A primary goal for SARA is to facilitate research, student success, and community engagement through staff support. Staffing provides SARA with:
Essential outreach opportunities for applied research
Outreach staff providing agricultural training and technical assistance works directly with farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses to implement strategies and processes developed through applied research.
Exceptional community linkages for Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
Outreach staff interacts regularly with agricultural producers to effectively link SARA researchers with community-based research partners.
Robust extension and outreach components for integrated, extramural research projects
Outreach staff provides training and technical assistance that generates contacts and expertise to ensure that the outreach components of integrated projects are accomplished.
Critical cash-match contributions for extramural projects that require match
Outreach staff paid through non-federal sources provides the cash-match contributions required by federally-sponsored projects.
Ample experiential learning and employment opportunities for UTRGV students
Outreach staff with expertise in developing grants and business plans for agricultural clients provide learning and employment opportunities for students.
