Acclerate Your Projects & Programs

The eXtension Foundation is pleased to announce nominations for New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) for 2020. The NTAE cooperative agreement with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will enter the second year on September 1, 2020. Nominations are a short request for information that is quickly and easily completed in minutes. Nomination forms will be available June 15, 2020.

Requirements of projects/programs to receive acceleration services are as follows:

• Projects must be in early stages of maturity and have a high potential for making a significant local impact and providing a model for adoption by other Extension professionals regionally or nationwide. This means the project is likely to have objectives completed, audiences identified, outcomes identified and has had some early stage of implementation. 
• Each nomination should identify a lead (a Fellow) for the project that will serve as the primary contact.
• All nominations must have the support of the Extension Director/Administrator.

Eligibility

All Land Grant Universities are eligible to submit nominations for this opportunity. There is no limit to the number of projects or programs that can be nominated.

Project Period

The period for these projects will be September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021

Wrap Around Services that Promote Program/Project Progression to an Evidence Based Model

• Selected projects will receive wrap around services from eXtension Foundation to support. accelerate, and amplify the project/program outcomes. Wrap around services include:
  • Project/Program advisory support from a Catalyst (current or past senior program or administrative Cooperative Extension Service (CES) personnel).
  • Support to compose a publication of resources and processes used by the project which might be an eFieldbook or ePub publication.
  • Evaluation support
  • Digital engagement support for digital learning and instructing
  • Leadership support and training for adaptation to a digital environment 
  • Professional engagement and development by encouraging all projects to share their processes and products via connect.extension.org.
  • Optional Wrap Around Services
    • Marketing efforts with an outside firm 
    • Partnership development assistance 

Key Dates

Nominations are due July 20, 2020
Review Committee will meet by August 8, 2020
Successful nominations will be contacted by August 10, 2020

Selected nominations and their director/administrator will receive a call from an eXtension Foundation Catalyst to discuss the nominated project/program including the goal, current status and potential wrap around services. 

Selected projects and Fellows will begin on September 1, 2020 and should be completed by July 30, 2021.

Nomination Review Process

Nominations will be reviewed for alignment to the USDA Strategic Goals.  Early stage, high potential projects are desired. This means they should have objectives developed and may have been implemented on a small scale. The purpose of this effort is to amplify and incubate projects aligned with USDA that have high potential for replication, scaling or impact. 

Nomination Submission

Nominations for this incubation can be accessed at the following link on applyextension.smapply.io on June 15, 2020 at 8:00 am EST. (Note: Link will not be active until June 15, 2020 at 8:00 am est).

If you have any questions please feel free to contact:

For how your early stage, high potential project fits this nomination process:  

Fred Schlutt at fschlutt@gmail.com

Scott Reed at scott.reed@oregonstate.edu,

Jimmy Henning at jimmy.henning@uky.edu.

For help with technical support:

Tira Adelman at tadelman@exension.org.

About eXtension Foundation

The United States Cooperative Extension System, with funding from Cooperative Extension directors and administrators, and USDA-NIFA, shares resources and tools through eXtension that enables the Extension workforce to scale up its local and national impact. eXtension is an integral part of the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and is organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization. Its Board of Directors represents the five regions of Cooperative Extension, ECOP, and USDA-NIFA.

 

eXtension Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, requests services from a marketing firm experienced in providing marketing services to not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis in agriculture and the food production industry. Services are funded through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute for Food and Agriculture. 

