Skip to main content
AMP home

Agroecosystem Management Program

The AMP Way

AMP VISION STATEMENT

We want to ensure that future farming and food systems improve quality of life for all people by being socially and economically viable, just and equitable, biodiverse, sustainable, and resilient.

 

AMP MISSION STATEMENT

To attain our vision, AMP works to improve agroecosystems and their impact on society, the economy, and the environment. We do this by deepening connections between people, enhancing our understanding of agroecosystems, and expanding the use of agroecological approaches to farming.

 

AMP APPROACH

  1. Deepen Connections

    • Listen, Engage, and Collaborate; Emphasize two-way modes of communication.

    • Weave networks (bring people together); Facilitate engagement and dialogue (take on the logistical and administrative overhead to make connections easier).

    • AMP-lify existing resources, programs. Build bridges between OSU & other institutions working in this space.

    • Intentionally recruit participation and leadership from diverse individuals and groups.

    • Bridge differences; facilitate dialogue across diverse farms and food system actors, rural-urban populations, generations, and agricultural and environmental organizations.

    • Provide institutional leadership within OSU to support collaborative work to advance our vision and mission.

  2. Enhance Understanding of Agroecosystems

    • Promote/support engaged research and collaborations on agroecosystem dynamics, management strategies, and outcomes.

    • Value and integrate both scientific and experiential ways of knowing.

    • Support long-term, transdisciplinary, and systems-oriented research.

    • Highlight tradeoffs and synergies across diverse farming systems using a range of agronomic, environmental, economic, and social outcomes.

    • Build and support formal and informal educational programs in sustainable agriculture and food systems; train students to think holistically and ecologically.

  3. Expanding Use of Agroecological Approaches

    • Partner with varied types of farms and farmers to identify promising agroecological farming approaches and ways to overcome barriers to their wider use.

    • Ensure that agroecological approaches are designed for and benefit diverse and underserved communities, and farms at a variety of scales.

    • Identify and share policies, markets, and food supply chain innovations that generate rewards or incentives for farmers and food systems to provide improved agroecosystem services.

    • Engage public agencies, private companies, and nonprofits working at the community and landscape scales to expand use of agroecological approaches.