Transcript Overview of ARS National Programs

Overview of ARS
National
Programs
Steven Kappes
Deputy Administrator
Animal Production & Protection
National Program Staff
Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service
• ARS is the
intramural
research arm
of USDA
• CSREES funds
extramural
research
http://www.ars.usda.gov/
Profile of ARS
• Intramural Research
• Farm-to-table
research scope
• 21 (19) National
Programs
• 1,100+ research
projects
• Information &
technology transfer
• 8,000+ employees
• 2,200+ scientists
• 100+ laboratory
locations
• $1.1+ billion annual
budget
• Partnerships with
universities and
industry
ARS Is a National Organization
ARS Locations
ARS Organization (Matrix Management)
ARS is a Mission-Driven
Organization
Our mission is to conduct research to develop and
transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high
national priority and provide information access and
dissemination to:
• Ensure high quality, safe food and other products
• Assess the nutritional needs of Americans
• Sustain a competitive agricultural economy
• Enhance the natural resource base and the
environment
• Provide economic opportunities to rural citizens and
society as a whole
How Do We Meet Our Mission?
Through National Programs!
• A National Program is a set of research
projects directed toward common goals to
solve agricultural problems of high National
priority.
• National Programs are outcome driven,
e.g., a safer food supply.
National Programs
Animal Prod/Prot
Food Animal Production
Animal Health
Veterinary, Medical and
Urban Entomology
Aquaculture
Nutrition, Food
Quality and Safety
New Uses, Quality &
Marketability of Plant &
Animal Products
Human Nutrition
Food Safety
Natural Resources
Water Availability &
Management
Crop Prod/Prot
Soil and Air Resource
Management
Plant, Microbial & Insect
Germplasm Conservation &
Development
Pasture, Forages and
Rangeland Systems
Plant Biological & Molecular
Processes
Ag. Waste & Byproduct
Utilization
Plant Diseases
Agricultural System
Competitiveness &
Sustainability
Bioenergy
Crop Protection &
Quarantine
Crop Production
Methyl Bromide Alternatives
NPS Function
 Provide Program Leadership
 Receive input on ‘high priority’ research needs
(relevance) and develop Action Plan
 Develop research objectives for each research project
with scientists
 Identifies opportunities to leverage ARS research
activities
 Develop budget initiatives
 National Program Champion
 Technical expert – advises ARS Administrator, USDA
Secretary, President and Congress
How ARS Plans and
Sets Research Priorities
Executive Branch
(Department, other Federal agencies)
Customers,
Partners, &
Stakeholders
ARS
Program
&
Budgeting
Priorities
Scientific
Communities
Agency
Scientists
&
Managers
How does ARS address new
research problems?
• Redirection
• Collaborations
• New budget initiatives
• Does ARS have the expertise and
capacity?
• Can the research be done by universities
or industry?
• Fundamental (Basic) vs Applied Research
ARS National Program Cycle
2003 – 2008 (current 5 year cycle)
Relevance
Program Planning
& Priority Setting
Program Assessment
Quality
Scientific Merit
Peer Review
(Retrospective)
Quality
(Prospective)
Program
Project
Coordination Implementation
Performance
Quality
(retrospective)
• External panels of scientific experts and
stakeholders
• Did the program component achieve the
goals of the action plan?
• Was the work of high quality?
• Each component scored for impact
• Program evaluation; not project evaluation
ARS National Program Cycle (new 5 year cycle)
Workshop
Relevance
Program Planning
& Priority Setting
Program Assessment
Quality
Scientific Merit
Peer Review
(Retrospective)
Quality
(Prospective)
Program
Project
Coordination Implementation
Performance
Relevance
• Each National Program conducts a
national planning workshop
– Stakeholder input
• Develops action plan (NPS and scientists)
– 5 year plan
– Defines program objectives and directions
– Set the outcomes for the retrospective
reviews
Program Direction and
Resource Allocation Memos
(PDRAM’s)
• NPL assigns research objectives and expected
outcomes for each project
• Specify the level of SY effort and funding to be
allocated to research project
• If applicable, a SY recruitment or assignment
action and the scientific discipline required
may also be specified
ARS National Program Cycle
Relevance
Program Planning
& Priority Setting
Program Assessment
Quality
Scientific Merit
Peer Review
(Retrospective)
Quality
(Prospective)
Program
Project
Coordination Implementation
Performance
ARS National Program Cycle
Relevance
Program Planning
& Priority Setting
Program Assessment
Quality
Scientific Merit
Peer Review
(Retrospective)
Quality
(Prospective)
Program
Project
Coordination Implementation
Performance
Performance
(individual scientist)
• Annual performance ratings
• Annual reports including milestones met
• RPES evaluation
Workshop Outcomes
What we need from our Customers and Stakeholders• High priority research problems (prioritized)
• We need to understand the problem
• Long term needs
• Balanced research portfolio (basic and applied)
• ARS will develop an Action Plan
• ARS will email customers and stakeholders our
Annual Reports