THIS PROPOSAL IS A REQUEST FOR FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF A CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) CONTAMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SOIL, WATER, AND AGRICULTURAL ANIMALS & PLANT PRODUCTS. THE CONFERENCE IS A TWO-PART SERIES IN COLLABORATION WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY. AS THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES CONFRONTS THE EMERGING AND EXPANSIVE PROBLEM OF PFAS CONTAMINATION IN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, THIS CONFERENCE SERIES WILL ESTABLISH A STRONG NETWORK CRITICAL FOR IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS THAT ENABLE FARM VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY, SAFE FOOD PRODUCTION, AND PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL WELFARE. IT WILL CONSIST OF 1) A COLLABORATIVE TWO-DAY SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, MAINE FARMLAND TRUST, AND MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (MSU) ENTITLED PFAS: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION; THE SYMPOSIUM) AT MSU'S CENTER FOR PFAS RESEARCH; AND 2) A POST-SYMPOSIUM, ONE-DAY REGIONAL MEETING IN MAINE BASED AT COLBY COLLEGE IN WATERVILLE (MAINE REGIONAL MEETING). THE MAINE REGIONAL MEETING WILL INCORPORATE A VISIT TO A RESEARCH SITE ON A PFAS-IMPACTED FARM TO EXPLORE ON-FARM RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION EFFORTS AND ENABLE CORE RESEARCH MATERIAL FROM THE SYMPOSIUM TO BE WIDELY USED BY IMPACTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS.THIS TWO-PART CONFERENCE SERIES WILL: 1) INITIATE COLLABORATIONS AND BROADEN ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN PFAS RESEARCH EFFORTS IN MAINE, MICHIGAN, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY; 2) PROMOTE ON-FARM RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS BETWEEN FARMERS AND RESEARCHERS; 3) INCREASE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS RANGING FROM RESEARCHERS TO FARMERS TO REGULATORS TO ESTABLISH A CROSS-SECTOR NETWORK AROUND PFAS CONTAMINATION RESEARCH, RESPONSE, AND POLICY; AND 4) PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS AND EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS TO DELIVER POSTERS AND NETWORK, AS WELL AS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP CAPACITY ON KEY ACTION AREAS.THIS FUNDING PROPOSAL WOULD SUPPORTBOTH THE PARTICIPATION IN THE SYMPOSIUM OF A STRONG DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, IMPACTED FARMERS, AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AGENCY OFFICIALS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZING OF THE MAINE REGIONAL MEETING TO BRING KEY LEARNINGS BACK FROM AND BUILD REGIONAL COALITIONS AROUND THE ACTIONS INITIATED AT THE SYMPOSIUM.$25,000
· FY2023 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture