USDA- NIFA Update USDA Science & Actions Jeanette Thurston, Ph.D. USDA-NIFA National Program Leader Institute of Food Safety & Nutrition
USDA s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Created through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, re-org. complete Oct 1,2010 Replaced the former Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) http:www.nifa.usda.gov
NIFA s Unique Mission: Leading food and agricultural sciences to create a better future for the Nation and the world
NIFA Director: Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy NIFA S NEW TAGLINE WE WILL PREVENT WHAT CAN AIL YOU
Mother of all Wicked Problems.. 7 Billion (2012) à 9 Billion (2050)
Baby Wicked Problems Food, hunger, poverty, health, water, environment, energy, climate change 7 Billion (2012) à 9 Billion (2050)
Changing paradigm farm-to-fork to Farmà Forkà Healthy Outcomes In order to promote better health outcomes we must understand the Nexus between: Food Safety Nutrition Food security Healthy Foods Food Quality Health Education Biology Culture Behavior
NIFA: National Program Leadership & Federal Assistance Identify & meet National research, extension & education needs Provide formula and competitive grants
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) v Challenge Area Programs v Integrated, Multidisciplinary, Multi-institutional, achieving significant impacts in short periods v Foundational Area Programs v Basic research, $500K, single function v NIFA Fellows Program v Pre-doctoral & postdoctoral grants
AFRI: Goals of Five Challenge Areas 1. Food Security--Keep American agriculture competitive while ending world hunger 2. Childhood Obesity--Improve nutrition and end childhood obesity 3. Food Safety--Improve food safety for all Americans 4. Bioenergy--Secure America s energy future through renewable biofuels 5. Climate Change--Mitigate and adapt agriculture to variations in climate
AFRI: Achieving Outcomes Ecology Risk Survival/Fate Research Control/Reduction Detection Occurrence Balancing Act Education Evaluation Public Health Extension Food Safety Training online Pamphlets/ Info sheets Producers extension Labor Force Consumers Retail University Prof Dev Workshops K-12 Undergraduate Graduate Teachers
2010 AFRI Food Safety Research Focus ~$100M over next 5 yrs Shiga-toxigenic E. coli in beef Viruses in food Education Critical and Emerging Issues in Food Safety Processing Technologies Food-borne pathogen-plant interactions
Comprehensive Approach to Science: REE Action Plan for USDA Science Vision to deliver the research, tools, & statistical data needed to meet the needs of USDA and the country
USDA REE Action Plan 7 Goals 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security 2. Responding to Climate & Energy Needs 3. Sustainable Use of Resources 4. Nutrition & Childhood Obesity 5. Food Safety 6. Education & Science Literacy 7. Rural Prosperity/Rural-Urban Interdependence www.ree.usda.gov
USDA Science: Organizing Research Around Problem Solving Research, Education, and Economics (REE) agencies Agriculture Research Service National Institute of Food and Agriculture Economic Research Service National Agriculture Statistics Service
Food Safety REE Role: Provide science that informs decisions & policies that contribute to a safe food supply & the reduction of foodborne (FB) hazards v 6 Strategies & Actions www.ree.usda.gov
REE Sister Agencies: Quarterly Reporting Activities Impacts Outcomes **Keep the program updated so we can highlight your activities in quarterly and annual reports. Contact program lead for the program.
2012/13 AFRI Challenge Area: Food Safety Program 3 program priority areas: Antibiotic resistance Produce safety Emerging Issues LOI deadlines have passed RFA located on NIFA website: www.nifa.usda.gov
AFRI: Food Safety Foundational Program 2013 Foundational RFA LOI deadlines in November! Up to $6 Million for food safety priorities RFA located on NIFA website: www.nifa.usda.gov
AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grants Program Pre-doctoral (PhD candidate; $75K; 2 yr) Post-doctoral ($130K; 2 yr) ~30% success rate
NIFA Stakeholder Input Contact National Program Leaders www.nifa.usda.gov Jthurston@nifa.usda.gov Written Comments: Policy and Oversight Division; Office of Grants and Financial Management; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; USDA; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2299; E-mail to: RFP-OGFM@nifa.usda.gov. Formal Stakeholder Meetings
Other Activities & Update Farm Bill-~$130M Expiration of Programs ex., SCRI, OREI, BFRDP Sequestration Automatic budget cuts; 8% on Jan 2 2014 AFRI Food Safety program National Academies Review of AFRI NIFA Strategic Plan
Thank you!!