Progress report for ENC23-224
Project Information
Agroforestry is a set of practices that, when effectively implemented, can simultaneously improve ecological health and farm profitability. Climate-smart agriculture and forestry programs are increasingly making financial incentives for agroforestry available to farmers. However, specific training and skills are required for successful long-term planning, design, and implementation of integrated perennial tree and shrub crops managed as part of a diversified farm system. In order to meet the growing demand for agroforestry in recent years, farmers and assistance provider partners have voiced a need for a standardized professional development and recognition program to identify trained and trusted agroforestry technical assistance providers, and for a mechanism to connect these designated professionals with interested local practitioners.
To address this need, the Center for Agroforestry is prepared to pilot an agroforestry certification program and learning network that increases the visibility and accessibility of trained technical assistance providers (NRCS planners and TSPs, Extension, and other agriculture professionals). Established with our existing Agroforestry Training Academy as the core curriculum, we intend to pilot this certification program in Missouri, where we have strong existing relationships and contextual understanding. A public, online network map of qualified agroforestry assistance providers will complement local field trainings facilitated in collaboration with experienced agroforestry practitioners. Virtual and in-person network training events will serve as continuing education for certified agroforestry professionals, and as a space for ongoing connection. Together, these efforts will result in accelerating and deepening impact for successful agroforestry adoption, and regional expansion of the professional certification.
- Formative evaluation report of knowledge gaps and needs
150 Agroforestry Academy alumni and experienced producers in Missouri will be asked to complete this assessment to inform specifics of certification participation and continuing education needs. A report of the evaluation will be shared with our advisory group for project development.
- Defined standards and requirements for certification
Formative assessment results will guide standards and requirements for initial certification and maintenance. Recruitment materials with this information will be disseminated to at least 300 potential participants through partners in NRCS, Extension, and relevant producer organizations (e.g., The Center for Regenerative Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy etc.).
- Pilot Agroforestry Certification Program in Missouri
Within the first year, the project will aim to certify and map 20 TAPs. Each individual's affiliation, specialty knowledge area (if applicable), and contact availability will be indicated on the map. The project will certify 20 additional individuals in each subsequent year, resulting in a state-wide network map of 60 agroforestry-certified TAPs.
- Learning Network Map
This Network Map will serve as a space for visibility and connectivity, identifying certified agroforestry TAPs and experienced practitioners in an interactive and accessible online format with at least 100 participants engaged during the project period. A printed version of this map will also be produced each year to reduce barriers to online participation and will be disseminated to outreach partners across Missouri.
- Online feedback and evaluation forum for continuous input
As a complement to the Network Map hosted on the Center for Agroforestry’s website, a forum will be developed for participants and others engaging in the network exchange to continuously share feedback, needs, and resources.
- At least 10 hours of annual continuing education programming
Each year, two 3-hour in-person educational field experiences will be hosted in collaboration with established agroforestry practitioners (approx. 30 TAPs at each), and at least two 2-hour virtual special topics trainings will be offered by UMCA faculty and/or staff to share research-based best practices for agroforestry implementation (approx. 50 participants at each). Focused content areas in these offerings will be determined by formative evaluations of network participants’ needs.
- At least 600 Missouri producers impacted by certified agroforestry professionals
We expect each of the 60 certified-agroforestry TAPs to reach at least 10 active farmers and ranchers in Missouri during the grant period. These individuals are positioned to continue applying their enhanced skills and expertise to inform, improve, and expand agroforestry adoption in Missouri.
- Standards for NCR-SARE region-wide Agroforestry Certification.
We intend this project to serve as a three-year pilot within Missouri, establishing the program as a paradigm for fellow organizations to model and collaborate with, cultivating long-term connections across the region. Certified professionals, with regional partners including Barbara Decre of the Savanna Institute, members of Green Lands Blue Waters, and other University-led institutions, will serve an advisory capacity with two annual meetings to determine regional initiation of the certification using analogs of the Agroforestry Academy and field training as core requirements.
Cooperators
Education
We are using a participatory approach to education and training, engaging with pilot certification participants at every stage of the program development.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Formative evaluation report of knowledge gaps and needs
Agroforestry Academy alumni and experienced producers in Missouri participated in this assessment to inform specifics of certification participation and continuing education needs (n=50). A report of the evaluation was shared with our advisory group, and as a poster at the 2024 NAAC.
This formative evaluation informed the development of defined standards and requirements for certification, continuing education topical focus areas and format, and identified a group of eligible and interested pilot participants.
Defined standards and requirements for certification
Formative assessment results and regular input meetings with collaborators and regional partners guided the developments of standards and requirements for initial certification and maintenance. Initial recruitment efforts took place during training workshops, conferences, and working group partner meetings.
Three thematic knowledge verification exams (with pools of 30-40 questions each) were created and reviewed; online resource search hubs were designed for greater accessibility; initial structural components of the program have been drafted, including the network map and online landing page for certification information.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
In the first year of the project, we set the stage for the pilot certification program by conducting a survey of eligible participants to understand their interest and assess their professional needs as it relates to the structure and content of the certification and continuing education opportunities. The survey was followed with semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders among those eligible for the program. A report of the outcomes of this formative evaluation was shared with partners and advisors during the 2024 North American Agroforestry Conference.
Based on results from the formative evaluation, we worked with our website management group to redesign our technical agroforestry resources portal to improve accessibility and ease of use for our extensive collection of agroforestry guides and perennial crop resource hubs.
Broader impact potential resulted from the establishment of a Technical Assistance & Training Working Group in 2024 through the Agroforestry Coalition. We have held bi-monthly meetings with 25-30 agroforestry technical assistance providers and trainers across the nation to help inform the structure and direction of the professional certification pilot as we consider how this infrastructure can be translated in other areas. This action outcome is complemented with an additional funding and technical training partnership supported by the Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, led by Appalachian Sustainable Development, with subawardees including Interlace Commons, Virginia Tech, Savanna Institute, North Carolina State University, and ourselves at UMCA.
Regular meetings among the project team members have been dedicated to using these (above) community input sources to develop and define the certification standards and requirements, including drafting and review from multiple technical advisors of a set of three exams, with a pool of 30-40 questions each, which will be required for knowledge verification, and drafting of an online landing page for information about professional certification eligibility, benefits, and expectations.
Throughout the first year of the project, our team has engaged with hundreds of technical assistance providers and innovative farmers as potential pilot certification users during conference exhibits, at our annual field events and workshops, and at the 2024 Agroforestry Training Academy.