In 2016, CIAS was honored to work with many dedicated partners as we furthered our research, education and outreach in sustainable agriculture and food. Our popular grower schools trained 172 beginning farmers in production, marketing and business management. In its fourth year, the CIAS mini-grant program supported eight UW-Madison graduate students with funding for summer research in sustainable agriculture. Our work in food systems included farm to school, domestic fair trade, outreach and technical assistance to diverse growers, and workshops. Our effort to create more resilient farms, communities and ecosystems by incorporating perennial crops into agricultural systems is taking hold.

This report highlights our key accomplishments and acknowledges the many donors who supported our work in 2016.