WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2023 – At the moment, U.S. Division of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Younger applauded important achievements in service to the American public made by Analysis, Schooling and Economics (REE) mission space staff throughout yr two of the Biden-Harris Administration.
“Our devoted workforce of scientists, economists, statisticians, administrative and communications professionals, interns and different staff proceed to realize outstanding outcomes for agriculture,” stated Jacobs-Younger, who the Senate confirmed as REE Beneath Secretary and USDA Chief Scientist on June 8, 2022. “Revolutionary science breakthroughs, analysis revelations and knowledge discoveries underpin all of USDA’s priorities in assist of American producers and communities. The work our staff do every day is important to constructing a meals system that not solely maximizes productiveness, but additionally advances producer profitability, sustainability and resilience.”
The REE mission space is comprised of greater than 8,500 staff throughout 5 element organizations together with the Agricultural Analysis Service (ARS), Financial Analysis Service (ERS), Nationwide Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture (NIFA), and Workplace of the Chief Scientist (OCS), that work collectively to realize USDA’s science mission.
This previous yr, the REE workforce made nice strides in advancing USDA’s priorities to raised combine fairness in our analysis applications, sort out meals and vitamin safety, develop climate-smart options, and construct extra and higher markets.
A number of notable 2022 highlights embody:
On February 2, 2022, President Biden reignited the Cancer Moonshot to finish most cancers as we all know it. USDA serves on the Most cancers Cupboard and performs an integral position on this effort. Whereas others work to deal with and remedy most cancers, USDA works to forestall most cancers by nutrition-related analysis and applications. To assist this initiative, REE hosted three community-focused virtual roundtables and the USDA’s Cancer Moonshot Day of Action. USDA and REE proceed to attempt to satisfy the targets specified by the White House National Strategy on Hunger Nutrition and Health (PDF, 776 KB).
Beneath the management of Secretary Vilsack, REE and USDA’s Workplace of Partnerships and Public Engagements convened a collection of listening periods with leaders from Hispanic-serving, 1890, 1994, and 1862 establishments. Conversations centered on how USDA can meaningfully improve its partnerships with Minority-serving Establishments and Tribal companions to catalyze analysis to assist traditionally underserved teams and enhance entry to USDA providers.
In August 2022, NIFA introduced the supply of $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for Minority-serving Establishments to create profession improvement alternatives for the subsequent era of agricultural leaders. The historic new program, “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals (NEXTGEN),” will allow 1890, 1994, Alaska Native-serving, Native Hawaiian-serving, and Hispanic-serving Establishments to construct and maintain the rising meals, agriculture, pure assets and human sciences workforce by scholarship assist, significant paid internships, fellows, and extra.
In November 2022, NASS launched the 2022 Census of Agriculture, making it simpler than ever for producers to make their voice heard by providing a safe, user-friendly, and time-saving on-line questionnaire possibility. Taken each 5 years, the ag census is probably the most complete knowledge assortment for agriculture within the nation and tells the story of not solely U.S. farms and ranches, but additionally the individuals who function them. By finishing the survey, producers throughout the nation will help generate impactful funding and program alternatives that higher serve them and future generations of producers. Producers have till Feb. 6 to reply and guarantee each voice is counted.
In December 2022, REE introduced the brand new Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Higher Well being) in assist of President Biden’s Most cancers Moonshot effort. This digital heart will speed up analysis on diet-related continual ailments. An extended-term purpose of the middle is to translate analysis into impactful options that enhance public well being and well-being. On January 31, 2023, USDA will host the primary neighborhood engagement session in partnership with Southern College that focuses on diet-related well being disparities confronted by African Individuals. Extra neighborhood engagement periods can be introduced quickly.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Local weather (AIM for Local weather), co-led by the U.S. and United Arab Emirates, seeks to drive local weather motion by rising funding and worldwide assist for climate-smart agriculture and meals programs innovation. Since its launch at COP26, AIM for Local weather companions have elevated investments to greater than $8 billion, launched 30 innovation sprints, and expanded to 275 companions worldwide. USDA is internet hosting the AIM for Climate Summit on Could 8-10 in Washington, D.C.
View our “2022 USDA Science Highlights (PDF, 253 KB)” truth sheet for extra accomplishments. For extra info, go to www.ree.usda.gov or observe USDA Science on Twitter @USDAScience.
USDA touches the lives of all Individuals every day in so many optimistic methods. Within the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is reworking America’s meals system with a better concentrate on extra resilient native and regional meals manufacturing, fairer markets for all producers, guaranteeing entry to secure, wholesome and nutritious meals in all communities, constructing new markets and streams of earnings for farmers and producers utilizing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to fairness throughout the Division by eradicating systemic obstacles and constructing a workforce extra consultant of America. To be taught extra, go to www.usda.gov.
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