The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources made significant impacts in the areas of research, outreach and media this year, and we are excited to present these successes to you in this annual report. Through relevant research and engaging outreach, faculty and staff at the PIE Center continually make efforts to inform stakeholders, constituents and decision makers on the issues that impact Florida’s agricultural and natural resources sectors.
We are pleased to report that the PIE Center initiated or collaborated on several new major grants in 2016-17. As you will see in the “By the Numbers” section, the PIE Center is part of more than $22 million in grant projects, with the PIE Center’s direct share at more than $1.6 million. These grants are from such agencies and organizations as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology, National Institute of Environmental Health, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. One new such project is the PIE Center’s support of the outreach and communication efforts of the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, a regional interdisciplinary center focused on the occupational safety and health needs of workers in agriculture, fishing and forestry.
The PIE Center extends the research through educational programs across the state and country, presenting for such organizations as the UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute and several county Extension offices, among others. And we’ve been experimenting with new delivery technologies – like Facebook Live videos – to enhance how we communicate and inform. We hope you will enjoy reading about some of our impactful media and outreach efforts in this report.
Finally, as you may know, Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed from the state budget this fiscal year many UF/IFAS programs, including the PIE Center. Through a very comprehensive UF/IFAS response plan, the PIE Center will retain our faculty and staff, with a reduced operating budget, through this next fiscal year. UF/IFAS will continue the PIE Center’s positive impact with Florida’s agriculture and natural resources sectors. As Jack Payne, UF/IFAS Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, has said, “Every state has a land-grant university, but no one else has a PIE Center.” We appreciate the faith that UF/IFAS, collaborators and stakeholders have in us. We will strengthen our resolve this year to continue contributing relevant research and education for the greater good of the state of Florida.
Download the annual report
