Food, Water, & Energy Resources

Policy Retreat – Group 3December 16, 2010

RICHARD PERRIN, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICSDEBORA HAMERNIK, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH DIVISIONNOAH CLAYTON, OFFICE OF RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Breakout Questions:

1. What key policy issues should be the focus for a large interdisciplinary policy research effort? That is, what can we do by organizing collectively and developing interdisciplinary approaches than we cannot do alone?

2. What unique strengths does UNL posses that position us to address to these questions? Where do we have competitive advantages that set us apart from other universities?

3. What gaps do we need to fill to enable us to realize this vision? How do we fill them? (e.g., with whom can we partner? Are there specific hiring needs to enhance competitiveness?)

Interdisciplinary Policy Research Focus Issues:

Water Policy

-Time of use metering & response-Are irrigated corn landscapes sustainable, and if not?-Conjunctive management of ground & surface water issues-How does watershed policy affect production? -Coordinated regional water policy

Interdisciplinary Policy Research Focus Issues:

Energy Policy

-Time of use metering & response (apply to natural gas & electricity)-Are irrigated corn landscapes sustainable?

-Would cheaper energy, infinite energy lead to abundance? At what point do we have abundance?

Interdisciplinary Policy Research Focus Issues:

Food Policy

-Food Safety/Security/Health Regulatory Policy Initiative-Gap in linking ongoing research with policy

-Policy expertise gap-Leadership-Social acceptance of animal food production

-Welfare & environmental footprint

UNL’s unique strengths/advantages: -Diverse natural resource base

-Geography & ecosystems create ideal laboratory

-Public power

-Expertise

-Technical expertise exists in diverse areas

-Consortia connections with potential for other collaborations (ag biotech, food producers, Energy Center, Water Institute)

Gaps & How to address them:

Coordination of resources

-Leadership

-Funding (diverse sources)

-Buy-in from faculty

-Explore criteria for choosing prioritization & themes

-Gap in linking ongoing research with policy-Policy expertise gap