Center Helps Georgia Grow

By Stephanie Schupska

Before Will Harris started rolling his meatballs, he took his grass-fed beef idea to the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

"To work with individuals and groups in the agricultural sector that not only have big dreams, but who are proactive
and taking the steps to turn those dreams into reality is very inspiring," said CAED agribusiness economist Audrey Luke- Morgan (MS – Agricultural Economics, '98).

When someone comes to Luke- Morgan, who is located on the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' Tifton campus, for help, she sits down with them, discusses their ideas and needs, determines where they are in the process and how best to proceed.

"The first thing we do is get them to think about exactly what they want to do," said CAED marketing analyst Kent Wolfe (BSA – Agricultural Economics,'88). "We try to make them focus on what their core business will be."

Several years ago, the state was interested in the potential for agritourism development, said CAED director John McKissick (BSA – Agricultural Economics, '74, MS – Agricultural Economics, '78). The center performed a feasibility study, and "out of the study found that there was a tremendous consumer demand and many potential agritourism operations, but no good way for them to connect. Out of that grew Agnet, an interactive Web site that connects Georgia Agritourism producers and consumers."

A similar example was a study the center performed on Georgia's biofuel production potential long before crude oil touched the $60 per barrel mark.

"Being proactive in developing agribusiness opportunities is a large part of our mission," McKissick said.

The center offers varying degrees of service such as feasibility studies, business plans, marketing studies, impact analysis or demographic data. It all depends on individual needs.

While many good ideas like Harris' succeed, some dreams aren't economically feasible. And CAED staff has to face those as well.

"Out of every five phone calls that we get, we visit about one to two of those people," Wolfe said. "About one goes into business. When I'm talking to people, I can tell who has the energy, the drive to make something work."

A lot of new businesses start and then fail within their first few years, Luke-Morgan said. Through a CAED feasibility study, potential entrepreneurs can figure what their likelihood of success will be.

"We may have saved as many dollars for agribusinesses in the state by telling them that something is not a good idea," McKissick said. "And we help create businesses."

One reason their research is so valuable is that many lenders and others consider it third-party, meaning it's impartial.

"The college is involved because the state needs to have an unbiased, research-based source to develop agribusinesses," McKissick said. "Also, the information we may gain from most of our studies will have application to others."

"Part of the center's mission is to focus on ways to keep the agricultural economy of the state healthy and finding new opportunities for it to grow," Luke-Morgan said. "By combining applied research and outreach services, the center provides resources that can further economic development and help communities not only survive, but thrive."

Food and fiber affects all Georgians, she said, not just those who are involved in planting and processing crops.

“By providing leadership and services that help add value to Georgia's agricultural economy, CAED is having an impact on not only the state but also Georgians," Luke-Morgan said.

The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development is a unit of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with faculty in Tifton, Athens and Statesboro. It is dedicated to bringing all the resources of the college to support new, emerging and expanding value-added food and fiber businesses in the state.

They support agribusinesses by providing data and information to public and private decision makers and conducting research and outreach on emerging issues relevant to the health of Georgia's natural resource-based economy.

 

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