Planning for the long-term impact of the Dordt College agriculture stewardship center on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest

该奖项将为规划多德学院农业管理中心(DC-ASC)在与中西部农村地区生态可持续发展相关的基础研究和教育方面的长期影响提供支持。该中心位于美国一些产量最高、价值最高的农地和畜牧业生产中心的战略位置。该中心正在经历重大变化，包括土地征用、建筑变更，以及耗资480万美元的新教学和推广中心的建设。这是一个千载难逢的机会，可以指导和大幅提高DC-ASC在中西部农村地区与生态可持续性相关的基础研究和教育方面的长期发展和影响，这将服务于爱荷华州、明尼苏达州、南达科他州和内布拉斯加州四个州地区的需求。该项目将汇集地区农业、教育、州和市政政府、大学扩建和企业的地区领导人，为DC-ASC的长期方向和发展制定战略计划，以负责任和可持续的方式最好地服务于该地区的需求。该项目将解决区域生态问题、未来的教育努力、该地区未来优先研究的方向，并将为DC-ASC作为区域服务中心未来的基础设施发展提供方向，以服务于规划过程中发展的需求。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award will provide support for planning the long-term impact of the Dordt College agriculture stewardship center (DC-ASC) on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest. The center is strategically located in the heart of some of the most highly productive and valued agricultural land and livestock production in the nation. The center is undergoing major change with land acquisition, building changes, and the construction of a new $4.8 million teaching and outreach center. There is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to direct and substantially increase the long-term development and impact of the DC-ASC on basic research and education related to ecological sustainability in the rural Midwest that will serve needs of the 4-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.The project will bring together regional area leaders in agriculture, education, governments of states and municipalities, university extension, and businesses to develop a strategic plan for long-term direction and development of the DC-ASC to best serve the needs of the region in a responsible and sustainable manner. The project will address regional ecological issues, future education endeavors, direction for future research of high priority in the region and will provide direction for future infrastructure development of the DC-ASC as a regional service center in service to the needs developed in the planning process.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.