SPROut's Strategic Plan

SPROut's initial Strategic Plan was adopted by the Research Council in May, 2004 and addresses the following major areas:

1. The most appropriate research “niche” for SPROUT
2. The nature of the research partnerships
3. Choosing and funding research partnerships
4. Outreach targets and methods

To read the entire initial Strategic Plan, click on the link at the bottom of the page.

 
In 2006, SPROut adopted significant organizational and administrative changes that strengthened its institutional support and outreach capabilities. As a result, many new partnerships have developed. SPROut's efforts have been further strengthened by Oregon's head-over-heels pace of development in fields of ecosystem services and phytotechnology, especially urban stormwater management. To reflect all this, SPROut is re-convening its stakeholders- existing and new, in early fall, 2008, to update the strategic plan and discuss the continuing chapters of SPROut's role in Oregon.

 
SPROut is consistently focused on integrating the efforts of scientists, practitioners, educators, and policy makers to identify problems, create solutions utilizing plant material, and make the solutions available for implementation. SPROut begins by 'putting plants to work'- utilizing the structural and physiological capabilities of plants to accomplish tasks in the environment. Through subsequent research and implementation of developing techniques, new uses for plant material, or new plants, SPROut can open up business opportunities for these evolving products/ services and serve as an important engine for sustainable economic growth. As the business opportunities are expanded, the new techniques/ plant material become more readily available to practitioners who are managing our natural resources. The increased use of these environmental plant solutions, by professionals and homeowners, will suggest or direct curriculum and policy changes that will enhance our large-scale environmental management abilities. In a whole systems approach such as this, there is no single ‘end result’ but instead a cycling of perpetual results that create a sustainable bridge between economic and environmental growth. Don't forget the original hero here - the green plant.