Transcript Slide 1

National Institute of Food and
Agriculture – Its Role in USDA:
Status and Expectations for the
Future
Muquarrab A. Qureshi, DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Director, Animal Systems
Background
"President Obama this spring pledged to invest
more heavily in the nation's basic sciences, and
to commit as much as 3 percent of America's
GDP to science. Agricultural science needs to be
part of that strategic investment strategy. Focus,
scale, and impact - these are the levers Raj,
Roger, and I will use to launch a new paradigm
for the science that underpins our food,
agriculture, and natural resources systems
research.
Tom Vilsack – Secretary USDA
NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF
FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
(NIFA)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
“……….It is no exaggeration to say that NIFA will
be a research "start-up" company - we will be
rebuilding our competitive grants program from the
ground up to generate real results for the American
people. To lead NIFA, President Obama has tapped a
preeminent plant scientist from the Danforth Plant
Science Center in St. Louis - Roger N. Beachy,
winner of the Wolf Prize in Agriculture and a member
of the National Academy of Sciences.
Tom Vilsack – Secretary USDA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
NIFA Administration
Honorable Tom Vilsack –
Secretary USDA –
Sworn on January 21,
2009 as the 30th Sec.
Dr. Roger Beachy–
Dr. Rajiv Shah – Under Secretary - Sworn
on June 2, 2009 – Now USAID Administrator
NIFA
Director
Research at USDA
Research, Education and Economics (REE)
• Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
• Economic Research Service (ERS)
• National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
•National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
(Forest Service)
Foreign Agriculture Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Food and Nutrition Services
(Research informs portfolio of others)
USDA’s
CHIEF SCIENTIST
NIFA – the agency for extramural
research, extension and education
• Built on the history of CSREES
• Expanding the role of AFRI, the competitive grants
program
• Bringing focus to ‘capacity’ funds while
maintaining essential services to rural and urban
America
• Placing emphasis on attracting a new generation
of scientists to the agriculture mission
Structure and Administration of
Institutes in NIFA
• FOUR Institutes to be led by scientists +
effective administrators with experience
in USDA policies
*One Centre
(Identify best practices for Institute Operation)
1. INSTITUTE OF FOOD PRODUCTION
AND SUSTAINABILITY
Enhancing global food security through
productive and sustainable agricultural systems
2. INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY,
CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT
Ensuring energy independence
through clean, biobased systems;
Ensuring sustainable and adaptive agro-ecosystems
in response to climate change
3. INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY
AND NUTRITION
Ensuring a safe food supply
Improving citizens’ health through nutrition
Reducing childhood obesity
Improving food quality
4. INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, FAMILY,
COMMUNITIES
Enabling vibrant and resilient communities
Preparing the next generation of scientists
Enhancing science capacity in minority-serving
institutions
Enhancing youth development
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS
Leveraging the knowledge and commitment
of U.S. talent to enhance the lives of those
in developing countries
The role of the National Institute of Food
and Agriculture is to support research,
extension and education, and bring
focus to meet society’s grand
challenges
NIFA’s
PRIORITIES
NIFA Science priorities for food, energy,
environment & health (Societal Challenges)
NIFA Priorities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
New Biology 21st Century (NAS)
Global Food Security & Hunger--------Sustainable Food Production
Climate Change----------------------------Ecosystem Restoration
Sustainable Energy-----------------------Optimized Biofuel Production
Childhood Obesity-------------------------Improvement in Human Health
Food Safety---------------------------------Improvement in Human Health
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
(AFRI)
• USDA’s largest competitive grants program for
research, education, and extension, including
integrated approaches
• EPSCoR funding is included
• FY 2010:
– Tighter FOCUS: 5 NIFA priorities
– Greater SCALE: Larger awards
– Bold IMPACT: Translational science
Allocation of Funds
• Authorized for appropriation of $700
million for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012
• FY 2010 appropriation of $262 million
• Not less than 30% made available for
integrated programs
• Not less than 10% made available for
agricultural research enhancement
awards
– Not less than 25% for pre- and
postdoctoral fellowships
Allocation of Funds
• Of funds allocated for research:
