Sustainable Organic Tribal Bison Production using an Intra-Tribal Supply Chain Management System: A Planning Grant Proposal

Non-Technical Summary: The research team will develop an integrated OREI proposal with the following short-run and long-run stakeholder's goals with respect to managing tribal bison herds. The short-run goals include: a) the transition of the tribal bison herd production system to an organic management system, and b) an intra-tribal supply chain marketing system to provide a stable, self-sustaining market though internal Tribal demand for organic bison meat, and an external commercial marketing program for the prime organic bison meat cuts. The long-run goals are: a) an organically based bison production system that is economically self-sustaining, b) provide tribal social organizations with a source of protein that is culturally relevant and provides a healthier diet, and c) develop an extension outreach program that includes eXtension and the eOrganic COP programs. <P> Approach: To obtain the objectives of the planning grant, the planning team will be comprised of a broad based team of agricultural scientists who will develop a plan (with stakeholder input) for the organic transition of FSST forage acreage and their bison herd; and a plan to implement an intra-tribal market supply chain for FSST organic bison meat. Continual interaction between all parties associated with the planning grant will address the complexities of developing a systems based approach to address the stakeholder's goals of implementing an organic bison production and marketing system for FSST and ITBC.