1. Background
   1. The eXtension Foundation, founded in 2006, is a membership-based non-profit organization designed to fuel Cooperative Extension’s growth, leadership, competencies, entrepreneurship, and stewardship for innovation and technology supporting Cooperative Education professionals. Cooperative Extension is a national system of educational outreach from land-grant universities/colleges located in every U.S. state and the territories. eXtension generates value for its members and partners by offering professional growth and learning and fostering innovation at member institutions.
   2. Locations. eXtension is a national organization and operates as a multi-state entity: we are incorporated in Missouri. Given the broad geographic distribution of our staff and Board of Directors, we are also a virtual organization highly reliant on video conferencing and other tools for collaboration in addition to email.
2.  Communications & Marketing Function.
   1. Assigned duties. One employee has been assigned communications, marketing, and engagement duties: the Communications & Engagement Manager, who is primarily responsible for providing proactive and strategic communications to our members and to the Land-Grant University system.
3.  Overview: Scope of Services, Please address the following required services in your proposal:
   1. Coordinate an audience assessment and program awareness campaign in Year 1 (November  2019 – August 2020) to support the Bridging the GAPS (BG) program and position this program as a valuable, trusted, resource for fresh produce growers in select communities across Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. 
      1. Conduct market research 
         1. Determine current levels of awareness of fresh produce growers in regards to surface water pathogens and what steps they are presently taking to protect against these pathogens. 
         2. Determine fresh produce growers understanding of regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
         3. Survey what existing water treatment systems are used
         4. Survey whether employees are trained in the use of the water system, maintenance, and repair.
      2. Determine best channels, including Cooperative Extension, for reaching the target audience with BG program resources and information.
      3. Identify potential messaging strategies to better engage target audience to engage with BG Program and CES resources
4. Bridging the Gaps Program 
   1. Background
      1. Preventing foodborne illness and the protection of public health is objective 7.1 of the US Department of Agriculture 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. Sanitary irrigation water for produce is mandated by the USDA, including monitoring, treating and verifying compliance. Proper food sanitation is imperative to prevent situations like the Yuma, AZ  outbreak in the spring of 2018 that ultimately resulted in 210 reported illnesses from 36 states, 96 hospitalizations, 27 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and five deaths. The outbreak was linked to romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma region.
      2. In March 2019, FDA published a rule called Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption; Extension of Compliance Dates for Subpart E, which:
         1. Extends ALL provisions of Subpart E (Agricultural water) other than sprouts including the safe and sanitary quality, annual inspection, and postharvest water monitoring requirements.
         2. FDA has stated that the reason for this extension is to allow time “to address questions about the practical implementation of compliance with certain provisions and to consider how we might further reduce the regulatory burden or increase flexibility while continuing to protect public health.”
         3. Until the process of consideration is finished, the water requirements are the Rule.
      3. A multi-state, interdisciplinary team of public and private sector experts have partnered together to create a curriculum designed to help producers 1) Understand the regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), 2) Find the right water treatment system for their farm, 3) Developing standard operating procedures that will be effecting in treating water on their farm and to monitor its implementation, and 4) Ensuring that the proper system is implemented correctly and that employees are trained in its use, maintenance and repair.
      4. This curriculum, Bridging the GAPS – Approaches for treating water on-farm, is a four-module curriculum designed for a producer audience. This curriculum has been piloted on a limited basis to make initial improvements to improve its effectiveness. This curriculum is ready for a broader implementation. Being part of the current New Technologies for Agricultural Extension federal grant will bring the additional resources of the NTAE team to work alongside the Bridging the GAPS team to expand its scope and refine its effectiveness to impact the safety of the national food supply, particularly irrigated produce. The associated eXtension Fellow and action team will develop documentation to create an eFieldbook to support the curriculum and and possibly seek expansion opportunities through assisted market research.
   2. Audience & Location
      1. Fresh produce growers in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee. 
   3. Specific Crop and/or Product Involved
      1. The food safety landscape is continually evolving, and the fresh produce industry is no exception. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 has emphasized prevention of foodborne illnesses rather than responding to outbreaks.  In response to FSMA, the FDA has finalized 21 CFR Part 112:  Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule). This regulation has fundamentally changed the expectations of produce growers, particularly with respect to characterization of foodborne pathogen risks and application of appropriate mitigation strategies. 
      2. Currently, the safety of produce relies on the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to prevent microbial contamination during growing, harvesting, and packing. Because irrigation water is one of the most likely points of pathogen contamination during fruit and vegetable production, the Produce Safety Rule calls for rigorous water testing in order to verify the microbial quality of surface-source irrigation water that will contact the edible portion of the plant during growing, unless a water treatment method is used.  The testing expenses will greatly impact U.S. fruit and vegetable growers since many utilize surface water as an irrigation source or source of water for herbicide and insecticide sprays. More importantly, quantifying generic E. coli does not always indicate a food safety risk.  If we are to begin reducing the risk of produce contamination, effective mitigation strategies must be utilized in irrigation water application systems.   
   4. Key Performance Indicator
      1. Program evaluation is essential to determine the overall impact of the curriculum on our stakeholders. In the short-term, participating growers’ knowledge gained, attitudes towards agricultural water treatment technologies (including perceived cost/benefits of adoption), and intent to use water treatment technologies will be evaluated by our fellow. More importantly, the adoption rate of agricultural water treatment systems by participating growers will be measured to assess actual change resulting from the taught curriculum.
5. Proposal Outline (Please organize your proposal as follows)
   1. Executive summary. Describe your understanding of the work to be performed and your firm’s ability to complete it within the March 2020 to August 2020 timeframe. 
   2. Professional experience. Provide a description of your firm including philosophy, size,structure, and qualifications. Include a list of current engagements in the agricultural sector or Cooperative Extension that you believe are comparable to the size, mission focus, and complexity of our organization.
   3. Team qualifications. Identify the specific individuals – partners, managers, and in-charge staff – who will be assigned to this engagement if your firm’s proposal is selected, including the qualifications and experience of each.
   4. Fees. Provide a firm estimate of the fees for services to be provided during each year of the proposed one-year engagement.
   5. Additional information. Additional information not specifically requested but nonetheless helpful in evaluating your proposal is welcome.
6. Proposal Deadline
   1. The deadline for receipt of your proposal is March 2nd, 2020. Documents should be emailed to aaronweibe@eXtension.org. Proposals received after this date will not be considered. For additional information, questions, or clarifications, please contact me via email or phone at (667) 228-4583.

