USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Seeks Stakeholder Input on Food, Agriculture Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. August 27, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting stakeholder input on the emerging needs and opportunities in food and agricultural sciences through the “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,” initiative.
“We invite our stakeholders, scientists, and organizations from across the US agriculture system and beyond to provide their input,” said NIFA Acting Director Tom Shanower. “These sessions provide a chance for any interested party to help ensure NIFA’s research, education, and extension investments effectively and efficiently support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. Agriculture.”
These listening sessions are your opportunity to provide feedback on these questions:
“In your field, what is the most-needed breakthrough in science/technology that would advance your agricultural enterprise?”
“When considering all of agriculture, what is the greatest challenge that should be addressed through NIFA’s research, education, and extension?”
“What is your top priority in food and agricultural research, extension, or education that NIFA should address?”
Four regional in-person listening sessions will be held:
Thursday, Oct. 11, Hartford, Connecticut (RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 4)
Thursday, Oct. 18, New Orleans, Louisiana (RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 11)
Thursday, Oct. 25, Minneapolis, Minnesota (RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 18)
Thursday, Nov. 1, Albuquerque, New Mexico (RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 25)
NIFA Listens website is a one-stop informational hub to keep you up-to-date on the sessions. Each session is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. Live webcast will be available for each session, transcribed, and made available for playback. Session attendees must register via NIFA Listens websites. In addition, written comments may be provided electronically through the stakeholder input form on the website or emailed by NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov until Friday, Nov. 30. Feedback is welcome through any of our submission methods and will be gathered throughout the initiative.
Last year NIFA Listening sessions focused on learning the top priorities NIFA should address in agricultural research, extension and education and which science opportunities to focus on. Stakeholders provided feedback that demonstrates the interconnectedness of agricultural production, ecological, social, economic, and technical challenges that face agriculture and the interdependence between research, extension, and education. The information gathered helped NIFA to prioritize work within and across science emphasis areas, as well as identify gaps in programming.
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural sciences, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for updates, and follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts.
Editor’s Note: This article provided by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.