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My main takeaway of the Secretary's message is that domestic food security and environmental sustainability are at the core of a resilient, secure and productive nation, and that it is critical to maintain the economic, physical, and mental well-being of our rural and farming communities—places and people who produce much of the food we eat and help steward our diverse lands and landscapes.
There are, of course, challenges to this, and the Secretary pointed several of them out and discussed examples of programs and investments that the USDA is making to overcome those challenges. But it was also particularly gratifying to look around the room and see the many people at UNH who are also actively contributing to the discoveries, innovation and education that will help overcome the challenges encountered by farming and rural communities, as well as our many partners across the state and region who play key roles in supporting our land-grant institution's work.
Our recent issue of Inspired showcases how scientists at the Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture are leading the discovery, development and understanding of solutions to the challenges that Secretary Vilsack described. But I would be remiss if I didn't also note the great research and outreach happening at the UNH Colleges of Health and Human Services, Engineering and Physical Sciences, and Liberal Arts, as well as at the UNH Cooperative Extension.
Thank you for your continued support of the agricultural, food, forestry, and natural resources research missions of your NHAES and your land-grant university.
Anton Bekkerman
Director, NH Agricultural Experiment Station
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