The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has announced the appointment of Erin Silva as the new director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. Silva holds the Clif Bar Endowed Chair in Organic Agriculture and Outreach and is an associate professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and an Extension organic agriculture specialist.
As director, Silva will oversee operations of the center over the next three years and work closely with the center's governance committee to set priorities for research and outreach activities and attract external funding. She will also work closely with the CIAS Citizen's Advisory Council and steward other partnerships with stakeholders, donors and funding organizations.
"Erin is well positioned to lead the center at this time," said CALS Dean Kate VandenBosch. "Her success in building partnerships with farmers, food companies, researchers and other stakeholders demonstrates her capacity to build strong networks able to work together on issues of importance to agriculture."
Silva's research and outreach efforts focus on improving organic and sustainable cropping systems, with a special emphasis on organic no-till production and cover crops. She directs the Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN), a comprehensive program to provide educational support to new, transitioning and experienced organic grain farmers. She also led the establishment of the UW Organic Collaborative group and UW-Madison's undergraduate certificate in organic agriculture.
CIAS began in 1989 to build sustainable agriculture research programs responsive to farmer and citizen needs. The center's projects include the three decades-old Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial and a federally-funded effort to study soil health done in collaboration with the USDA's Dairy Forage Research Center and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.
Silva will assume the directorship on August 4.
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