Multi-State Collaboration Conference

• Farm Foundation-led gathering of leaders from academia, industry, stakeholder and advocacy groups

• with help from W.K. Kellogg Foundation and USDA’s Cooperative States Research, Education and Extension Service

Multi-State Collaboration Conference• Process: Take a hard look at our operating

environment, stakeholder expectations and the status of collaborative projects among the Land Grants

Multi-State Collaboration Conference• Goal: Identify the strategies with the most

potential for creating strong education, research extension and international programs in agriculture

Environment• Budget constraints• More competition for top people, fewer dollars • Increased stakeholder demand• New audiences, clientele• Expectations for excellence

Environment

• “You’re broke. You don’t have enough money to hire all the people you need. The ones you have are the wrong ones and they’re working on the wrong things.

• “You’re also trapped in an historically abysmal management system called tenure”

– Arthur Hecker, vice-president of Research and Development and Scientific Affairs, Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories

Expectations

• Stakeholder• Industry• Policymakers• Funders

Multi-State Collaboration Conference

• Two distinct strategies emerged

First Strategy

• When in danger and in doubt,

• Run in circles• Scream and shout.

Second Strategy

• Promote collaboration• Repeat success• Start now

Success stories exist

• Three themes– Complex problems– Efficiency and effectiveness– Shared excellence

Success stories

• CASGMS• Midwest Poultry Consortium• IPM CRSP• Southeastern Horticultural Extension

Common elements of success• Mutual benefits• Champions at all levels• Need-based, Outcome driven• Involved stakeholders• Adequate resources• Advance agreement on policies

Common elements of success

• Effective evaluation of people and programs• Integrated research, education and outreach• Interdisciplinary approach to sound science• Collegiality among collaborators and clientele• Innovative delivery methods

Barriers to collaboration

• Funding

• “NIH” —Held hostage by stakeholders, internal and external

• Turf

• Transactional costs and logistics

Recommendations• Think big, start small

• Need-driven

• Mutual benefits are mandatory

• Identify champions

Recommendations

• Look across as well as out

• Lead, don’t follow

• Agree in advance

• Model best behavior

• Communicate success

Multi-State Collaboration Vision

Expanded opportunities…built on a

foundation of mutual objectives … a

vision of shared benefits … unbound

by discipline or political borders

Multi-State Collaboration Conference

Just Do It