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Cornell University Applied Research and Extension Priorities
FY11-15
Global Food Security and Hunger
Research and extension education programs are directed toward improvement of the global food system as a whole from “farm to table” and include analyses of domestic and international policies affecting the system, food security and hunger. Programs help agricultural/horticultural businesses improve productivity and sustainability through resource management, adoption of new technologies and practices, improved marketing strategies and business management skills and by looking to alternative enterprises with emphasis on economic and environmentally sustainability. Emphases include enhancing soil resources and soil health, crop plant genomics, field evaluation of crops, reliable production guidelines, genetic improvement of animals and animal production, economics of production and farm management, integrated pest management, healthy produce, fruit and vegetable storage and facilitation of sustainable agriculture. Education complements research by encouraging farmers to grow new crop varieties and employ new production and business practices, through programs for ag sector businesses and by informing consumers about improved food products and encouraging adults to serve the foods to children. Research analyses and education also affect policies to reform governmental food-related programs. Elements of food insecurity addressed include availability of and access to food, sufficiency of food, social and cultural acceptability of food, and nutritional quality and safety of food.
Goals include:
- Boosting agricultural production in sustainable ways
- Improving global capacity to meet growing food demand
- Fostering innovation in fighting hunger by addressing food insecurity in vulnerable populations
- Assuring the long-term viability and well being of the agricultural/horticulture industry and rural communities in New York State.
- Promoting economically and environmentally sound products and practices, and safer and healthier products.
- Assisting producers, horticulture businesses, and natural resource managers to optimize production management and improve profitability and sustainability in accordance with their goals.
- Increasing the use of sustainable practices results in improved or protected soil, air and water quality and production of high quality and safe food and fiber.
- Improving soil health and productivity, resulting in increased farm profitability and improved environmental quality.
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Climate Change
Recent efforts have focused on identifying and quantifying the level of climatic disruption caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gasses and the early, measurable impact on weather patterns, geographic bioregions, and living creatures. Now, researchers are exploring the looming challenges, investigating strategies to address expected impacts, and developing new resources to reduce the human “carbon footprint” adding to greenhouse gas emissions. Three vital areas have been identified for the well-being of future generations:
- Climate science: quantifying the current trend and predicting future impact
- Adaptation: moderating expected damage and identifying potential opportunities
- Mitigation: reducing the human “carbon” footprint to slow the pace of climate change
Examples of likely mitigation needs include controlling pests, applying fertilizer and optimal planting and harvesting times. Because carbon dioxide emissions are one of the major causes of global climate change, the study of carbon sequestration is a major research emphasis. Climate change also heightens the importance of research and extension on invasive species.
These stressors to human habitability will be borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable of human populations: the poor, the old and the young. Vulnerable populations will face adaptive challenges to their new environments, with potentially far-reaching implications for health as well as for societal strategies to cope with climate change effects at both the population and policy level. Technical knowledge of climate change issues and mitigation strategies is evolving rapidly and there is much confusion and skepticism and limited climate change literacy across audiences.
Goals include:
- Reducing factors contributing to climate change at the individual, community, industry, and institutional levels
- Developing an agriculture system that maintains high productivity in the face of climate changes
- Helping producers and communities adapt to chang¬ing environments
- Sustaining economic vitality and taking advantage of emerging economic opportunities offered by climate change mitigation technologies
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Sustainable Energy
Sustainable energy emphases include: Energy and Agriculture, Households and Energy, Consumers and Energy, Communities and Energy, Youth Development and Energy, and, Climate Change and Energy Literacy. The agriculture program includes development of biomass for bioenergy, design of optimum forestry and crops for bioenergy production, and production of value-added bio-based industrial products. The program also addresses energy conservation through agricultural applications of additional energy alternatives such as wood and grass pellet fuel production, recycling of vegetable oils as biodiesel, wind and solar energy production.
