The Center for Behavioral and Experimental Agri-Environmental Research — or CBEAR for short – is leading efforts to find new ways to solve some of the nation’s agricultural and environmental challenges. CBEAR supports science-based research nationwide and translates these results into useful guidance for administrators and policymakers to craft more effective programs. Run jointly by the University of Delaware and Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, the Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
According to a press release on the Carey website, CBEAR is awarding more than $300,000 to 12 behavioral science projects that will examine the performance of various public policy approaches to agricultural-environmental problems.
Paul Ferraro, co-director of CBEAR and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Carey Business School said:
“The results of these funded research projects will be available within two years and can directly affect how agri-environmental programs are designed in the U.S. and globally.”
The selected projects aim to explain how people respond to agri-environmental policies implemented by government to understand how to make better public programs that solve issues like climate change, droughts, floods, fires, polluted air and water, endangered species and shrinking agricultural and natural lands.
The researchers won’t be alone in finding answers — they will be collaborating with farming groups, local water conservation districts, nonprofit environmental organizations and agencies such as the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“CBEAR is excited to work with this talented group of researchers and their partners from across the country to address important agricultural and environmental problems using the best of the behavioral sciences and rigorous experimental designs,” Ferraro said.