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Agriculture's mission: Finding a partner

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

R.L. Zimdahl  and
R.L. Speer
R.L. Zimdahl*
Affiliation:
Professor of Weed Science, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
R.L. Speer
Affiliation:
Instructor, Department of Philosophy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523.
*
Corresponding author is R.L. Zimdahl (rzimdahl@agsci.colostate.edu).
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Abstract

What is the mission of agriculture and what techniques are used to accomplish the mission? This paper examines mission statements of agribusiness companies, agricultural producers, and environmental groups. One hypothesis is that agricultural producer groups share missions and objectives with environmental groups and their mission statements should demonstrate shared goals. A second hypothesis is that agricultural producer groups do not share missions or objectives with agribusiness companies and their respective mission statements should demonstrate their lack of common interests. The paper also asks which of these three groups will be the best sources of intellectual and other support as land-grant universities strive to fulfill their respective missions. It is not obvious from the mission statements that the three groups studied share missions or objectives. The mission statements neither reveal clear information on the second hypothesis, that agricultural producers do not share missions or operational objectives with agribusiness companies, nor do the mission statements demonstrate their lack of common interests. Analysis of mission statements is one place to learn which groups have common goals and should work together. But this is only a beginning.

Keywords

agribusinessenvironmental groupsmission statementsresearch cooperation
Type
Commentary
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 35 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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