The consumer and community efforts emphasize increased energy efficiency and conservation, implications of energy subsidies and conservation incentives, understanding of how local policies and practices influence energy use and conservation, and workforce and business implications of sustainable development. The relationships of waste management and energy use and costs also are of concern.
Goals include:
- New York State will become a leader in pursuing the national goal of energy independence
- Enhanced economic well being through use of locally produced and owned energy sources and/or lower cost external sources retains energy dollars within the local and state
- Increasing sustainability of agricultural/horticulture/natural resource and supporting businesses and enhancing the financial security of individuals and families and local government operations through reduced energy costs
- Improving the economic vitality of agricultural/natural resources and other businesses, enhancing the health of individuals and families, and increasing sustainability of local government operations through waste reduction and economical and safe management of waste.
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Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity prevention research and education are based upon an ecological approach focusing on individuals and their interaction among the multiple environments that surround them. This approach recognizes that there are inherent multiple levels of influence that affect a child’s body weight. Faculty research topics include nutrition and hunger, nutrition education and behavior, built and community natural environments, promoting physical activity, healthful food availability, food product development and health care organization, services and policies.
Extension programs are designed to 1) connect research and practice, 2) result in behavior change, 3) build on the strengths of families and youth, 4) develop strong collaborations resulting in community changes for optimal health promotion and 5) provide policymakers with the knowledge to develop appropriate policies to promote healthy lifestyles. Extension programs target children, families and the community at large, are collaborative and work directly with key community organizations.
Goals include:
- Affordable, available nutritious foods
- Guidance for families to make science-based decisions about health and well-being
- Prevention of childhood overweight and reduction of long term risks for chronic disease by encouraging healthy eating and increased physical activity
- Improved community food security and healthful food-choice options
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Food Safety
Food safety research and education programs serve a broad constituency including food producers, processors, distributors, retailers, commercial and institutional food service and retail establishments, consumers-both youth and adult, and research scientists. Emphases include these key food safety components: causes of microbiological contamination and microbiological resistance, education of consumers and food safety professionals, and developing food processing and storage technologies.
The program aims to reduce the incidence of food borne illness and provide a safe food supply. Technical support for policy makers and regulators, technical assistance and timely responses to emergent and continuing state and national outbreaks and issues are included. Consumer education programs focus on safe handling and preparation of foods, conveying important practices in preventing illness along with avoiding food cross-contamination.
Goals include:
- Provide for the nutritional well-being and safety of New York State residents through helping to assure a continuous, reasonably priced supply of wholesome foods.
- Improve food safety and food-handling practices throughout the food system.
Reduce incidence of food-borne illnesses.
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Youth, Family, and Community
Youth emphases span Positive Youth Development including Life Skill Development and Science, Engineering and Technology. Family emphases include Human Development and Social Well Being, Economic Well Being, and Quality of Home and Work Environments. Community emphases include community and economic development, connecting people to the land and their environments, the agriculture/community interface, and youth community action.
Goals include:
Youth
- Enhancing youth development
- Preparing the next generation of scientists
- Youth lead healthy, satisfying, productive lives
- Youth become caring and contributing members of society enhancing the quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities
- Youth become life-long learners
- Youth become knowledgeable, contributing participants in science and technology-related issues in their communities and chosen professions
Family
- Enabling vibrant and resilient communities
- Improved parenting practices that result in better child and youth outcomes
- Improved parent/care giving practices result in parents and caregivers reporting increased confidence in their roles
- Improved financial status of targeted NYS residents
- Improved indoor air quality in low income households resulting in better health outcomes
Community
- Better utilization of community resources to improve and sustain quality of life
- Increased local capacity for management and protection of local environmental resources
- Agriculture/horticulture/natural resource enterprises are viewed as contributing and positive elements in the community
- Communities actively manage their environments protecting and enhancing financial, infrastructure, human, environmental, and social capitals
- Youth are community leaders making decisions and taking action on issues of public/community concern that impact their lives
- Individuals and communities experience high quality of life, social cohesion, ecological integrity, effective decision making, and new economic opportunities
- Local economies become more diversified
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