Contact: Laura Peterson, laura@lwpconsulting.com or 406-702-2685
The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (National C-FAR) has selected Laura Peterson – Laura Wood Peterson Consulting – as its new executive director. Peterson succeeds Tom Van Arsdall, who retired after nearly two decades of leading the organization. National C-FAR thanks Van Arsdall for his service and accomplishments and is confident that the organization is well positioned to build off this great foundation under Laura’s guidance.
“Laura’s modern leadership style and practical approach to bipartisanship underlie her passion for leveraging the political collective for a common good,” said Andy LaVigne, president, National C-FAR and president and CEO, American Seed Trade Association. “Laura is a positive and energetic problem solver who will help advance the National C-FAR mission of sustaining and increasing public investment at the national level in agricultural and food research, extension, and education.”
National C-FAR is celebrating its 20th year of education and advocacy for federally funded research, extension, and education that result in safer and more nutritious food, more environmentally friendly production, less dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy, expanded global markets, and more jobs and economic development in rural America.
At no other time in our history is the nation better equipped to understand the importance of supporting ag and food research, which returns $20 in economic benefit for every $1 invested.
Peterson’s background includes leading federal affairs for nonprofit and corporate interests in the food and ag industry. Laura formed LWP Consulting to advise businesses and nonprofits, showing a demonstrated commitment to addressing the complex challenges confronting agricultural production. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a law degree from George Washington University Law School, where she also served as adjunct faculty in the department of political science.
The National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NCFAR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, consensus-based, and customer-led coalition that brings agriculture, food, nutrition, conservation, and natural resource stakeholders together with the agriculture and food research and extension community, serving as a forum and a unified voice in support of sustaining and increasing public investment at the national level in agricultural and food research, extension, and education. Learn more at https://www.ncfar.org/.