Update on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. National C-FAR Annual Meeting April 22, 2010

Transcription

1 Update on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture National C-FAR Annual Meeting April 22, 2010

2 The Context Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) REE Under Secretary is now also the Chief Scientist of USDA

3 More Context --NRI becomes AFRI: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative --Bold, new mandatory programs arise: Specialty Crop Research Initiative, e.g.

4 Most Context The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is transformed into the National Institute of Food and Agriculture

5 NIFA the agency for extramural research, extension and education --Everything conveys and then some; all our programs were reauthorized Note the three functions in this slide s title all are equally important

6 What this transformation will address: 1. Climate Change 2. Bio-energy 3. Food safety 4. Nutrition 5. International food security Where did these come from?

7 New Biology for 21 st Century Nearly a billion undernourished in 07; still increasing, especially where food supply already inadequate; Human activities are stressing, altering and destroying ecosystems we rely on; Transportation fuels depend almost fully on limited non-renewable resources; Healthcare decisions based on statistics; rely on costly technologies that may not benefit a given individual.

8 A National New Biology Initiative Set big goals--address societal problems Food Environment Energy Health But these look familiar

9 A Comparison NEW BIOLOGY Food Environment Energy Health USDA PRIORITIES Climate Change Bio-energy Food safety Nutrition International food security

10 The New Structure We are working toward a structure of Institutes rather than a single institute. Our initial draft (which is actually pretty far along) proposes 4 programmatic Institutes, plus a Center for international programs.

11 Another Comparison: USDA PRIORITIES Climate Change Bio-energy Food safety Nutrition International food security NIFA INSTITUTES Food Production and Sustainability Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment Food Safety and Nutrition Youth, Family and Community Center for International Programs

12 INSTITUTE OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY Enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems

13 INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT Ensuring energy independence through clean, biobased systems Ensuring sustainable and adaptive agroecosystems in response to climate change

14 INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION Ensuring a safe food supply Improving citizens health through nutrition Reducing childhood obesity Improving food quality

15 INSTITUTE OF YOUTH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Enabling vibrant and resilient communities Preparing the next generation of scientists Enhancing science capacity in minority-serving institutions Enhancing youth development

16 CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Leveraging the knowledge and commitment of U.S. talent to enhance the lives of those in developing countries

17 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: AFRI [Or, try Googling AFRI webinars ]

18 More on AFRI $262 million in FY 2010 Asking $428 million in 2011 Focus, Scale, Impact

19 AFRI Foundational Program $64 Million Total --Plant Health and Production and Plant Products --Animal Health and Production and Animal Products --Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health --Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Env. --Agriculture Systems and Technology --Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

20 Other AFRI RFAs FY 2010 AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention $25M FY 2010 AFRI Climate Change $55M FY 2010 AFRI Global Food Security $19M FY 2010 AFRI Food Safety $20M FY 2010 AFRI Sustainable Bioenergy $40 M FY 2010 AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (soon) FY 2010 AFRI Opportunities for 1890 Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and Universities in USDA EPSCoR States

21 Specialty Crop Research Initiative $50 million in mandatory funding to address research and extension needs associated with specialty crops (i.e., pretty much any crop that isn t defined as a commodity crop), including pollinators of specialty crops. Through 2012.

22 Capacity Grants Hatch Research: $215M McIntire-Stennis: $29M Evans-Allen : $48.5M Plus, $340M in combined extension funding

23 Future? Our hope is that the future is lit by new and dynamic programs that will encourage the discovery of knowledge, will transmit that knowledge to those who need it, and will educate the next generation of scientists to continue this cycle.

24 Thank you.