Transcript New Initiatives for the College of Agriculture and Life

Research Programs In the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences
Positioning Ourselves for the Future
Dr. David Smith, Director
North Carolina Agricultural Research Service
“ We are here to educate students and to create new knowledge
through our research. And, of course, in Land Grant Universities ,
a third leg of that stool is to extend that information and see
that it has value…..
What I found that I enjoyed the most about academic
administration was helping others be successful. You cannot
be fulfilled in an academic administrative role if you don’t enjoy
creating an environment where other people can be successful.
Because it can’t be about you. It’s got to be about the students and
the faculty.”
Chancellor Randy Woodson
Spring 2010
The Knowledge Pipeline
CALS Research
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Our research is about outcome that enriches
the lives of our citizens.
– Healthy, safe, and sustainable food.
– Healthy population with access to effective
therapies.
– Diverse ecosystems and sustainable
environment.
– Renewable and affordable energy.
– Economic development
CALS Research
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Our programs impact every citizen in North
Carolina
– Our agricultural programs directly support the
state’s largest industry and 700,000 jobs
– Our human health, food safety, and wellness
programs impact everyone.
– Our work in ecosystem diversity,
environmental protection, and land use impact
urban and rural citizens.
NC State
Is the largest university in the UNC System.
 NCARS has the third largest ARS budget in
the USA.
 We have both agriculture and life science
faculty.
 We are positioned to succeed!
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The strength of our program is
our people
NCARS is supported by over 1,000 faculty, staff and graduate students
Examples of Research Diversity
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Crop and animal production
systems
Applied genomics in plant,
animal, and microbial systems
Structural biology,
metabolomics, and systems
biology
Quantitative, computational
biology, and bioinformactics
Plant Breeding
Aquaculture, fisheries, and
livestock biology
Integrated crop protection
systems
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Bioprocessing and value
enhancement of food, fiber, and
bioenergy crops.
Ornamentals, turfgrasses, small
fruits, and vegetables
Food security and safety
Animal nutrition
Animal welfare and behavioral
biology
Ecosystem Sciences and
climate change
Human nutrition and health
Market function and impact of
policy on markets
Balanced Portfolio of Research
Agricultural programs and life sciences
 Commodity support and competitive grants
 Hypothesis driven research and the
generation of intellectual property
 Discovery, translational research and
service
 Production agriculture and human health
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Success Occurs Through
Teamwork
Leadership
Talent
Resources Common
Goal
NCARS Expenditures
$127.8 million
Message
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The ratio of appropriated to external support is
about 1 to 1.
– External funding doubles our capacity to conduct
research.
– Appropriated and external support are both
important.
– Attention to state needs is important in maintaining
state funding and thus our capacity to obtain
extramural funding.
– Appropriated support will decline over time and
external support must increase to maintain
program.
Appropriated Support for
Agricultural Research
Competitive Grant Support for
Agricultural Research
Message
Our appropriated funding is among the
highest in the USA.
 Our competitive funding is respectable, but
at least some of our peer institutions are
doing better than us.
 The competition is high and success is
variable.
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– Graduate and technical support on grants will
be constantly at risk.
Message
Our large appropriated budget and our
commodity support are a strength.
 But, they can become a weakness if we
become complacent and are not aggressive
in the competitive arena.
 We are diverse enough that we can do both.
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CALS Research Contracts
FY 2009
$50,755,662
Federal Sponsors of CALS
Research
FY 2009 $23,675,107
Research Support from
Selected Sponsors
AFRI Priority Science Areas
Global Food Security and Hunger
 Climate Change
 Sustainable Energy
 Childhood Obesity
 Food Safety
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USDA Funding FY 2009
13/18 Dept.
165 faculty
NSF and NIH Funding
FY 2009
10/18 Dept.
87 Faculty
Message
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In 2009, USDA supported 155 projects
involving 165 faculty in 13 departments.
– Current AFRI priorities may not result in
reduced funding but it will greatly reduce the
number of faculty.
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NIH and NSF supported 84 projects
involving 74 faculty in 9 departments.
– Core facility upgrades to compete in human
health arena.
Message
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Competition for federal funding is very
high.
– Variability among years.
Opportunities to increase funding in human
health and environment.
 Some faculty/departments are not
competitive in current national priorities.
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Opportunities
Increase Collaborations with Industry
When There is Mutual Benefit
Universities offer significant intellectual
capacity and infrastructure which result in
lower development costs than in-house
R&D.
 IP and scholarship issues must be
addressed.
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Grant Support vs. IP
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In 2009:
– CALS faculty generated $50,755,662 in contract
income which resulted in $6,355,621 in F&A to NCSU.
– The net return to CALS was $1,251,936 and $685,655
to departments.
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In 2008:
– CALS generated $2,205,920 in royalty income (61% of
NCSU receipts). The net return to CALS was $626,771
and $313,386 was available for return to departments.
Message
NCSU is among the best of our peers in IP
sharing with the inventor.
 There is institutional and personal
recognition for patents issued.
 But, the total return to the units is low
compared to grant income and F&A.
 Financially, we are better off pursuing
grants and contracts and being less
concerned about total ownership of IP.
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Additional Opportunities
Formalize and expand international
programs.
 AFRI shift is positive for some. Build
multidisciplinary and institutional
collaborations.
 Increased NC Biotech Center interest in Ag
Biotech (30 in 10 intiative).
 Human Health and Environment
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Agrosphere Modeling for Producing
Large Increases in Food Yield
(AMPLIFY)
-An NC State University initiative for high
intensity sustainable agriculture (led by
Payne and Boston)
Challenges
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Resource allocation
– Commodity support vs. need to grow the life
sciences
– Startup and matching commitments.
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Investment in research capability rather than
direct investment in research.
– Core facilities vs. technical support
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One size approach to funding doesn’t work.
– Remove silo funding?
– Separate admin/budget for life science vs. ag?
Talking Points
(Internal Priorities)
Intellectual property and revenue sharing
with units.
 Source of funding and eligibility for GSSP.
 CALS share of student growth is critical for
life science growth.
 A great university depends on a great
faculty. We need to support not hinder
faculty productivity.
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– University processes, OH on TSA, gift fees.
Trends in U.S. demographics, farm numbers, farm size,
and land in farms, 1850–2006
After 10,000 Years of Agriculture, Whither Agronomy?
Previously Published in Agron. J. 100:22–34 (2008)
Fred P. Miller*
Corn and Soybean Yields in the USA
High
Yield
Potential
Comparison of Corn and Soybean Yields in the United States: Historical Trends and Future
Prospects Published in Agron J 100:79-88 (2008)
D. B. Egli*
Low Yield
Potential
Trends in Irrigation, 1900-2002
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America's irrigated land constitutes
one sixth of the nation's harvested
cropland but accounts for one third
of the country's agricultural
productivity and about half of the
value of all crops.
But this irrigated land accounts for
about 40% of America's fresh water
withdrawals and more than 80% of
the nation's consumptive fresh
water use.
In 2000, the nation's irrigated
agriculture withdrew 59% of its
water needs from surface water
sources. Groundwater supplied the
remaining 41%, a percentage that
has been increasing
After 10,000 Years of Agriculture, Whither Agronomy?
Previously Published in Agron. J. 100:22–34 (2008)
Fred P. Miller*
The Case for Research
25,000 people die each day from chronic
malnutrition and about 3/4 of the deaths are
children.
 Global population will increase 38% by
2050.
 World food demand will double by 2050;
50% from population growth and 50% from
economic growth.
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