Institutional Transformation and New Academics: AFS* and the Organic Agriculture Major

1. Institutional Transformationand New Academics: AFS* and the Organic Agriculture Major • BioAg Symposium • October 23, 2006 • WSU Sustainability Forum • Catherine A. Perillo • AFS Program Coordinator, • College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences *AFS = Agricultural and Food Systems, a new interdisciplinary B.S. program

2. “New Major in Organic Ag!” • Lots of press! High visibility! • WSU Evergreen • Associated Press • National Public Radio • Seattle TV • Lewiston Tribune • Daily News etc.

3. High visibility within WSU • Spring 2006 • Sept. 2006 – The Innovators lecture series Getting Back to Basics: Farming’s Organic Future

4. Organic agriculture statistics • $14 billion US organic food sales, 2.5% of all retail food sales in 2005 • $77 million farm-gate organic sales in WA – 2005 • 59 million ac in 100 countries worldwide. (Australia, Argentina, other Latin America, Europe, N. America (3.7 million ac) – 2003 • 39% US population uses at least some organic products (76% at least weekly) – 2002 • 73% of US grocery stores carry organic products - 2002 • From the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com); • and CSANR (csanr.wsu.edu)

5. Institutional Transformation and New Academics: AFS and the Organic Agriculture Major photo

6. Bottomline • I. There is a new AFS degree, w/ 5 majors (non-departmental, interdisciplinary; approved May 2006) • Agricultural Business and Technology Systems • Agricultural Education • Organic Agriculture Systems • Pest Management Systems • Plant and Soil Systems II. Breadth of knowledge and systems thinking skills are key to sustainability. AFS goal:developing graduates able to see, think, and interact holistically, from a systems perspective, regardless of own professional specialty.

7. Today’s agriculture and food systems are multifaceted and complex. • Science-based issues and decisions often have environmental and socioeconomic effects beyond the specific science. economics society environment

8. “Sustainability Science” • This year, National Academy of Science recognizes this as a new discipline, with own section in their journal. • Association for Advancement of Science makes sustainability science the theme of 2007 annual meeting Article: The Chronicle of Higher Education Oct 20, 2007 “A New Science Breaks Down Boundaries Mixing social and environmental research, sustainability studies gain academic respectability.”

9. History of agricultural faculty • 1960s-90s • e.g. many of us • Specialized, reductionist research • Important science contributions • Specialized degrees • Today • e.g. some of us • Specialized training and systems approaches • Solo & multi-discipl. research • Important science contributions • Fewer degrees (?) • Interdisciplinary • degrees (?) • Earliest days • e.g. Spillman (6th WSU faculty member, 1894) • Plant breeder,livestock manager, football coach, and later: “father of agric. economics” • Important science contributions • College of Agriculture grants only a • BS in Agriculture until 1965

10. economics society environment • AFS  Sustainability - via specialty plus systems-thinking • Develop graduates (citizens and professionals) who have: • Science and subject background • and • Broader understanding plus systems-thinking to see the cutting edge and to function in tomorrow’s agricultural and food systems.

11. Why a new AFS degree? Why an organic ag major? Public interest

12. Why a new AFS degree? Why an organic ag major? Public interest Long history of organic and sustainable ag research

13. Why a new AFS degree? • May 12, 2006 • (Newfarm.org)

14. Why a new AFS degree? From higher administration: Consolidation and efficiency Interest in systems Involved faculty: (A range of reactions) From: Well, if we have to… To: Opportunity to meet employer needs and develop broader-thinking graduates! Why an organic ag major? Public interest Long history of organic and sustainable ag research Industry support Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Food Systems

15. A Collaborative Process • Dec 17, 2003 - First AFS Meeting • Ray Folwell, Chair (Ag Econ) • Programs (# faculty) involved: • Animal Science (2) • Horticulture (3) • Crop & Soil Sciences (2) • Agric. Technology and Management (1) • Agric. Communication and Ag Educ. (2) • Community and Rural Sociology (1) • Entomology (1) • Food Science (1) • Natural Resource Sciences (1) Consensus: “okay, reorganization and fewer degree programs…, BUT ALSO an opportunity for improving student learning, and increasing integration across disciplines”

