Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Funding Priorities
The mission of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station is to generate knowledge through strategic research to enhance agriculture, natural resources, and families and communities in Michigan.
This mission, successfully executed by more than 300 researchers, has enabled the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) to be one of the most successful agricultural experiment stations in the country. Its success is due, in part, to close ties with Michigan State University Extension, state agencies, and commodity groups and other stakeholders, outstanding legislative support, and key initiatives such as the Animal Industries Initiative and Project GREEEN.
The challenges facing Michigan agriculture and natural resources are becoming increasingly complex and diverse. There is, therefore, a need for continuous evaluation of the MAES research programs. A strategic visioning process, linked to those of MAES-affiliated colleges at Michigan State University (Agriculture and Natural Resources, Veterinary Medicine, Human Ecology, Social Science, and Natural Science), has identified five target areas that will be the major foci of the MAES research agenda over the next decade. These will not only address the research priorities of the Michigan agriculture and natural resources industries, but are also linked to national goals and new national initiatives.
Food and Society Includes microbial and chemical food safety, nutritional enhancement of foods (biofortification), nutritional immunology, consumer choice and diet, food security, nutrition and epidemiology.
Environmental Stewardship and Natural Resource Policy and Management Includes land use, land cover policy and research, air quality, soil conservation, waste management and utilization of waste products, landscape ecology, ecosystem management, and water research (quality, watershed management, and water use for agriculture and natural resource businesses).
Enhancing Profitability in Agriculture and Natural Resources Includes basic research in the plant and animal sciences to reduce dependency on chemicals, and enhance resistance to diseases, insects and abiotic stresses, integrated crop management (biological control, applied chemical ecology), and the identification and development of value-added agriculture opportunities for the state of Michigan.
Emerging and Infectious Diseases Includes basic and applied research on new and re-emerging diseases such as West Nile virus, bovine tuberculosis, Johne's disease, and anthrax, working closely with the new Animal Health and Diagnostic Laboratory to develop new diagnostic assays, and epidemiological studies.
Families and Community Vitality Includes community and economic development, recreation/tourism, youth, aging, family dynamics, demographics, and rural and urban community security.
Successful accomplishment of these research activities will result in profitable Michigan agriculture and natural resources industries, enhanced rural and urban community development, and strong and healthy families. They are also closely linked to the five emerging major statewide themes of MSU Extension: building strong communities, helping youth succeed, enhancing profitability in agriculture, encouraging responsible land and natural resources use, and building healthy families.
As programs materialize, the MAES strives to maintain a balance between applied and basic research and relies heavily on the input of stakeholders toward the identification of research priorities. That Project GREEEN is successful is in no small measure due to the close working relationships with industry. The balance between basic and applied research is critical as problem solving with today's tools will not be sufficient to address tomorrow's challenges. The solid foundation of the MAES supports efforts to prepare for those challenges now with strategic research that will ultimately improve the quality of life for Michigan's citizens.
For further details on the research priorities of the MAES, please refer to the following Websites:
- Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station : www.maes.msu.edu
- Project GREEEN: www.greeen.msu.edu
- Families and Communities Together (FACT): www.fact.msu.edu
Following are funding priorities for specific MAES research programs:
MAES endowed graduate research assistantships The MAES graduate research programs in the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources will focus on the five programmatic areas -- food and society, environmental science and policy, emerging infectious diseases, profitable agriculture and natural resources, and families and community vitality. These endowed research programs will enable departments in the CANR and other MAES-affiliated colleges to recruit outstanding graduate students to work on challenges facing Michigan agriculture and natural resources.
Research endowments The MAES is in a unique position to promote multidisciplinary research within the CANR and among other colleges. Research endowed funding will not only allow the MAES to respond to crisis situations in the State of Michigan, but will also enable the funding of entrepreneurial efforts of the MAES researchers. Specific examples include the funding of research activities in the MSU Center for Product Agriculture, and in the Center of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
In-Bound Visiting Scholar Program The MAES seeks funding to host visiting international research scholars to assist faculty and graduate students within the MAES-affiliated departments. Such scholars will bring a different perspective to the MAES research programs and will facilitate the development of multidisciplinary programs within CANR.