GRIFFIN, Georgia – Interested in sustainable agriculture and looking to have an impact on sustainable agriculture practices in your community? The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program gives an agribusiness representative the opportunity to serve on the Administrative Council and provide a “voice” for the direction of sustainability across the Southern region.
Southern SARE is seeking an agribusiness representative to fill a vacant seat on the Administrative Council (AC). The Agribusiness representative serves on the AC for a three-year term with opportunities for a second renewal term. Application deadline is July 7, 2023.
The agribusiness representative focuses on sustainable food production and land and water resource efficiency across the agribusiness value chain. Such efforts aim to promote sustainable practices, support biodiversity, reduce environmental impacts, and support a more diverse and equitable system of local/regional food production and marketing.
Council membership will be balanced with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Nominees representing women in agriculture, minorities and farm laborers are especially welcome. Self nominations are also welcomed.
Southern SARE’s Administrative Council is the governing body for the SARE program in the Southern region. Made up of 23 members, the Administrative Council, or simply AC, guides the vision of the SARE program, setting goals related to sustainable agriculture, overseeing the review of grant Calls for Proposals, evaluating projects, and being ambassadors for the program.
While members from our partner agencies are appointed by the AC, the agribusiness representative is selected by the AC through an open nomination process. The AC votes to fill positions for 7 producers, 3 NGOs, 1 Quality of Life representative and 1 agribusiness member. Southern SARE invites the agribusiness representative to serve on the AC through this process.
Agribusiness Representative
The agribusiness representative is directly involved in setting the goals of the Southern SARE program. Nominations from all 13 states in the southern region, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands will be considered.
All AC members are members of standing committees, which may meet or communicate through conference calls to decide policy issues related to SSARE. The Administrative Council depends on outstanding nominees that you and your colleagues from across the region may put forward. We strongly encourage you to invest the effort required to advance good nominees.
Duties of the AC include attending AC meetings twice a year in February and August, generally 3-4 days for each meeting, including travel. The agribusiness representative will be compensated for travel, lodging and per diem meals to attend the AC meetings. The agribusiness representative serves on review committees to review grant proposals, and attends Zoom meetings throughout the year when necessary. Learn more about our Regional Leadership.
Criteria for Administrative Council appointment include the following:
- Experience in the area of sustainable agriculture;
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to help address sustainable agriculture needs and methods;
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team dealing with contemporary issues facing agriculture.
Learn more about Southern SARE at https://www.southernsare.org.
For questions, contact Candace Pollock-Moore at cpollock@uga.edu