Key Directions for PFI Over the Next Three Years

Robert Karp, Executive Director

Editor’s note: The document that follows was inserted in the folder program for the Annual Meeting. Robert Karp alluded to the document when he addressed the membership during the business meeting on January 19, 2002. We have reprinted it for you here and for the benefit of those who could not attend the Annual Meeting.

The following have been drawn from the PFI summer board/staff retreat, staff meetings and conversations with members over the last year. This is a working document being presented at the moment as a discussion piece. Please read over and consider the following questions: Are these the “right” key directions for PFI? Is there anything missing? What, in your opinion, are the priorities? Please provide feedback to your district board members or to Robert Karp, PFI, PO Box 349, 300 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010, 515-233-3622, rkarp@isunet.net

Membership and Community

• Provide greater opportunities for PFI members and partners to participate in the development of the organization in meaningful ways

• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to expand public awareness of PFI, build PFI membership, and share our vision for Iowa agriculture

• Build farmer membership in PFI by emphasizing and expanding upon our farmer-to-farmer networking services

• Reach out to and engage non-farmers as partners in agricultural change, make PFI more friendly and accessible for non-farmers

• Work toward district level staff who can organize and support PFI members and coordinate programs at the local level

Programs

• Translate PFI’s current and past research into concise publications, reports and press releases suitable for use by farmers, policy makers and the general public

• Build and expand on PFI’s pioneering work in local food systems

• Support the development of high value markets and supply chains that can sustain midsize producers practicing sustainable agriculture

• Tie PFI’s on-farm research more strongly to needs arising from market and value chain development

• Build partnerships necessary to research the environmental impact of whole farm systems

• Incorporate community and marketing focused field days into summer field days

• Build our capacity to provide technical assistance to producers wanting to adopt more sustainable farming practices and/or pursue alternative markets

• Strengthen and expand PFI’s work with youth

Organizational Development

• Strengthen PFI’s partnership with Iowa State University, the Leopold Center, and other key partner organizations in Iowa

• Diversify and increase PFI’s funding sources and improve our daily operating efficiency and functionality as an organization