In today’s environment, no one university can marshall all the expertise, nor can it acquire all the resources necessary to solve problems faced by the multifaceted agricultural industry. Collaborations and partnerships hold the potential for Land Grant universities to meet their mission in new and exciting ways that enhance their resources and their value to agriculture and the citizens of this nation. It’s time for the potential of these tools to be fully explored and developed.

Successful collaborations already exist. Many
states share resources to deliver research, Extension, academic and international programs to diverse and widespread clientele. But academic and private sector agricultural leaders agree that much more needs to be done—and soon.

In October 2003, Farm Foundation brought together leaders from Land Grant university agricultural programs, policy-makers, federal administrators and industry representatives to identify strategies with the highest potential for creating successful collaborative education, research, Extension and international programs in agriculture. This report outlines the platform they recommend.