Dr' Anna Palmisano,

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The Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service
Competitive Programs
Dr. Anna Palmisano, Deputy Administrator,
Competitive Programs
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What well discuss

• CSREES mission and USDA strategic goals
• Peer review
• Individual funding programs
• Stakeholder input
• Weve gone electronic

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CSREES mission

• To advance knowledge for agriculture, the
  environment, human health and well being, and
  communities.
• Competitive Programs supports mission relevant,
  high priority research and integrated programs

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USDA strategic goals

• Enhance international competitiveness of American
  agriculture
• Enhance competitiveness and stability of rural
  and farm economics
• Increase economic opportunities and improved
  quality of life in rural America
• Enhance protection and safety of the Nations
  agriculture and food supply
• Improve the Nations nutrition and health
• Protect and enhance the Nations natural
  resources and environment

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Peer Review A Hallmark of Competitive Programs

• Rigorous peer review selects proposals of highest
  merit
• Review performed by experts in research,
  extension and education
• Evaluation criteria include
• Scientific merit
• Qualifications
• Facilities
• Project planning management
• Relevance

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National Research Initiative USDAs Largest
Competitive Program

• Basic and applied research
• Integrated activities (research, education and/or
  extension)
• Biological, physical, social sciences
• Single discipline and inter-disciplinary
• One investigator or teams
• Broad eligibility

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Types of NRI Proposals

• Standard grants (research and integrated)
• Conferences
• Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards (some
  restrictions apply)
• New Investigator Awards
• Post-doctoral Fellowships
• Strengthening Awards
• Coordinated Agricultural Projects

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FY2007 NRI program clusters

• Agricultural Biosecurity and
• Agricultural Genomics
• Agricultural Production and Value-Added
  Processing
• Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality
• Agro-ecosystems

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Interagency Collaboration

• Collaborations are key, because they
• Leverage tight budgets
• Minimize overlap
• Enhance coordination
• NPLs actively participate in interagency working
  groups under the Presidents National Science and
  Technology Council

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Community Food Program

• Meet the food needs of low-income people
• Increase self-reliance in meeting food needs
• Promote comprehensive responses to food, farm and
  nutrition issues

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Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program (BRAG)

• Identify and develop management practices to
  minimize potential risks associated with
  genetically engineered animals, plants and
  microorganisms
• Assist Federal regulatory agencies in making
  science-based decisions about introducing GMOs
  into the environment

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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

• Research for the development of a profit-making
  technology, product or service
• Two phase program - feasibility and development
• 80,000 (Phase I)/300,000 (Phase II)
• Small businesses of 500 employees or less
• Government-wide
• 2.5 set-aside of USDA extramural funding for
  research

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Section 406 Integrated Activities

• Water Quality
• Food Safety
• Integrated Pest Management Centers
• Crops at Risk from FQPA Implementation
• Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program
• Methyl Bromide Transitions Program
• Organic Transitions Program

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Stakeholder Input is Vital!

• Scientific societies, National Academy
• REE Advisory Board
• Producers, processors, industry
• Land Grant University System
• Non-governmental organizations
• Other federal agencies
• International coordination

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Weve gone electronic in FY 2007!

• All competitive proposals must be submitted
  through Grants.gov