Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with three British universities to cooperate on research focused on rural change and policy in North America and Europe.

The agreement "is an exciting new partnership that will enhance our ability to conduct cutting-edge international comparative research on social change and public policies affecting rural people and communities throughout North America, Europe and other more developed regions of the world," said David Brown, Cornell professor of development sociology on leave at the University of Newcastle.