Auburn University

Alabama Is Unique as Being the Only State With Three Landgrant Institutions With United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Res Earch and Cooperative Extension Responsibilities. Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (aamu), Auburn University (au), and Tuskegee University (TU) Provide Research Projects and Cooperative Extension Programs That Meet the Needs of the Citizens of Alabama and the Nation. Au Is an 1862 Landgrant Institution With High Research Activity: Comprehensive Doctoral University Carnegie Research 1 Classification. Aus Mission Is Defined by Its Landgrant Mission. Au Serves the Citizens of Alabama Through Its Instructional, Research, and Extension Programs and Prepares Alabamians to Respond Successfully to the Challenges of a Global Economy. Aamu and Au Provide Extension Educational Outreach as a Unified Alabama Cooperative Extension System (aces). Aces Focuses Its Resources on Relevant Issues That Affect the Interdependence of Urban, Suburban, Exurban,and Rural Clientele. Aces Employs a Highly Collaborative Program Development and Delivery Process That Allows for the Integrative and Collaborative Application to Serve and Meet the Needs of Alabamians in All 67 Counties Within the State. Agents From the Two Institutions Are Jointly Located in County Extension Offices and Function as County Extension Teams. Aces Cooperates With Tu Extension and Agents Are Colocated in 12 Counties. Aces Conducts Extensive Needs Assessments Through a Grasstops and Grassroots Process. Statewide Stakeholders and Leaders Are Engaged Across the Disciplines, Along With County and Community Public Policy Makers, to Identify Contemporary and Emerging Extension Issues. This Process Is Complemented With Grassroots Stakeholder Meetings Held Annually in Each County to Determine Local and Regional Issues and Opportunities. Aces Seeks to Address Selected Questions That Lead to the Identification of Critical Issues of Strategic Importance. These Issues Include, Butare Not Limited to: (1) Enhancing the Sustainability, Competitiveness, Biosecurity, and Profitability of U.s. Food and Agricultural Systems; (2) Playing a Global Leadership Role to Ensure a Safe, Secure, Nutritious, and Abundant Food Supply for the U.s. and the World; (3) Heightening Environmental Stewardship Through the Development of Sustainable Management Practices (food/water); and Adapting to and Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on Food, Feed, Fiber, and Fuel Systems in the U.s.; (4) Improving Human Health, Nutrition, and Wellbeing of the Us Population; (5) Promoting Community Development, Rural Health, Prosperity, and Resilience; (6) Building Capacity of Individuals and Families in the Context of Learning, Culture, and Community; and (7) Supporting Energy Security and the Development of the Bioeconomy From Renewable Natural Resources in the U.s. These Statewide Issues Are Integrated Into Coordinated Initiatives Outlined in an Annual Planofwork. Additionally, the Landgrant Universities of Alabama Engage Partner Organizations and 1862/1890 Universities in Neighboring States to Capitalize Upon Combined Strengths and Optimize Impacts. Examples of Multistate Cooperation Are Evident in the Critical Issues Outlined in the Alabama Integrated Extension and Research FY20232027 Plan of Work. Our Programs Are Planned to Be Aligned With the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research and Extension Priority Areas and With Alabamas Needs as Identified by Stakeholders. as a Result of the Alignment, the Focus Will Be on the Following Critical Issues: (1) Global Food Security and Hunger; (2) Natural Resources Conservation and Management, Environmental Sustainability, and Climate Change; (3) Food System and Food Safety; (4) Human Nutrition, Wellbeing, Health, and Obesity; (5) Sustainable Energy; (6) Community Development; and (7) Family, Home and 4H and Youth Development. All Planned Programs Contained in the Alabama Integrated Extension and Research FY20232027 Plan of Work Are Developed Within the Context of Research and Community Engagement and Are of Relevance to All Residents of Alabama Who May Benefit From the Local Knowledge Base or Service. This Commitment Is Without Regard to Any Personal Characteristics, Including Age, Ethnic Origin, Gender, Religion, Sexual Orientation, or Geographic Location. Alabama Populations Are Included, as Appropriate, in the Program Development Process. as a Part of the Development Process, Each Program That Was Identified and Developed for Grassroots Program Delivery, Details the Intended Audience(s) to Be Served. as a Part of the Review Process, the Respective Assistant/associate Directors and Administrators Are Charged With Ensuring That the Intended Audience(s) for Each Project or Program Includes the Spectrum of Potential Recipients of the Alabama Population. for Example, in Recognition of the Rapidly Increasing Hispanic Populations in Alabama, Many of the System Publications Are Now Availableination Continuallyissue the Challenge to Ensure That Expected Outcomes and Impacts Are Clear in Program Design, and That Continuous Improvement Is Woven Into Plans-of-work.ation Continually Issue the Challenge to Ensure That Expected Outcomes and Impacts Are Clear in Program Design, and That Continuous Improvement Is Woven Into Plans-of-work.