The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has opened its National Listening Tour to people who cannot attend an in-person session. A new online form lets anyone with a stake in American food and agriculture share their perspective on the questions guiding every conversation on the tour.
Through the National Listening Tour, CAST is bringing together people across agriculture, science, technology, education, industry, policy, investment, and public service. The goal is to identify the challenges, opportunities, and capabilities that will matter most for the future. The tour has held sessions at North Carolina State University in June and the University of Arkansas in August. Its next stop is Cornell University on Nov. 30, hosted with the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The online form asks the same four questions CAST brings to each session:
- What is changing that agriculture needs to prepare for?
- Where are the most important scientific, technological, workforce, or institutional gaps?
- What prevents good ideas and discoveries from achieving greater impact?
- Where could CAST make a distinctive contribution?
Every question is optional, and participation is not limited to CAST members. Farmers and agricultural practitioners, scientists, faculty, extension professionals, students, industry leaders, scientific societies, policymakers, investors, nonprofits, and others are encouraged to respond.
CAST will synthesize what it hears across the National Listening Tour, both in person and online, to identify recurring themes, regional differences, emerging needs, and opportunities for action. The findings will help inform CAST’s strategic planning and future priorities.
Share your perspective: https://forms.cast-science.org/listening-share
Learn more about the tour and register for the Cornell session: https://cast-science.org/cast-national-listening-tour/
