CAST National Listening Tour · 2026
The CAST National Listening Tour is bringing together people across agriculture, science, technology, education, industry, policy, investment, and public service to identify the challenges, opportunities, and capabilities that will matter most for the future.
Why we are listening
CAST wants to hear directly from the people conducting research, producing food, educating future leaders, building technologies, investing in innovation, shaping policy, and putting science into practice. These conversations will help identify where greater scientific understanding, collaboration, leadership, and long-term thinking are needed.
Each session is a facilitated working conversation, not a formal lecture, led by CAST CEO Dr. Chris Boomsma.
…and others with a stake in the future of food and agriculture. You don't need to be a CAST member or a senior executive to take part.
What we want to hear from you
Tour stops
With the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Cornell's strengths across agriculture, food, the life sciences, veterinary medicine, engineering, data, nutrition, extension, and public engagement make its perspective essential to this national conversation.
Register for CornellWith the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, the session brought together university and land-grant leaders, producer and commodity groups, food companies, policy and legal organizations, and conservation groups.
Read the recap →The tour's first stop, held at the NC State Plant Sciences Building with the NC State Plant Sciences Initiative and the NC Chamber, bringing plant science research and the state's business community into the conversation.
Read the announcement →What we're hearing
Participants have pushed the conversation past organizational structure and toward function and impact. Recurring themes include:
Agriculture “should not simply react to change, but help define where it wants to go.”
What happens with your input
CAST will synthesize what it hears across the National Listening Tour 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 with CAST. Answer the same questions we ask at every stop, on your own time.
Bring the tour to your state
CAST leads the session and provides the invitation materials. Host institutions are asked to:
Updates on new sessions are shared on cast-science.org and @castagscience.
