educators exist now than in the past to get this job done. Support of the Southern Extension and Experiment Station Directors is critical to making this happen.
Education programs and economic analyses that address critical public policy issues faced by various stakeholder groups are needed to support informed decisions. The PPIE SERA would support multiple SAAESD Priority Areas. Those are:
Goal 1. An Agricultural System That Is Highly Competitive in the Global Economy. Within this goal 1, the PPIE SERA would support the sub-goals of G. Competitiveness in international markets; and, J. Public policy and economics of agricultural production systems. Farm Bill education and producer participation alternatives would be a key example in this area.
Goal 2. A Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System. Issues related to sub-goal A. Food safety would be addressed by the PPIE SERA. Included in this area could be education and analysis on issues such as inspection regulations and international policy and trade concerns.
Goal 3. A Healthy and Well Nourished Population. Public policy concerns related to this goal could center on sub-goal B. Food choices for optimum nutrition and individual health; and on sub-goal E, Interrelationships of food animal health and human health. Diet choices of children in schools is of concern as well as how food animals are handled which could impact human health.
Goal 4. Greater Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment. The PPIE SERA would significantly support this Goal, such as sub-goals A. Air, soil and water resources conservation and enhancement; sub-goal C. Multiple uses of agricultural lands; and sub-goal G. Environmental policy and regulations. Education and analysis on natural resource policy alternatives and consequences could be a major contribution of the SERA.
Goal 5. Enhanced Economic Opportunity and Quality of Life. Once again, it would be anticipated that members of the SERA on PPIE would have major interest in sub-goal A. Economic and policy analysis of agricultural industrialization; sub-goal B. Rural community development and revitalizing rural economies; sub-goal C. Risk management and assessment in agricultural systems as it relates to policy; and sub-goal F. Agriculture-related social and consumer concerns. Right now, for example, the food vs. fuel debate is a high-profile policy issue related to this sub-goal.
Other anticipated benefits and products to be developed from this PPIE SERA project include:
* Improvements in the capacity of educators to utilize the proven alternatives/consequences approach to public policy education programs and analyses.
* Development of new methodological frameworks for analysis and discussion. As appropriate, pursue opportunities to publish articles and enhance expertise and provide other scholarship opportunities for professionals.
* Initiating and coordinating conferences, programs and printed materials for professional development and networking opportunities for faculty and stakeholders and for education delivery to stakeholders.
In addition to Land Grant faculty and professionals, stakeholders include non-Land Grant faculty, related professional associations and agribusiness, rural development centers, community leadership organizations, landowners, and producers. Researchers, Extension educators, county partners, local, state and national governments, elected officials, NGOs and community leadership organizations will all benefit from a concerted PPIE coordination effort.
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