Engage with Forward Agriculture: Implementation Planning Webinar

 Dear Engine partners, 

As we noted in our previous newsletter, we submitted the preliminary proposal for the NSF Engine program in early August. The preliminary proposal outlined the vision and scope of the Engine, as well as the high-level strategic goals across seven key drivers identified by NSF. The proposal was a direct result of the feedback and input that all of you provided over the past year. 

For the next phase of the application (due in February), we would like to once again invite you to engage with the Engine and share your ideas for how we can accomplish the stated goals through an implementation plan. The next steps involved are: 

Step 1: Review the process. Please watch the video above that provides an overview of the Forward Ag Engine and details the process we will use for co-creating an implementation plan with you. 

Step 2: Indicate your interest. Please indicate your interest in contributing to this process through this form: https://wisys.submittable.com/submit/305588/forward-agriculture-implementation-plan 

We will be using Submittable to manage idea submissions. If you have a Submittable account, you will need to sign in; if you don’t, you will be asked to create a free account. Please reach out to Evelyn Olson (eolson@wisys.org) for any questions or issues with the Submittable platform. 

Step 3: Review the reference materials and write down your proposed implementation plan. Within two days of your submission, you will receive an email link for Step 4 and the following additional documents via Submittable relating to your indicated key drivers:

  1. A reference document outlining the Engine and the implementation process.

  2. High-level strategies and goals for your chosen 1-2 drivers.

  3. A worksheet for submitting your proposed implementation ideas.


Step 4: Submit your implementation plan worksheet/s. Fill out the worksheet/s (1 worksheet per idea) and submit them through the Submittable link in the email referenced above. The deadline to submit your worksheet is September 25th, 2024. 

Step 5: Join us for an in-person strategy session in Madison on October 11. We will have a networking reception on October 10th from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, followed by a strategy session on October 11th from 8:30am to 2:00pm, both at the Discovery Building in Madison. This is a crucial next step to discuss the submitted ideas both within and across the drivers/working groups and provide feedback. Please mark your calendars! 

Step 6: Iterate on project details. We will share the full Engine strategy with participants (towards end of October) and reach out to the relevant organizations to propose budgets for the identified programs and activities. More on this step later. 

Thank you for your engagement so far! We are excited to continue working together as we develop the implementation plan for the Engine.