16. A Collaborative Process • Continued meetings Dec 2003 – Jan 2006 • Program goals; learning goals • Program structure and content • Needs assessment (survey of employers, alumni, high school agric. teachers, and other stakeholders) • Proposal submitted May 2005 • HECB approval May 2006

17. KEY Already cut After AFS approval Human Development. Crop Science Agriculture Technology Management Agricultural Communications Soil Science Apparel Merch. & Design Agricultural Education AFS Horticulture Interior Design General Agriculture Cut with AFS approval Natural Resource Sciences Entomology School of Economic Sciences Animal Science Biosystems Engineering Landscape Architecture Food Science & Human Nutrition Community and Rural Soc (offers minor only) Integ Cropping Syst. (Tri-Cities)

18. Stated Program Goals • The AFS degree is designed to provide students with the ability to: • Understand integrated agricultural systems concepts • Integrate and analyze systems approaches • Communicate in both oral and written formats • Develop expertise in agriculture and agricultural systems policies and practices. “The degree allows the student to choose areas of concentration to better meet their needs today and in the future.”

19. Degree Structure AgBusiness Comm- Advertising AFS Degree Agricultural Technology & Business Technology Comm-PR Comm- Journalism Production Agricultural Education Organic Agriculture Systems Pest Management Systems Cropping Systems Plant and Soil Systems Soil Systems Horticultural Systems

20. Common core courses, with technical specialty General University Requirements (GERs) (~45 credits) Math Writing Biol. Sciences Physical Sciences Humanities Social Sciences Intercultural Studies • AFS Core (all AFS students) • (~30 credits) • 4 new AFS “systems” classes • Basic classes in: • Animal Science • Crop/Hort Science • Soil Science • Economics • Ecology • Agriculture and Community • Seminar • Internship Technical Specialty (Major and option courses) 40-45 credits

21. Structure ofOrganic Agricultural Systems major General University Requirements (GERs) (~45 credits) AFS Core (all AFS students) (~30 credits) Possible Disciplinary Focus Areas Organic Ag Sys Core Major Core: ~20 cr Organic Farming & Gardening Sustainable Ag or Food Sys Practicum in Organic Agric Human Nutrition Add’l Pest management ------------------ Ag Electives ~20cr Crop production Nutrition & health Animal production Technology & processing Business & marketing etc.

22. Existing organic / sustainable agriculture classes • Soils 101 – Organic Gardening & Farming • Soils 480 – Practicum in Organic Agric. • Soils 345 -- Sustainable Agriculture • Organic Teaching Farm (3 ac certified organic) From Cultivating Success Program Soils 150 - Science, Society and Sustainable Food Systems Soils/CRS 404 - Sustainable Small Acreage Farming & Ranching Soils 445/545 – Field Analysis of Sustainable Food Systems

23. New AFS courses (systems-focused) • AFS 101: Introduce range of ag and food systems activities and inter-relationships; introduce WSU • AFS 201: Problem solving; hard and soft systems; inquiry methodologies; modeling systems • AFS 301: More specific methodologies of systems description and analysis; integrating reductionist and systems information • AFS 401: Project-focused identification and solution to complex systems problems • Throughout: Communications, team work, critical thinking and problem-solving, leadership, and other professional skills

24. Next Steps • Develop team and approaches to succeed as a non-departmental degree program • Evaluate/refine AFS 101 (taught this fall) • Develop and offer other courses • Work with community colleges, learning centers, high schools, etc. • ID and resolve logistical needs • Develop/implement marketing approaches • Work with stakeholders iteratively so we do this “right”!

25. Summary • I. There is a new AFS degree, w/ 5 majors (approved May 2006) • Agricultural Business and Technology Systems • Agricultural Education • Organic Agriculture Systems • Pest Management Systems • Plant and Soil Systems II. Breadth of knowledge and systems thinking skills are key to sustainability. AFS goal:developing graduates able to see, think, and interact holistically, from a systems perspective, regardless of own professional specialty.

26. Thank you!

28. Guiding Philosophy • “The abilities to think critically, analyze situations, and implement an acceptable course of action are the core of the proposed degree” - AFS Proposal • Essential skills: • strong communication and interpersonal skills (including teamwork) • ability to integrate principles from agriculture, basic sciences, AND systems approaches into decision-making processes.