Dr. Anna Palmisano, Deputy Administrator, Competitive Programs

1. The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Competitive Programs Dr. Anna Palmisano, Deputy Administrator, Competitive Programs

2. What we’ll discuss • CSREES mission and USDA strategic goals • Peer review • Individual funding programs • Stakeholder input • We’ve gone electronic

3. CSREES mission • “To advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well being, and communities. ” • Competitive Programs supports mission relevant, high priority research and integrated programs

4. USDA strategic goals • Enhance international competitiveness of American agriculture • Enhance competitiveness and stability of rural and farm economics • Increase economic opportunities and improved quality of life in rural America • Enhance protection and safety of the Nation’s agriculture and food supply • Improve the Nation’s nutrition and health • Protect and enhance the Nation’s natural resources and environment

5. Peer Review: A Hallmark of Competitive Programs • Rigorous peer review selects proposals of highest merit • Review performed by experts in research, extension and education • Evaluation criteria include: • Scientific merit • Qualifications • Facilities • Project planning & management • Relevance

6. National Research Initiative: USDA’s Largest Competitive Program • Basic and applied research • Integrated activities (research, education and/or extension) • Biological, physical, social sciences • Single discipline and inter-disciplinary • One investigator or teams • Broad eligibility

7. Types of NRI Proposals • Standard grants (research and integrated) • Conferences • Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards (some restrictions apply) • New Investigator Awards • Post-doctoral Fellowships • Strengthening Awards • Coordinated Agricultural Projects

8. FY2007 NRI program clusters • Agricultural Biosecurity and Agricultural Genomics • Agricultural Production and Value-Added Processing • Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality • Agro-ecosystems

9. Interagency Collaboration • Collaborations are key, because they: • Leverage tight budgets • Minimize overlap • Enhance coordination • NPLs actively participate in interagency working groups under the President’s National Science and Technology Council

10. Community Food Program • Meet the food needs of low-income people • Increase self-reliance in meeting food needs • Promote comprehensive responses to food, farm and nutrition issues

11. Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program (BRAG) • Identify and develop management practices to minimize potential risks associated with genetically engineered animals, plants and microorganisms • Assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about introducing GMOs into the environment

12. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) • Research for the development of a profit-making technology, product or service • Two phase program - feasibility and development • $80,000 (Phase I)/$300,000 (Phase II) • Small businesses of 500 employees or less • Government-wide • 2.5% set-aside of USDA extramural funding for research

13. Section 406 – Integrated Activities • Water Quality • Food Safety • Integrated Pest Management Centers • Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation • Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program • Methyl Bromide Transitions Program • Organic Transitions Program

14. Stakeholder Input is Vital! • Scientific societies, National Academy • REE Advisory Board • Producers, processors, industry • Land Grant University System • Non-governmental organizations • Other federal agencies • International coordination

15. We’ve gone electronic in FY 2007! All competitive proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov