Dream WeaverAn Entrepreneurial Approach to Design,

Implement, and Promote Successful Integrated Programs

Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) LiangProfessor of Entrepreneurship and Applied

Economics

The University of VermontCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department of Community Development and Applied Economics

Introduction – Personal and Professional Background

Path of Career Development Foundation of Integrated Programs – Research,

Extension, Teaching Comparison of State and Regional Initiatives Examples of Integrated Projects/Programs

Inter-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary, cross-institutional approach

Challenges and Opportunities As a Faculty As a Director for SRDC

Presentation Outline

Personal and Professional Background

Taiwan

Land area: 12,456 sq mi (32,261 sq km); 70% mountains

Population (2012 est.): 23,234,936

Key industries: Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture

PhD and MS – Purdue University, Agricultural Economics

General Equilibrium Modeling, Fertilizer Tax Simulation, Nonpoint Pollution, FINPACK/EPIC/IMPLAN

The first Ag Econ Graduate Instructor to teach Business Statistics at Krannert Graduate School of Business, and won Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award

BS – National Taiwan University, Agricultural EconomicsBenefit-Cost Analysis for Tourism and Nuclear Power

Plants, National Seashore Preservation and Evaluation

Path of Career Development

University of Nebraska, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Research and Extension – economic analysis, experimental design

winter wheat, sunflower, alfalfa, corn, soybean, livestock, buffalo + prairie dogs, dry edible beans, water distribution for irrigation

Teaching – Agricultural Economics, joint appointment with Western Nebraska Community College

Path of Career Development

Foundation of Integrated Programs

What Why How So Next Step

HealthEducationEmploymentQuality of LifeSustainabilityFeasibilityProfitabilityAvailabilityAccessibilityAccountabilityAffordability

Observe TrendsSolve ProblemsDream Concepts

Extension/Outreach

Social AspectsEconomic AspectsEcological AspectsPolitical Aspects

Research

Observe New TrendsSolve New ProblemsDream New Concepts

Research

TechnologyResourcesOpportunitiesStrategiesEngagement

TeachingExtension/Outreach

Comparison of State and Regional Initiatives

Needs and Priorities

Culture Endowment Capacity Infrastructure Opportunities

Social Characteristics

Economic Characteristics

Ecological Characteristics

Political Characteristics

Issues and Concerns for Rural America

Examples of Integrated ProgramsMultifunctional Agriculture in the United

StatesProject Funded by USDA AFRI Program, No 2011-67023-30106 (7/2011-6/2014)

Co PI – Mary Ahearn (USDA ERS), Jason Brown (Federal Reserve), and Stephan Goetz (Penn State University) Background

There has been a significant change in the farming activities among small and medium sized farms in the United States (USDA, 2012).

About 60% of the farms were very small, generating gross cash farm income of less than $10,000 annually (USDA, 2012)

The number of small farms, particularly the non-commercial farms, has slowly increased since 2002 (USDA, 2012), and many of them are engaged in multifunctional operations.

There has been limited information to assess farms’ contribution to community viability beyond traditional production of food and fiber.

Objectives

To design a framework to study multifunctional agriculture in New England and other regions in the U. S.

To examine the relationship between the multifunctional agriculture and farm profile, entrepreneurial characteristics, financial situations, reasons, challenges, risks, networks, expectations, and future outlook.

To integrate multiple sources of information to conduct research at state, regional, and national levels.

Primary field surveys (producer , enterprise, institution, and consumers), Census, National Agricultural Statistic Services, USDA Agricultural Risk Management Survey

Stakeholders, researchers, extension educators, service providers, USDA experts, community organizations (non-profit and for-profit), and government agencies at local, state, and national levels.

Findings and Work in Progress

Top reasons for farmers to choose multifunctional operations – income, connection with customers and community, promotion and education, health care.

The major issues for farmers - access to labor, financing, working capital, markets, and customers education, training, financial and risk management, user friendly tools for marketing, and reaching the balance between accessibility, affordability, and availability.

Multifunctional agriculture has significant impacts on state economic development, not at regional level.

We need better information to represent local and regional characteristics by sectors for rural areas.

We need to find a better way to compare and consolidate different sources of information representing enterprises and individual households at state and regional level.

USDA Foundational Program, Entrepreneurship Division (PI)Understanding and Designing Long-Term Resilience in the US Food System: the Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Supporting Regional Food Networks$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

USDA Foundational Program, Rural Development Division (with University of New Hampshire and University of Maine)Sustaining and Enhancing Local Agriculture in Rural Areas: Assessing Key Producer and Consumer Issues in Northern New England$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

USDA Foundational Program, Small and Medium Sized Farm Division (University of Vermont and other 5 institutions)Examining Farm Labor Decisions on Long-term Profitability and Farm Enterprise Development$500,000 July 2014 – June 2017

Design and Implement New Ideas

National Science Foundation (with Dartmouth College)Biophysical and Social Interdependence of Integrated Food Energy Systems$700,000 July 2014 – June 2019

USDA Food Security Conference Grant (University of Vermont)Enhancing food security and rural viability through innovative food system practices and opportunities $50,000 2014-2015

Design and Implement New Ideas(Under Review)

Understanding and Designing Long-Term Resilience in the US Food System:

the Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Supporting Regional Food Networks

Networks for Collaborations and Interdisciplinary Approach

Hawaii

Listen, observe, and learn from others;

and ask a lot of questions

Obtain teamwork and consensus building activities;

and offer support and guidance

Value and respect diversity of individuals, ideas, and contributions

Evaluate and explain objectives and priorities, delegate tasks to other people, and reward good performance

How I Operate

Challenges and Opportunities

As a Faculty Goals and Objectives –

personal and institutional

Priorities – personal and institutional

Flexibility Choices and Alternatives

As a Director Goals and Objectives –

SRDC Priorities – SRDC Time Management and

Commitment Collaboration and

Networks Explicit Leadership and

Mentoring Position

Desire, Discipline, Determination Dream Comes True!

Dream WeaverAn Entrepreneurial Approach to Design,

Implement, and Promote Successful Integrated Programs

Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) LiangProfessor of Entrepreneurship and Applied

Economics

The University of VermontCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department of Community Development and Applied Economics