National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Its Role in USDA: Status and Expectations for the Future

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

2. "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 Background

3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA)

4. 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

5. National Institute of Food and Agriculture NIFA Administration Honorable Tom Vilsack – Secretary USDA – Sworn on January 21, 2009 as the 30thSec. Dr. Roger Beachy– Director NIFA Dr. Rajiv Shah – Under Secretary - Sworn on June 2, 2009 – Now USAID Administrator

6. 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)

7. USDA’s CHIEF SCIENTIST

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 1. INSTITUTE OF FOOD PRODUCTIONAND SUSTAINABILITY Enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems

11. 2. INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY,CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT Ensuring energy independence through clean, biobasedsystems; Ensuring sustainable and adaptive agro-ecosystems in response to climate change

12. 3. INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION Ensuring a safe food supply Improving citizens’ health through nutrition Reducing childhood obesity Improving food quality

13. 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

14. CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Leveraging the knowledge and commitment of U.S. talent to enhance the lives of those in developing countries

15. 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

16. NIFA’s PRIORITIES

17. NIFA Science priorities for food, energy, environment & health (Societal Challenges) NIFA Priorities 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. AFRI Budget Heading Up

22. 2010 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Five Challenge Area RFAs • Childhood Obesity Prevention • Climate Change • Global Food Security • Food Safety • Sustainable Bioenergy

23. 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

24. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program RFA • Build a foundation of knowledge critical for solving current and future societal challenges • Offer research funding opportunities only • Large Award Size compared to previous years

25. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 2010 Foundational Program RFA • Plant Health and Production and Plant Products • Animal Health and Production and Animal Products • Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health • Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment • Agriculture Systems and Technology • Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

26. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 2010 NIFA Fellowships Grant Program RFA • Offer individual fellowships for pre- and postdoctoral students – NIFA Fellows • Focus on the broad Challenge Areas

27. 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)

28. AFRI Eligibility • State agricultural experiment stations • Colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher) • University research foundations • Other research institutions and organizations • Federal agencies and national laboratories • Private organizations or corporations • U.S. Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents • Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations

29. 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)

30. 406 or Integrated Eligibility • Colleges and universities • 1994 Land-Grant Institutions • Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities

31. 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

32. National Institute of Food and Agriculture FOCUS SCALE IMPACT

33. National Institute of Food and Agriculture ARE WE READY FOR THIS CHALLENGE

34. Trends in U.S. Milk Production National Institute of Food and Agriculture In 2007 U.S. Produced 34% more milk with 48% fewer dairy cows than in 1960

35. National Institute of Food and Agriculture BROILERS ACRBC (1957)Males – 2001 Feed Ross Males (2001) – 2001 Feed Day 85 Day 43 Day 71 Day 57 Havenstein andQureshi, et al 2004

36. National Institute of Food and Agriculture

37. National Institute of Food and Agriculture

38. 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

39. 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

40. THANK YOU!!!