14. Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education

14.1 Introduction
Last updated: September 20, 2011

Agricultural research is a critical pillar to sustaining a thriving food and agriculture industry. The impacts of these research efforts have helped U.S. agriculture adapt to changing dynamics in the domestic and global marketplace and lead the world in innovation and production. This research also helps protect natural resources such as soil, water and air while building and educating the families that are stewards of the land. These advances improve the quality of life of our citizens and consumers worldwide, while leaving the next generation a world that can continue to sustain a vibrant agriculture.

Past public investments in agriculture research have paid large dividends to society. The global, high-tech, environmentally-sensitive era we have now entered requires support of public research. U.S. agriculture today faces greater global competition than ever before, thus increasing the need for sound, progressive agricultural research. The nation’s land grant universities must remain a strategic resource for agriculture and the general public. They must be used wisely and fully to support the needs of an ever expanding domestic and worldwide population.
 

14.2 Publicly-Funded Research
Last updated: September 20, 2011

The past several years have seen an erosion of public support for agricultural research. While private contributions to the research effort have been on the increase, federal research funding has been declining. This is a trend that must be stopped. Food and fiber are essential to all people, and we must ensure our productive capacity is secure.

Publicly funded research is needed to ensure society’s goals are achieved. The combination of private and public research is complementary. However, private research is more narrow and short-term while public research can be more speculative, broader and longer-term. Issues including a safe and secure food and fiber system, a healthy and well-nourished population, harmony between agriculture and the environment, global competitiveness, and general economic development can be better addressed by publicly funded research. Our citizens desire and deserve that these quality of life issues receive proper consideration.

Incentives need to be established to encourage regional cooperation around research and extension in order to best utilize limited funding. 
 

14.3 The Land Grant System
Last updated: September 20, 2011

14.4 Research Needs
Last updated: September 20, 2011

Agricultural research must be multi-faceted to address numerous issues affecting the public’s welfare. All research sectors must be equitably addressed to ensure society’s needs are met.

U.S. agriculture must be highly competitive, not just in the domestic market, but in the global economy. To be competitive, research must contribute to U.S. farm, ranch and agribusiness profitability and increased productivity. New trade channels must be developed to provide the markets for domestic products, and products must be developed that suit the changing demands of consumers.
The American public is increasingly concerned about the safety and security of the food and fiber system. Consumers worry about environmental factors related to food borne disease. In response, detection, surveillance and reporting of these diseases must be improved. The ultimate goal is the reduction and elimination of environmental risk factors that contribute to food borne disease. It is essential that our food production, processing and distribution system remain secure.

Research that shows how agriculturalists can meet changing trends in food choice and still meet world nutritional goals should be maintained. We must understand the factors that influence food choices, develop food products desired by consumers and identify and meet the nutritional needs of an ever changing population.

Today, much of the focus is on the relationship of agriculture to the environment. Research is necessary to develop rational, balanced approaches for the use and management of natural resources. The productive capacity of our natural resources must be improved and protected. We cannot let immediate needs outweigh the long-term protection of these critical resources.

In order for improvement to take place in rural communities, emphasis must be placed on developing local economies. The development of leadership is imperative in order to enhance rural entrepreneurship and encourage small businesses that serve rural and agricultural areas.

A major underlying goal for agricultural research and education is the preparation of students to function in today’s society. In addition, the levels of expectations for these students must equate to or exceed those of students in other endeavors. Strategies for education must be modernized and students must learn in a real-world environment. Faculties at land grant institutions must be prepared and equipped to teach students and prepare them for the future. 
 
 

14.5 Legislative Needs
Last updated: September 20, 2011

NASDA supports efforts to enhance and encourage public sector research that benefits agriculture and its related industries.
NASDA recommends increased federal funding in research, extension, and education programs for agriculture, bioenergy, fiber, nutrition, food safety, market development, specialty crops, and natural resources. Congress should fund competitive grants programs like the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems and USDA’s Organic Research Initiative.

NASDA also urges continued funding of the national Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and organic production and market data collection and tracking. USDA should create a permanent National Program Leader for Organic Agriculture within CSREES and continue the National Agricultural Statistics Service and state agricultural surveys with expansion of questions related to organic and transitional production, acreage, producer characteristics and organic price data for commodity crops, specialty crops, and retail sales.

NASDA supports expanding the Research, Education and Economics (REE) portfolio to include Minority Serving Institutions that have the capability in food and agricultural programs to address future workforce needs for both the public and private sectors of the agricultural industry.

NASDA supports full funding for a Specialty Crop Research Program with the following priorities:(1) research on invasive pest and disease threats in the global trading environment;(2) pest risk analysis; and
(3) development of bio-control agents. 
 

14.6 National C-FAR
Last updated: September 20, 2011

The goal of a National C-FAR is to form a broad-based nonpartisan national coalition of stakeholders in the food, agricultural and natural resource sectors to be named the National Coalition of Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). The objectives are to:

• Increase and enhance federal investments in U.S. food and agricultural research and extension.

• Expand stakeholder participation in the development of research and funding priorities.

A National C-FAR will foster public confidence in research through public participation in planning and evaluating the research activities.

Additional funding should be on a continuing basis to complement, not compete with or displace the existing portfolio of federal research programs. Funding would support a balanced portfolio of basic and applied research and education on a competitive grant and programmatic basis.

NASDA supports a National C-FAR that focuses on research goals, priorities and outcomes and not research administration, design or procedures. NASDA further supports research that addresses the interrelationship between food, health and medicine.