SARE Goals
SARE encourages research and education projects that provide positive outcomes and impacts on agriculture and that address these National SARE program goals:
- satisfy human food and fiber needs
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable and on-farm resources and, where appropriate, integrate natural biological cycles and controls
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations
- enhance the quality of life for farmers, ranchers and society as a whole
When members of the technical review panels and the Western SARE Administrative Council evaluate proposals, they look for those that 1) demonstrate that producer knowledge, awareness, attitudes and skills will have increased regarding sustainable agriculture, and 2) demonstrate success in meeting the program goals for Western SARE. These goals are:
- Promote good stewardship of the nation's natural resources by providing site-specific, regional and profitable sustainable farming and ranching methods that strengthen agricultural competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs; maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil; conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources and fish and wildlife habitat; and maintain and improve the quality of surface and ground water;
- Enhance the quality of life for farmers and ranchers and ensure the viability of rural communities, for example, by increasing income and employment - especially profitable self-employment and innovative marketing opportunities in agriculture and rural communities;
- Protect the health and safety of those involved in food and farm systems by reducing, where feasible and practical, the use of toxic materials in agricultural production, and by optimizing on-farm resources and integrating, where appropriate, biological cycles and controls;
- Promote crop, livestock and enterprise diversification; and
- Examine the regional, economic, social and environmental implications of adopting sustainable agricultural practices and systems.
It is critical that projects be conceived and operated by partnerships among producers, scientists and educators. Partners can include people from universities, government, non-profit organizations and private enterprise.
