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)

“……….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 AdministrationNational Institute of Food and Agriculture

Honorable Tom Vilsack – Secretary USDA –

Sworn on January 21, 2009 as the 30th Sec.

Dr. Rajiv Shah – Under Secretary - Sworn on June 2, 2009 – Now USAID Administrator

Dr. Roger Beachy– Director NIFA

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 ServiceAnimal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceFood 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 experiencein USDA policies

*One Centre(Identify best practices for Institute Operation)

Enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems

1. INSTITUTE OF FOOD PRODUCTIONAND SUSTAINABILITY

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 NUTRITIONEnsuring a safe food supply

Improving citizens’ health through nutritionReducing childhood obesity

Improving food quality

4. INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, FAMILY, COMMUNITIES

Enabling vibrant and resilient communitiesPreparing 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’sPRIORITIES

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

NIFA Priorities New Biology 21st Century (NAS)

1. Global Food Security & Hunger--------Sustainable Food Production 2. Climate Change----------------------------Ecosystem Restoration 3. Sustainable Energy-----------------------Optimized Biofuel Production 4. Childhood Obesity-------------------------Improvement in Human Health5. 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

2008 2009 2010 20110

50100150200250300350400450500

190.8 201.5

262.5

428.8

Total AFRI Budget ($ Millions)

President’s request

2010 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

Five Challenge Area RFAs

1. Childhood Obesity Prevention2. Climate Change3. Global Food Security4. Food Safety5. 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 Initiative2010 Foundational Program RFA

1. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products2. Animal Health and Production and Animal

Products3. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health4. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and

Environment5. Agriculture Systems and Technology6. 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 stations2. Colleges and universities (including junior colleges

offering associate degrees or higher)3. University research foundations4. Other research institutions and organizations5. Federal agencies and national laboratories6. Private organizations or corporations7. U.S. Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents8. 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 Eligibility1. Colleges and universities2. 1994 Land-Grant Institutions3. 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

FOCUS

SCALE

IMPACT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

ARE WE READY FOR THIS

CHALLENGE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Trends in U.S. Milk Production

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

No.

Dai

ry C

ows

(tho

usan

ds)

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

Tota

l Milk

Pro

duct

ion

(Mill

ions

Pou

nds)

In 2007 U.S. Produced 34% more milk with 48% fewer dairy

cows than in 1960

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Ross Males (2001) – 2001 Feed

Day 43 Day 57 Day 71 Day 85

ACRBC (1957)Males – 2001 FeedBROILERS

Havenstein and Qureshi, et al 2004

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

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!!!