Page 5 - Impact Winter 2022

83 additional teaching positions had to be filled across the state. This is
a 38 percent increase in teaching positions over ten years, with no signs of demand slowing. CFANS is proud to be a leader in educating
AFNR teachers to help meet this critical
need.
AFNR
education
is important
because
worldwide,
agriculture and
the economy are
intricately linked.
Here in Minnesota, farms
generated 16.7 billion dollars
worth of agricultural production last year, with farm products accounting for nearly one-third of the state’s
total merchandise exports in terms
of value. However, the story doesn’t start and end at the farm gate. It’s
why the department that I lead at the UMN has evolved over the last century from focusing solely on agricultural production to become the Department
of Applied Economics. Our research looks at the entire food system within the global economy, the economic effects of natural resource use, the importance of ecosystem services,
and more.
As economists, we aim
to understand the crucial role that efficiency plays
in policy choices. “Efficiency” may not sound exciting, but it’s about finding win-win
solutions. Whether it’s about using big
data to target spending on agricultural research
or designing food assistance programs to encourage healthier
food choices, identifying efficient policy choices enables us to get more benefits from public budgets and keep tax burdens low.
Where our work may be most visible is at the consumer end of
the supply chain. For example, my colleagues Metin Çakır, PhD, and Hikaru Peterson, PhD, are leading research that examines the economic
viability of grocery stores in rural areas. Another project looks at how farmers fare when selling their goods at Twin Cities farmers markets. Peterson is also examining the economics of household food waste, studying how consumers engage with curbside organic recycling programs in Minneapolis suburbs.
It’s all an effort to better understand the interactions that happen along the food supply chain that ultimately impact the economy and the environment. As we equip future leaders to do this important work,
we must continue to help them communicate about the value this research provides.
CFANS is a safe, open place to have the conversations that will turn disconnect into understanding. We will continue to pioneer the way forward, driving science, outreach and education throughout the entire food supply chain — from the soil and seeds in the ground all the way to the consumer’s plate.
Frances Homans, PhD,
is professor and head of
the Department of Applied Economics. She also heads the Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing.
$16.7billion
Generated by agricultural production in Minnesota in 2021 (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
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