By Jack Falinski
For over a decade, Michigan State University (MSU) AgBioResearch and MSU Extension have helped to administer the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA), a state-funded partnership among MSU, Michigan’s animal ag and allied industries, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).
The initiative’s aim is to advance and find solutions for key sectors of Michigan agriculture — a $125.8 billion industry for the state, according to MDARD.
Based on an economic analysis conducted at MSU, M-AAA funding has been used by MSU AgBioResearch scientists and MSU Extension educators and specialists for more than 10 years to generate over $960 million for Michigan in immediate economic impacts.
Likewise, for every $1 invested into M-AAA, there’s been a 2-to-1 return of additional grant dollars from other funding agencies into MSU research and outreach activities.
Public investments like this made into research and outreach done by Michigan’s land-grant institution are essential for helping keep farms profitable, sustainable, and — in some cases — operational.
What makes M-AAA effective and relevant is that commodity organizations set the priorities needed to be addressed through research and outreach. In other words, MSU AgBioResearch scientists and MSU Extension educators aren’t doing research and outreach activities for the sake of doing them. They’re doing them because they’ve been earmarked by Michigan’s agricultural leaders as what’s needed to benefit the communities MSU is entrusted to serve.
Source : msu.edu