Subawardee

UW-Stevens Point

Project Lead

Project Description

UWSP will contribute the following actions as a core partner in the WiSys-led NSF Innovation Engine Type 1 proposal:

1. Use-inspired research and development

a. Integrate our existing agriculture and food processing-based network of partners into the Sustainable Agricultural Development NSF Innovation Engine. This includes a regional non-profit organization whose mission is to educate current and future generations about agricultural innovation and sustainability. Others include major agricultural producers in Central Wisconsin growing potatoes, other root vegetables, and cranberries. Additionally, our network comprises state and regional trade associations and commercial downstream processors of potatoes and vegetables into fresh-packed, bottled, canned and frozen goods.

b. Review and gain in-depth understanding of our network’s innovation challenges and needs around use-inspired research and where the engine and its participants can collaborate to secure investments that make meaningful innovation contributions.

c. Strengthen engagement with key successful regional entrepreneurs and investors in production agriculture and downstream process to develop collaborative projects that advance sustainability, innovation, and the creation of start-ups.

d. Work with network partners to conceive strategies that tackle head-on the grand challenges of:

(1) efficient food production for a growing (global) population;

(2) extended shelf-life, storage, packaging, spoilage, distribution and logistics;

(3) achieving the delicate balance of increased yield and nutritional quality against effective water, soil and nutrient management.

2. Translation of innovations into practice

a. Continue engagement with the Farming for the Future Foundation and its major initiative to open a Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, Wisconsin in the summer of 2023.

b. Contribute to design and selection of food crops and other beneficial plants for outdoor exhibits that exemplify best practices in production agriculture.

c. Explore how exhibit spaces in the Food + Farm Exploration Center may be used to showcase examples of innovation and best practices in areas including water and soil quality; health and wellness; and mitigation of, as well as adaptation to, climate change.

3. Workforce development to grow and sustain regional innovation

a. Conceive programming in collaboration with the Food + Far Exploration Center and its leadership to address acute need for workforce in production agriculture. These will target K-12, Higher Education and general educational pieces designed to show the positive economic, social and environmental impacts of agricultural on n their local communities and the broader region.

b. Help address misconceptions around careers in agriculture and showcase how the sector is underpinned by talent in STEM subjects.

c. Explore local, regional and state policies in collaboration with trade associations and support recommendations as necessary that encourage revitalization of our rural communities, helping them thrive, grow, diversify as well as remain resilient and self-reliant.

Award Amount

$14,000