Brent Olmstead, Asst Dean, U of I College of Agriculture. CAFE – Center for Agriculture Food and the Environment

Lobbyist and policy advisor Brent Olmstead is assistant dean for government and external relations in the College of Agriculture at the University of Idaho. Olmstead has more than 25 years of experience in public and governmental relations.

Olmstead worked for MPIdaho, a Boise consulting firm that represented businesses in Idaho and the Northwest. He also served as executive director of Milk Producers of Idaho and as state coordinator for Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform.

As Idaho’s statewide, land-grant institution, the University of Idaho is proud to address critical problems of worldwide importance through the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE). Agribusiness is a critical part of Idaho’s diverse economy and an important employer. Livestock, dairy, crop production and food processing are growing sectors that intersect in challenging ways — in Idaho and beyond.

The center will be a leader in addressing constraints on water usage and environmental quality while supporting the agricultural sectors of dairy, livestock and cropland, as well as the food processing industries. A partnership between education, industry and economic development stakeholders will result in dynamic research and education to develop solutions to complex problems.