The Importance of NAAAN Engagement – A Letter from Doug Steele
When I became an assistant county agent in Amarillo, Texas, in 1981, I was told one of the major roles for Extension was to provide “translational” programs so that basic research would be foundational as part of outreach to agricultural producers. However, over the years, I developed a personal philosophy that if applied research through Extension engagement was going to be effective, it needed to be focused on the “transformational” (or adoption) elements that assist producers in profitability, sustainability, and conservation. Through its commitment across North America, NAAAN collaborators share the common bond that access to an agricultural advisory network supports the future of food and agriculture across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It provides a platform among Extension and rural advisory services that promote and support innovation, knowledge utilization, and information sharing with the ultimate goal of sharing best practices and facilitating learning from the global expertise of its three partnership countries.
NAAAN has identified several thematic areas to support critical areas of food and agriculture across North America, including:
- Access to diverse expertise and technologies that are accelerating problem-solving for global challenges like food security and pest control.
- Shared research that leads to faster innovation in crop science, soil health, water management, and climate resilience (minimizing impacts from weather and natural disaster events).
- Capacity-building initiatives that support rural development and empower smallholder farmers.
- Joint advocacy efforts that strengthen the voice of North American agriculture in global forums.
- Support for agricultural and youth workforce development and rural prosperity.
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is comprised of more than 250 public research universities and university systems in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In 2018, APLU initiated the North American Zone of Knowledge to recognize that the challenges we face are shared and must be solved collectively. Human health and security, economic opportunity, access to food and energy, and environmental problems are not bound by borders, and neither are their solutions. Higher education institutions in Canada, Mexico, and the United States must build even stronger bridges to collaborate on addressing the most pressing problems facing our continent and the world.
I also want to personally invite you to join the NAAAN from 10-11 a.m. MST on Wednesday, Nov. 5, for the CONVERSATION on NAAAN CONNECT with APLU.
Let’s commit ourselves to supporting the NAAAN and making a positive difference in the countries of North America through shared goals, common values, and a focus on the future.
—Doug
Douglas L. Steele
Vice President, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
NAAAN Steering Committee Member