Attendees:

Eric Young, So. Reg. Mike Chippendale, NC Reg. Al Parks, 1890's Tim Schilling, ICOP

Dick Heimsch, W. Reg. Virginia Clark, NC Reg. Don Latham, CARET Ted Alder, ECOP

Sam Donald, Exec. Dir. Jon Ort, ECOP-SPC Al Dedrick, ARS

1. Linking Planning and Budgeting - Establishing national research initiative(s)
   1. How does/should initiative fit with base funds?
      1. Need initiative(s) to defend base funds
      2. Need input from state and region stakeholders
      3. Need to be politically connected and aware throughout process
      4. Initiatives will be addressed by SAES system using base funds, NRI funds and special appropriations

   2. How does system respond to opportunities that arise rapidly?
      1. Need process to do this.
      2. Possibly set up joint group that could steer rapid response ESCOP/ECOP, ARS

   3. Purpose of initiative building session at SAES Workshop
      1. Develop a menu of possible national initiative areas for SAES

   4. Criteria/characteristics for a good National Initiative
      1. Content, whole range from discovery to application research
      2. Justification - why important
         • potential impact
         • fundability
         • relevance to society

   5. Process to use at Workshop session
      1. Form breakout groups of 10-12 and ask them to answer - What are critical research areas that could be a national initiative based on the criteria presented?
      2. Go around breakout group twice - get all ideas up as recommendations
      3. Discuss to reach clarity and understanding on each item
      4. Choose top 2-3 ideas
      5. Develop details on criteria for each ideas chosen
      6. Small group consolidate and eliminate duplication Wednesday evening and prepare for presentation
      7. Present ideas to large group
      8. Prioritize list if needed
      9. After Workshop, send outcome to whole system and ask Directors to discuss possible initiatives with stakeholder groups and faculty and return feedback to committee

2. ECOP/ESCOP Joint Planning
   1. How should the two committees enter into joint planning effort that is effective?
      1. Need to focus on the areas of overlap between research and extension and find common ground
      2. Need both groups at table together and get buy-in
      3. Focus on specific topic area
      4. Produce a “product” as a result of our joint planning, at least a joint position paper
      5. Consider how to bring ACOP and ARS into combined effort
      6. Eventually develop joint funding initiatives from this effort

   2. Items to be discussed and agreed upon at first joint meeting in Memphis, 9/30-10/1
      1. Purpose and goals
      2. Format for joint sessions
      3. Audience and products from sessions
      4. Topic areas for first couple joint sessions
      5. Schedule first joint session (Feb or Mar, 2000)

   3. Potential topic areas to be offered for consideration at Memphis meeting
      1. GMO’s/products of agricultural biotechnology
      2. Animal waste management
      3. Economic risk management in agriculture
      4. Nutrition, human health and wellness (neutraceuticals and designer food)
      5. Food safety and quality
      6. FQPA impacts
      7. Bio-based products/raw materials for non-food manufacturing
      8. Small farm, rural economic viability
      9. Marketing issues within agriculture
         • GMO marketing
         • niche markets
         • trade, international and domestic
         • global economy
         • consumer-driven production decision
      10. Agricultural and environment interface economics
      11. Environmental enhancement though agricultural practices
      12. Information technology and its application
      13. Forest resources management and wood products utilization
      14. Intellectual property rights

3. SAES National Program Areas
   1. ESCOP Science and Technology Committee passed a draft of national research program areas to the Planning Committee to review, revise and move forward to ESCOP

   2. Already have CRIS classification system of Research Problem Areas and the five national goals with objectives, is there a need for another scheme?

   3. Each SAES developed program areas for their POW, these should be examined and correlated once they’re available.

   4. This will be considered at a future meeting.

4. Next ESCOP Planning Committee meeting will be in conjunction with the joint ECOP/ESCOP Planning session in Feb. or Mar., 2000.