Auburn University

Auburn University Is an 1862 Land-grant Institution and Serves the Citizens of Alabama Through Its Instructional, Research, and Extension Programs. the Smith-lever Award Provides Critical Capacity Funding, Along With Cooperative State and County Funding, to Fulfill the Extension Mission of Auburn University. Extension Programming Occurs With Alabama A<(>&<)>m University, an 1890 Land-grant Institution, in Partnership as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (aces). Aces Allows the 1862 and 1890 Institutional Strengths to Address 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 Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension and Agents Are Co-located in 12 Counties. Aces Conducts Extensive Needs Assessments Through a Grass-tops 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 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, But Are 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 Bio-economy From Renewable Natural Resources in the U.s. These Statewide Issues Are Integrated Into Coordinated Initiatives Outlined in an Annual Plan-ofwork. Additionally, the Land-grant Universities of Alabama Engage Partner Organizations and 1862/1890 Universities in Neighboring States to Capitalize Upon Combined Strengths and Optimize Impacts. Our Programs Are Planned to Be Aligned With Usda's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research and Extension Priority Areas and With Alabama 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 Resource and Environmental Sustainability; (3) Food System and Food Safety; (4) Human Nutrition, Well-being, Health, and Obesity; (5) Sustainable Energy and Bio-based Products; (6) Community Development; and (7) Family, Home, and 4-H and Youth Development. All Planned Programs Contained in the Alabama Integrated Extension and Research FY2024-2028 Plan of Work Are Developed Within the Context of Research and Community Engagement and Are of R Elevance to All Residents of Alabama Who May Benefit From the Local Knowledge Base or Service. All Programs Are Logic Model Based and Include Clearly Defined Expectations Regarding Program Outcomes and Impacts. as Such, All Programs Are Inherently Capable of Producing Measures of Extension Productivity.