Perspectives on Competitively Funded Natural Resources Research

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Perspectives on Competitively Funded Natural
Resources Research 
Dr. Mark Poth Competitive Programs Unit
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CSREES

• Cooperative
• State
• Research
• Education and
• Extension
• Service

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MISSION

• To advance knowledge for agriculture, the
  environment, human health and well being, and
  communities

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Reorganization of CSREES the Competitive
Programs Unit
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Selected Competitive Programs
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The Priority Setting Process

• Our Goal is that through a clearly articulated
  priority setting process USDA can demonstrate
  leadership in the effective use of limited
  resources.

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The Priority Setting Process

• A process for developing priorities
• Should be ongoing and continuous
• Should be clear and participatory
• Should communicate priorities
• Should identify and address issues before they
  become crises

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The Priority Setting ProcessShaped by

• Legislative authority
• National Agricultural Research, Extension,
  Education and Economics Advisory Board
• White papers developed by NPLs
• Other planning and strategic documents such as A
  Science Roadmap for Agriculture by NASULGC and
  ESCOP
• Stakeholder workshops

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The Future of CSREES Competitive Programs

• Moving from a collection of programs to an issues
  based and strategic agenda

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Criteria for Competitive Programs

• Does the program represent a unique opportunity
  or a key role for USDA?
• Is the program a high priority for our partners
  and stakeholders?
• How well is the program coordinated with other
  CSREES programs?
• Does the program rate highly for
  timeliness/relevance/potential impact?
• Is the program drawn from ideas presented in the
  CSREES White Papers?

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Criteria for Competitive Programs

• Could the program logically combine and transform
  an existing program into a more robust program?
• Is the program innovative?
• Does the program link with or complement programs
  in other agencies or government wide initiatives?
• Is the program compatible with the budget
  explanatory notes and/or the farm bill?

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Coordinated Program Issue Areas

• Agricultural Security
• Obesity, Human Nutrition and Food Science
• Food Safety
• Genomics and Future Food and Fiber Production and
  Quality
• Agriculture and Environmental Quality
• Agricultural Prosperity and Resilient Communities

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Research Opportunities Identified by the Board on
Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Globalization
• Emerging pathogens and hazards in the food chain
• Nutrition and human health
• Environmental stewardship
• Quality of life in rural communities

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A Continuous Process for Competitive Programs

• Stakeholder input
• Outreach
• Priority setting
• Program Coordination
• Program Implementation
• Program Evaluation and Reporting
• Repeat

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Program Evaluation and Reporting

• A transition to performance based budgeting
• Linkages to legislative authority
• The opportunity of undiscovered and new
  environmental benefits.

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Undiscovered Benefits

• Under the farm bill many programs in the
  conservation title dramatically increase.
• What are the benefits?

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New Benefits

• What new benefits could be derived from research
  on implementation of programs across the
  landscape rather than at the farm level?

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NAS Research Opportunities

• Environmental Stewardship
• Reduce pollution conserve NR
• Environmentally sound alternatives
• Deliver new environmental benefits
• Integrate leading edge science

• Quality of life in rural communities
• Global markets
• Challenges of rural development