The BioEPIC ARC provides ecologically based science to enhance sustainability of family farming and positively impact the socio-political foundation of agriculture.

This state-federal partnership brings ‘systems’ thinking to ‘piece-of-the-puzzle’ research. The initial focus of the ARC is to improve ecological and economic soundness of agriculture, investigate multi-use opportunities of current agricultural resources, and foster the inclusion of bio-energy crops into current agricultural production systems. Future trends in population growth, energy use, and climate change will challenge agriculture to develop novel highly productive and environmentally sound production systems. The BioEPIC ARC will incorporate social, political, ecological, and economic sciences into established production research programs, while providing information for future agricultural policy.

This state-federal alliance fosters increased scientific collaboration to support environmentally and economically sustainable family farming and ranching enterprises in the northern Great Plains .