{"id":82,"date":"2021-05-05T21:08:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.foodanimal.ncsu.edu\/?p=82"},"modified":"2022-09-14T13:53:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T13:53:50","slug":"collaboration-is-key-for-food-animal-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodanimal.ncsu.edu\/news\/collaboration-is-key-for-food-animal-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"Collaboration is Key for Food Animal Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve all heard two heads are better than one, but what about three? Three department chairs from two colleges have been charged with developing the Food Animal Initiative (FAI)<\/a>, and they\u2019re up for the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal? To drive this interdisciplinary initiative, with the goal of establishing North Carolina as a world leader in the food-animal biosciences in an effort to solve global problems. No easy task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two chairs from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences<\/a> (CALS) are Dr. Todd See<\/a>, Animal Science<\/a> department head and professor, and Dr. Patricia Curtis<\/a>, Prestage Department of Poultry Science<\/a> department head and professor. The College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a> (CVM) is represented by Dr. Paula Cray<\/a>, Population Health and Pathobiology<\/a> department head and professor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three is Better Than One <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Chickens<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This FAI tri-chair partnership makes sense from a food animal perspective, considering CALS\u2019 focus on the production, nutrition and care of food animals as well as animal products and CVM\u2019s leading role in the health, nutrition and well-being of animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeither college has the full capacity to take on these big food animal issues and the training of students in this field on its own. It must be a collaborative effort to be effective,\u201d said Dr. See. The tri-chairs meet regularly to discuss FAI\u2019s goals and brainstorm ideas to pitch to the deans, who in turn support the ideas as best they can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Cray speaks to the importance of these synergetic discussions: \u201cYou have to build trust and collegiality. Both sides are responsible for the outcome.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAI: A Grassroots Initiative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. See said FAI started five to six years ago, and later the tri-chair mechanism was established \u201cto continue to bring the bulk of faculty along and to coordinate the initiative across the colleges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAI began with an idea: the colleges needed to do more and work more collaboratively. The tri-chairs started with large joint meetings, inviting interested faculty to discuss FAI vision, opportunities and collaborative training. Although most attendees were from CALS and CVM, the meeting had representatives from 16 departments in four unique colleges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Relationships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first task was to work on building inter- and trans-disciplinary relationships in order to establish trust and open communication. Next up was asking participants important questions, like: What are our opportunities? How do we prioritize them? What are the pressing ideas for tomorrow? Where do we have gaps? What are our faculty strengths? Where are our facility shortfalls? These initial conversations helped to shape the vision and goals of the initiative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not just creating solutions for tomorrow,\u201d advised Dr. Curtis. \u201cThe FAI is considering how we address issues 5 or 10 years from now as well as how to best prepare our students to do so.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study, Stakeholders, Symposium <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NC State\u2019s CALS and CVM commissioned an economic development study<\/a> in 2019. Feedback was then gathered from both faculty and industry stakeholders within the state and across the country and combined with economic data and benchmarking at peer institutions, to help frame the initiative\u2019s goals. Other recent FAI activities include the FAI Big Data, Big Ideas Symposium<\/a> held September 2019, which united data and animal scientists and showcased technology for food animal producers. The next symposium is in the works for September 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another FAI win includes the recent Golden LEAF Foundation grant for just under $1 million dollars to support the Agricultural Institute (AGI)<\/a> in the development and execution of student training programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFAI is still in its infancy,\u201d said Dr. Cray, \u201cbut we are starting to move, integrate and understand our future impact. Everything comes down to impact: if our efforts do not produce an impact for industry or science in general, then we have to go back and re-group.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s On Tap for FAI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pig<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The COVID pandemic has somewhat impacted the FAI momentum, but the initiative has by no means been stagnant. Here\u2019s some of the ideas percolating amongst the leadership team:<\/p>\n\n\n\n