“This appointment allows WSU to have a vital seat and a voice in decisions about issues in natural resources and agriculture in Washington,” Jacoby said.
“We’ve always been partners with WSU Extension,” Clark added, “so we’re excited to have Pete on board because he’s going to help kick things into high gear. He’s well connected and has great relationships with many of the commission members.”
“It’s all about building relationships for collaboration,” Jacoby said. “Everybody in the state concerned about ag and natural resource use wants better early detection of issues, and an improved ability for rapid response. We need to be nimble and quick, as some of these issues can cost producers millions. Establishing partnerships with the other members of the commission is a way of expanding WSU’s capacity to respond.”
Jacoby cited water and soil quality, farmland preservation and concern about the long-term health of pollinators as issues that would benefit from the rapid deployment of WSU’s scientific expertise in partnership with local agencies and organizations.
“I have a long history of being engaged on the ground with these types of issues,” he said, “and of being a champion of institutional transformation. We need to explore strategies to engage issues in a more flexible and responsive manner that is appropriate to the times.”