Lessons Learned from Five Years of Investment by USDA NIFA into Climate Change and AgroecosystemsLinda S. Prokopy, Jackie M. Getson, Sarah P.

ChurchNatural Resources Social Science Lab

Purdue UniversityJerry L. Hatfield

Agricultural Research ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture

USDA-NIFA award number: 2016-67003-24895

Objective:Develop a synthesis of USDA NIFA’s investments in the climate change and agroecosystems 2010-2015 portfolio.

This synthesis project is designed to:• Provide a robust picture of the outcomes, knowledge, educational

curriculum, outreach, and tools that were developed with USDA NIFA support

• Determine gaps in research, education, and extension not addressed by USDA NIFA programs

• Analyze the impact of research, education, and extension• Evaluate success of projects and how to create a successful

project

Core Project Team:• Linda Prokopy, Jackie Getson, Sarah Church (Purdue University)• Jerry Hatfield (USDA ARS)

Advisory Group:• Justin Derner (USDA ARS)• Clyde Fraisse (University of Florida)• Richard Grotjahn (University of California-Davis)• Cesar Izaurralde (University of Maryland)• Mike O’Neill (University of Connecticut)• Martha Shulski (High Plains Regional Climate Center )• Chris Swanston (USFS)

Methods:Meta-analysis of climate-related projects from NIFA competitive and non-competitive (capacity) funded programs.

1. Create Portfolio Database (completed; received from NIFA)

2. Survey of Project Directors (in progress)

3. Survey of Climate Scientists (January)

4. Analysis of Research

5. Focus Groups with Project Directors

6. Case Studies of Projects

7. Mapping of Projects

8. Interviews with Program Directors at various agencies

9. Synthesis of Results

10.Dissemination of Results

1. Conducting similar study on the NIFA water portfolio

2. NIFA funds competitive grants (us!!) PLUS capacity grants, including:1. Hatch2. McIntire-Stennis3. Support to 1890 Institutions

Background Information

Portfolio2217 projects provided by NIFA

Capacity = 1638Competitive = 579

Preliminary Survey ResultsDistributed: November 1st

Completed surveys (so far):Total: 30% Capacity: 23%Competitive:36%

Final reminder: December 20th Survey closing: end of year

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Project Descriptive Summary

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only

Project type

Respondents (%)

(n=196)Education 5.1Extension 1.0Research 52.6Education and Extension 3.6Education and Research 7.1Extension and Research 16.8Education, Extension, and Research 13.8

How would you classify this project’s research (check all that apply) (n=176)?

Please specify your project type:

Project Descriptive Summary (continued)

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only (n=210)Please indicate the geographical extent of your project (check all that apply):

Please indicate the geographical focus feature/area of the project (check all that apply): 

Project Descriptive Summary (continued)

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only (n=210)Please indicate where the co-PDs were located when this project was funded (check all that apply):

Excluding yourself as the PD, indicate the types of scientists/professionals included as part of the project team (check all that apply):

Project Success Evaluation

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only (n=210)When you evaluated project success were any of the following project elements assessed?

When was the project’s success evaluated (check allthat apply)?

Project Success Evaluation (continued)

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive onlyPlease tell us, in your opinion, how this project could have been more successful to date:

“The budget necessary for completion of the objectives was underestimated. Dedicated personnel were not available, and thus we were too dependent on undergraduates to move the project forward well. Either a graduate student, or postdoc should have been assigned to perform the experiments.”

Please tell us, in your opinion, how this project was successful to date:

“Funding received for this project provided data required for conducting more advanced projects and to be competitive for additional funding. We were able to subsequently publish 3 papers, 6 abstracts, and funds were used to support research of three graduate students. These early data have provided the foundation of much of our current work.”

Project Stakeholders

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only (n=210)The following stakeholder groups were informed of project knowledge (check all that apply):

What type of project knowledge was disseminated to stakeholders (check all that apply)?

Project Stakeholders (continued)

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive onlyIn your opinion, what is the most successful way to communicate with stakeholders?  How, if at all, does this method change for different stakeholder groups?

“The easiest way to communicate information to forage producers across the state is through newsletters and through on hand field day demonstrations.”

“Most of our clientele have access to the internet, but remain reliant upon one-on-one communication for much of their information. Personnel from local, state, and federal agencies rely upon electronic information followed by personal communication if questions arise.”

“ . . .We do not believe that there is a stakeholder group-centric preference, so we focus on individuals and media channels they are likely to access.”

Project Outcomes

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results: competitive only (n=210)Please indicate the following publication types and the number of each published from this NIFA project to date?

The following outcomes were achieved (check all that apply):

 

Journalarticles(n=105)

Extensionmaterials

(n=53)

Theses andDissertatio

ns(n=71)

mean(n) 11.6 11.8 5median

(n) 3 3 2range (n) 1-283 1-250 1-70

Project outcomeFrequenc

y(n)

Science knowledge expanded 162University student(s) trained 146Disseminated knowledge on how agricultural, forest, and/or natural resource systems are able to adapt to climate variability 84Increased public discussion about agriculture’s role in climate change adaptation and mitigation 72Policy changed 72Empowered farmers and/or foresters to adapt and change by managing risks 70Extended this project into other geographical areas 70Extension programs developed 56Empowered farmers and/or foresters to adapt and change by reducing emissions 35K-12 educational curricula developed 27Research/tool(s) commercialized 23Other 15

Project Director Demographics

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results

Please specify the type of scientist/professional you are(check all that apply) (n=180):

  

Competitive Capacity

agen 172 316

mean (years) 49.5 52.9

sd (years) 10.1 10.6range

(years) 27-79 29-80  gender

Female (n) 50 78Male (n) 120 234

Age and gender:

Project Director Success

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey results (n=445)In your opinion, what are the three most important factors to help achieve project success?  Please order your top three success factors from most to least important. 

Project Director Success (continued)

Climate Change and Agroecosystem Survey

Preliminary survey resultsIf you were to provide advice to another PD, how important would the following areas be to the success of a project?

• 35 areas• means from 2.7-

4.3• means > 4.0

shown

Climate Change and AgroecosystemPortfolio Synthesis

What do YOU think?

Objective:Develop a synthesis of USDA NIFA’s investments in the climate change and agroecosystems 2010-2015 portfolio.

This synthesis project is designed to:• Provide a robust picture of the outcomes, knowledge, educational

curriculum, outreach, and tools that were developed with USDA NIFA support

• Determine gaps in research, education, and extension not addressed by USDA NIFA programs

• Analyze the impact of research, education, and extension• Evaluate success of projects and how to create a successful

project

Climate Change and AgroecosystemPortfolio Synthesis

What is coming up next?

Project Director Survey closing at the end of the month!

Climate Scientist Survey• Distribution: end of January??• Objectives:

• Project climate outcomes• Relationship with stakeholders• What should be the focus of climate change and

agroecosystem research in the next decade?

Focus Groups and Case Studies