– Not less than 40% made available for applied
research
– Not less than 60% made available for fundamental
research
• No less than 30% for multi-disciplinary teams
• No more than 2% for equipment grants
• Indirect costs are limited to 22% of the total
Federal funds – equivalent to 0.28205 of the
total direct costs of an award
AFRI Budget Heading Up
500
450
428.8
400
President’s
request
350
300
262.5
250
200
150
190.8
Total AFRI Budget ($
Millions)
201.5
100
50
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2010
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Five Challenge Area RFAs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Childhood Obesity Prevention
Climate Change
Global Food Security
Food Safety
Sustainable Bioenergy
Five Challenge Area RFAs
•
•
•
•
•
•
Larger awards (up to $ 25 million total)
Inter/ trans-disciplinary
Integrated (research + education + extension)
Research or Education or Extension
Up to 5 years duration
Some renewable
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Foundational Program RFA
1. Build a foundation of knowledge critical
for solving current and future societal
challenges
2. Offer research funding opportunities
only
3. Large Award Size compared to previous
years
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
2010 Foundational Program RFA
1. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
2. Animal Health and Production and Animal
Products
3. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
4. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and
Environment
5. Agriculture Systems and Technology
6. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
2010 NIFA Fellowships Grant
Program RFA
1. Offer individual fellowships for pre- and
postdoctoral students – NIFA Fellows
2. Focus on the broad Challenge Areas
Project Types and Eligibility (a)
• Research Projects – basic and
applied, multidisciplinary
• Education Projects
• Extension Projects
These single-function project types
must use the broader AFRI Eligibility
(Congressional requirement)
AFRI Eligibility
1. State agricultural experiment stations
2. Colleges and universities (including junior colleges
offering associate degrees or higher)
3. University research foundations
4. Other research institutions and organizations
5. Federal agencies and national laboratories
6. Private organizations or corporations
7. U.S. Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
8. Eligible institutions do not include foreign and
international organizations
Project Types and Eligibility (b)
• Integrated Projects – require 2 of 3
functions of the agricultural
knowledge system (research,
education, extension)
This multi-function project type must
use the narrower 406 or Integrated
Eligibility (based on Congressional
requirement)
406 or Integrated Eligibility
1. Colleges and universities
2. 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
3. Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges
and universities
Strengthening Grants: limited to EPSCoR &
Small or Mid-sized or Minority-serving
institutions with limited success
• Seed Grants:
– Collect preliminary data for future AFRI funding
• Sabbatical Grants
– Up to one year of salary, funds for travel & supplies
• Equipment Grants: 50% of cost or $50,000 for one
piece of equipment ($10,000-250,000)
– Matching, but waivers possible < $ 25,000
– No IDC
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
FOCUS
SCALE
IMPACT
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
ARE WE READY
FOR THIS
CHALLENGE
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
No. Dairy Cows (thousands)
20000
18000
16000
200000
In 2007 U.S. Produced 34%
more milk with 48% fewer dairy
cows than in 1960
180000
160000
14000
140000
12000
120000
10000
100000
8000
80000
6000
60000
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Total Milk Production (Millions Pounds)
Trends in U.S. Milk Production
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
ACRBC (1957)Males – 2001 Feed BROILERS
Ross Males (2001) – 2001 Feed
Day 43
Day 57
Day 71
Havenstein and
Day 85
Qureshi, et al 2004
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Important Principles for NIFA
• All activities sponsored by NIFA should be of highest
quality: value for dollar
• Activities should, to the extent possible, focus on the 5
priorities/grand challenges while honoring legislative
mandates
• Research and extension and/or education will be part of
increasing percentage of grants awarded
•Support education/training of next generation of scientists
Important Principles for NIFA
• NIFA activities should be complementary to those of other REE
agencies
•NIFA should leverage resources and expertise by partnering with other
components of the U.S. government, foundations, and private sector
•NIFA research should support aims of the Department and USG:
Research partners include land grant and non-land grant universities
and colleges, research institutions, and non-academic entities
•NIFA should help build capacity of minority-serving institutions while
achieving mission
THANK YOU!!!