ARS Research DR. STEVEN SHAFER AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR

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1 ARS Research DR. STEVEN SHAFER ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR

2 Topics ARS Overview Budget Status/New Research Animal Welfare AMR / Pollinator Health / Microbiome / Zika Virus

3 ARS Leadership in 2016 Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young Administrator, Agricultural Research Service Dr. Steven Shafer Associate Administrator National Programs Dr. Simon Liu Associate Administrator Research Operations

4 ARS in 2016: 1,800 Ph.D. scientists 8,000 employees 700+ research projects 90 research locations

5 ARS Locations 90 locations in the United States and labs in Argentina, Australia, China, and France.

6 USDA Intramural research Conduct public good research Support action/regulatory agencies Maintain germplasm collections Conduct long-term nutritional studies and maintain databases Operate experimental watersheds Respond to emergent national priorities Engage in long-term research to meet national goals Evaluating disease infection on sorghum seeds in Texas.

7 ARS Research Priorities Food Security and Hunger Sustainable Energy and Bioproducts Food Safety Climate Change/Sustainability Farm supervisor Richard DeStefano operates a ride-on water reel cranberry harvester in New Jersey. Human Nutrition and Obesity

8 ARS Program Distribution Crops 36% National Agricultural Library/Other 4% Food Safety and Nutrition 18% Livestock 16% Product Quality/Value Added 9% Environmental Stewardship 18%

9 ARS Budget: $1.14 billion for FY 2016 Net $11 million increase (.9%) over FY 2015

10 ARS Budget ARS annual budget first topped $1 billion in ARS Budget in FY 2016 Research Funding Increases for: Pollinator Health ($2 million); Agricultural Genomics ($1.5 million); Catfish Disease ($1 million); Avian Health ($1 million); Wheat and Sorghum ($1 million); Plus Leafy Green Vegetables; Cranberries; the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network; Methyl Bromide Alternatives; Forest Products; and Horticultural Research and Education.

11 ARS Proposed FY 2017 Budget Drawing water samples for quality testing. Proposed: $1.16 billion, increase of $17.5 million New Research Initiatives Proposed: Antimicrobial Resistance; Climate Change; Safe and Abundant Water Supplies; Avian Influenza; and Foreign Animal Diseases. $95 million for new research facilities in Frederick, Maryland, and Salinas, California

12 U.S. Policy Environment: Presidential elections in November Change in USDA leadership for 2017

13 ARS Animal Welfare: Strengthened internal oversight Increased animal handling training Improved transparency of our animal research

14 ARS Animal Welfare Appointed an Animal Ombudsman Hired an Animal Care officer Organized leadership committee Implemented training program Developed animal welfare action plan APHIS to conduct unannounced site visits to animal research locations Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees to provide oversight of research protocols

15 Hononf onao fo fhaofh oa fohf o Other Research Topics: Antimicrobial Resistance Pollinator Health Microbiome Zika Virus

16 Antimicrobial Resistance The dark orange wells on this plate of bacterial cultures show growth of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. New USDA action plan Research focused on: Alternatives for antibiotic use in food animals, and Evaluating how microbial resistance is transferred between bacteria Utilizing new technologies to identify AMR genetic elements, such as whole genome sequencing Investigating and developing new management strategies to minimize AMR in the environment.

17 Pollinator Health New longitudinal study of honey bee forage needs Established a National Bee Gene Bank Started a large-scale, area-wide project to minimize exposure of honey bees to pesticides Evaluating effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees Nearly half of all U.S. commercial bee hives are required to pollinate California s almond trees each year.

18 Microbiome From farm to human nutrition Effects of nutrition on the intestinal microbiome and influence on human and animal health Using animal gut microbiomes to integrate nutrition, health, and disease research Graphic: National Institutes of Health Influence of microbial communities on plant growth and root systems Soil microbial processes and impact on soil and air quality

19 Zika Virus The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the vector of the Zika virus. ARS conducts research on mosquito repellants and attractants. No specific Zika virus research ARS mosquito research is conducted in Florida, Maryland, and Kansas Research focused on: Surveillance and control of mosquitoes; Development of attractants, repellants, and biopesticides; Potential infection of animal hosts (i.e., farm animals). Looking to expand mosquito research for FY 2017

20 Hononf onao fo fhaofh oa fohf o Grand Challenge: A big goal, a common focus, inspiring a unified effort

21 Grand Challenge: Transform agriculture to deliver a 20 percent increase in quality production at 20 percent lower environmental impact by 2025

22 Eagles Nesting at ARS: 2 nd year at the U.S. National Arboretum in D.C. 2 fledglings hatched DC2 and DC3

23 DC2 and DC3 ~1 week old, March 17, Bald eagles nesting at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. December 2015 April 2016 Mr. President with Freedom and Liberty on April 19, 2016.

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