College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences

Strategic Initiatives

F. Abel Ponce de León, Ph.D.Senior Associate Dean , Research and Graduate Programs

May 21, 2009

CFANS Mission

To promote interdisciplinary scholarship supporting food systems, agriculture, and natural resources.

CFANS Students

1,761 undergraduates14 majors & 22 minors

700 graduate students13 graduate programs

CFANS Faculty & Staff

259 faculty

over 1,000 employees

CFANS Departments

11 Departments

7 Research & Outreach Centers around the state

Bell Museum

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Serving MinnesotaCloquet Forestry Center

North Central Research & Outreach Center at Grand Rapids

Northwest Research & Outreach Center at Crookston

Southern Research & Outreach Center at Waseca

Southwest Research and Outreach Center at Lamberton

Rosemount Research & Outreach Center

West Central Research & Outreach Center at Morris

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

1,047 acres of magnificent display gardens, and northern-hardy plant collections

Named one of the Top 10 gardens in America by USA Today.

Apples: Hardiness, disease resistance, storage capability

27 Introductions – most famous: Regent, Fireside, Haralson, Honeycrisp, Zestar! ®, and SnowSweet®

Vision: To be the world-class northern landscape arboretum

Bell Museum of Natural History

The mission of the Bell Museum is to advance the quest to discover, document, and understand life in its many forms and to inspire curiosity, delight, and informed stewardship of the natural world.

Museum's popular forum for science and culture Showcases current research in a unique public venue Young adult audiences Informal dialogue.

Sources of Sponsored Funding

Other includes: Universities, Hospitals, Clinics, National Laboratories, and other non-federal government

National Science Foundation 17%

National Institutes of Health 3%

US Dept of Energy 3%

Other Federal Agencies 3%

Other 12%

Commodity Groups 10%Business & Industry

3%Foundations 1%

USDA 29%

State of Minnesota 19%

Sponsored Funding

NSF InfoBrief †released in March 2009 ranked the federal R&D obligations of the top 100 universities and colleges in the U.S. by total amount received, by agency for FY2007.

UMN 16th overall in total amount received

UMN has the largest amount of USDA funding of the top 25 academic institutions

UMN ranked third overall in USDA funding out of top 100 universities and colleges in U.S.

†Federal R&D obligations to universities and colleges totaled $25 Billion in FY2007. InfoBrief, National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavorial and Economic Sciences, NSF09-313 March 2009

Strategic Vision

Provide extraordinary education, breakthrough research, and dynamic public engagement as we strive to be a world leader in advancing solution-driven science in food, agricultural and natural resources to improve the human condition.

Strategic Planning

Global Climate &Environmental

Change

Food, Health & Ag

Systems

Bioeconomy

Biodiversity

Food, Health and Agricultural Systems

Vision:

Meet the food, fuel, feed and fiber needs of citizens worldwide.

Objectives:

Enhance international impact

Develop multifunctional landscapes

Interface agriculture, nutrition science and health

Sustainable Bio-economy Vision:

Provide rural communities with a strong economic base that results from sustainable land use practices

Objectives:

Generate ecosystem services through renewable agricultural and natural resources.

Improve quality of life for rural communities through economic development and policy change.

Exemplary education and outreach

Climate and Environmental Change Vision:

A well-integrated response to the major issues associated with adaptation-regionally and locally

Objectives:

Determine mechanisms and extent of climate and environmental change.

Understand feedback of biophysical, social and political elements of environmental problems.

Conduct student and citizen-based research for life-long learning and action

Biodiversity

Vision:

Better society and benefit the natural world by producing knowledge about the planet’s biodiversity and communicating our findings.

Objectives:

Strengthen biodiversity related research through integration of existing efforts in discovery, conservation, adaptation, and management use.

A Compelling Opportunity

Global Climate &Environmental

Change

Food, Health & Ag

Systems

Bioeconomy

Biodiversity

Managing landscapes for sustainability, diversity and productivity

Programmatic Initiative

Managing landscapes for sustainability, diversity and productivity: Adapting to climate and environmental change

Goals of Programmatic Initiative

Identify land for long term studies of agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Integrate efforts in research, teaching, extension and emerging technologies.

Add faculty expertise.

Establish a Center of Excellence in Student Engagement and Experiential Learning.

Facilitate faculty development program

Support graduate student research

Expand undergraduate student research opportunities.