The Northeast Agenda highlights the key challenges and opportunities facing the Northeastern United States and the role Land-grant universities play in responding to them. It describes what makes the region unique and outlines a shared vision, mission, and purpose for Northeast Extension services and state agricultural experiment stations.

The Agenda was developed jointly by the Association of Northeast Extension Directors (NEED) and agInnovation Northeast, bringing together leadership from across the region.

Northeast Agenda (Executive Summary)
Northeast Agenda (Full Report)

Priority 1: Develop resilient and sustainable food systems.

Land-grant universities in the Northeast are helping to establish long-term, environmentally sustainable systems for the production and distribution of safe, healthy food. We are uniquely positioned to conduct scientific research on all aspects of the food system: from soil and water to agricultural production systems and technologies. Our Extension professionals are experts in translating that research into integrated educational programs, resources, tools, and technologies that meet the needs of citizens, communities, businesses, and governments.

Access to fresh local food is a persistent issue. Increasingly, we are approaching agriculture and food systems in the Northeast through this lens, and we are developing initiatives and strategies that seek to expand food production capacity to ensure a healthy, fresh, and secure food system for all citizens.

The Northeast Agenda gives special attention to:

  • Local and regional food systems.
  • Innovative agriculture.
  • Innovative agriculture.
    • Urban agriculture and organic agriculture.
    • Specialty crops.
    • Agricultural technologies.
    • Controlled-environment agriculture.
    • Aquaculture.
  • Conventional production agriculture.
  • Cultivating the next generation of our food system workforce.

Priority 2: Lead innovation and collaboration to enhance long-term resilience across the Northeast.

Climate variability is increasing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization. The Northeast United States feels the effects of this in everything from increased weather uncertainty to high-intensity storms, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and saltwater intrusion.

We know that all aspects of the food system–from the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food and natural products to the built environments that support them–both drive and are affected by climate variability, with positive and negative outcomes. For example, unlike many other regions, the Northeast is expected to see some benefits from longer growing seasons; this has already been observed in forest growth and carbon sequestration.

Climate-related stresses influence changes in inter- and intra-state demographics, the extent of urban sprawl, what can be successfully grown when and where, and the spread of pests. These food-system stressors are compounded by labor shortages, land costs, and numerous other business-related hurdles. These conditions call for developing and implementing new climate-smart technologies and/or repurposing existing technologies for climate-adaptive and climate-resilient farming.

They also present a significant opportunity for food-system players, from producers to consumers, to play a crucial role in climate mitigation through carbon storage and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such efforts will allow the broader agricultural community in the Northeast to mitigate the effects of climate pressures, sustain production, and remain economically viable.

NEED and agInnovation Northeast envision a Northeast that is seen as a leading example of how communities and food systems can become and remain resilient.

The Northeast Agenda gives special attention to:

  • Climate seasons and extreme weather.
  • Water quantity and quality.
  • Coastal resilience.
  • Invasive pest migration and expansion.

Priority 3: Promote environmental, human, animal, and community health and well-being.

The Northeast Agenda gives special attention to:

  • Community Health/One Health.
  • Nutrition and physical activity.
  • Sustainable agriculture.
  • Biodiversity.
  • Food safety.
  • Recreation and tourism.