10/10/2000

Memorandum of Understanding Forms AALGA

AUBURN, Ala. — The Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Alliance (AALGA) was formalized in June 2000, through a memoradum of understanding, according to AU College of Agriculture Dean Luther Waters. The agriculture research administrators of Alabama's land grant universities and their respective research/experiment stations agreed to strengthen their research efforts and better meet the needs of the stakeholders, landowners, producers and citizens of Alabama by joining together in a collaborative alliance of sharing faculty and fiscal resources to rapidly respond to identified agricultural needs and challenges.

AALGA member universities are Alabama A&M University-Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station, Auburn University-The Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Tuskegee University-George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station.

Going where the needs are, AALGA will work to identify opportunities available to and challenges facing Alabama agriculture, forestry and natural resources by focusing on five main areas of research. They are waste management, food safety initiatives, natural resource management, small farm and rural economic development, and other projects as identified by the AALGA leaders.

To acheive AALGA's goals, the member institutions have dedicated themselves to a set of guiding principles. They will strive to improve agriculture, forestry and natural resources by looking for efficiencies when faculty at more than one university work cooperatively on projects. In making research decisions that affect the whole state of Alabama, AALGA will involve all three land grant universities. To better serve their constituents the member organizations also will share concerns of agricultural customers. The Alliance will jointly look for innovative funding opportunities for research in an effort to elevate agricultural research around the state. Finally, the participating institutions will maintain their autonomy while facilitating cooperation in agricultural related areas that serve Alabama citizens.

Annually, AALGA will issue a special report to the university presidents and the Alabama Legislature detailing how funds were used and reporting the outcomes of research projects.

For more information on AALGA, contact Kelley Terry, special projects coordinator, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, 334-844-3209.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

10/10/00