As part of eXtension’s New Technologies for Agricultural Extension (NTAE) Cooperative Agreement with USDA-NIFA, the eXtension Foundation is partnering with four existing programs aligned with USDA strategic goals across Cooperative Extension in Year 1 to explore new methods and models for program scale and implementation. These initiatives are being documented in a series of eFieldbooks to inform the system of the models, learnings, and outcomes. Professional development opportunities will be created and delivered centered upon these learnings and offered to the entire system beginning in 2020. 

One initiative identified for partnership is an on-farm water treatment education effort led by a multi-state team from North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Florida. This program is titled Bridging the GAPs: Approaches for Treating Water On-Farm. GAPS refers to Good Agricultural Practice(s). 

Dr. Chris Gunter, Vegetable Production Specialist for NC State Cooperative Extension, is serving as an eXtension Fellow funded to produce an eFieldbook focused on providing end users (producers) the information needed to determine viable options to meet current water quality standards and methods to ensure compliance. In addition, the eFieldbook will be a model for Cooperative Extension to use as a learning resource. An eFieldbook is a digital, curated, peer-reviewed collection of program resources that provide multimedia communication and interaction between and among experts, individuals, teams, partners, and other content contributors. Professional development opportunities will be delivered to the entire system through eXtension’s new FlexLearn platform to provide information and support for replicating this model across the system. FlexLearn will be available for the entire system in Spring, 2020. 

Through funding by eXtension’s NTAE Cooperative Agreement, Bridging the GAPs will receive direct support from a third-party marketing firm specializing in agriculture that will conduct market research and an audience engagement initiative that establishes baseline measures for reach and utilization of Extension information, measures growth in reach and utilization of Extension resources and information, and determines best practices for using technology to engage target markets. 

Topic areas and programs were identified by a three-member Catalyst team consisting of former  senior Extension leaders that address USDA strategic goals. The Catalyst Team includes:

• Scott Reed, Former Vice Provost University Outreach & Engagement, and Director of Extension at Oregon State University
• Fred Schlutt, Former Director of Cooperative Extension at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks
• Jimmy Henning, Faculty, Plant & Soil Sciences Department, and Former Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky

About the Bridging the GAPS Program

A multi-state, interdisciplinary team of public and private sector experts have partnered together to create a curriculum designed to help producers: 

• Understand the regulatory requirements for ag water treatment in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• Find the right water treatment system for their farm
• Developing standard operating procedures that will be effective in treating water on their farm and to monitor its implementation
• Ensuring that the proper system is implemented correctly and that employees are trained in its use, maintenance and repair.

The team includes members from North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Florida. 

This curriculum, Bridging the GAPS – Approaches for treating water on-farm, is a four-module curriculum designed for a producer audience. This curriculum has been piloted on a limited basis to make initial improvements to improve its effectiveness. This curriculum is ready for a broader implementation.

Being part of the current NTAE  federal grant will bring the additional resources of the NTAE team to work alongside the Bridging the GAPS team to expand its scope and refine its effectiveness to impact the safety of the national food supply, specifically irrigated produce. Dr. Gunter and the action team will develop documentation to create an eFieldbook to support the curriculum and and possibly seek expansion opportunities through assisted market research.

About the eXtension Foundation

The eXtension Foundation is a membership-based non-profit designed to be the engine fueling U.S. Cooperative Extension’s advancement in making a more visible and measurable impact in support of education outreach from land-grant universities/colleges located in every state and territory. eXtension provides an array of opportunities for Extension professionals that foster innovation creation, the adoption of innovations at member institutions, and increased impact of Extension programs.