Overview of the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program

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Overview of the USDA Biotechnology Risk
Assessment Grants Program
Deb Hamernik, PhD National Program Leader,
Animal Physiology US Department of
Agriculture Cooperative State Research,
Education, Extension Service dhamernik_at_csrees.u
sda.gov
July 2004
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USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
Grants Program
Program Contacts Deb Hamernik, PhD
USDA-CSREES John Radin, PhD USDA-ARS National
Program Leader, Plant Physiology Cotton
www.reeusda.gov/crgam/biotechrisk/biotech.htm
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USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
Grants Program

• Competitive grants program
• Authorized in 1990 Farm Bill
• All United States public or private research or
  educational institutions or organizations are
  eligible.
• Since 1992, 20.97 million awarded through 111
  grants

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USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
Grants Funding

• 1990-2002
• at least 1 withholdings from biotechnology
  outlays in USDA
• FY2002 1.5 million
• Limited to risk assessment
• 2002 Farm Bill
• at least 2 withholdings from biotechnology
  outlays in USDA
• FY2003 3.37 million
• Includes risk management

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USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
Grants Program

• Purpose
• to assist Federal regulatory agencies in making
  science-based decisions about the safety of
  introducing into the environment genetically
  modified organisms, including animals, plants,
  and microorganisms.

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FY2004 Research Priorities
(1) Identify and develop appropriate management
practices to minimize physical and biological
risks associated with genetically engineered
animals, plants, and microorganisms
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FY2004 Research Priorities
(2) Develop methods to monitor the dispersal of
genetically engineered animals, plants, and
microorganisms
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FY2004 Research Priorities
(3) To further knowledge of the characteristics,
rates and methods of gene transfer that may
occur between genetically engineered animals,
plants, and microorganisms and related wild and
agricultural organisms
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FY2004 Research Priorities
(4) Environmental assessment research designed
to provide analysis which compares the relative
impacts of animals, plants, and microorganisms
modified through genetic engineering to other
types of production systems
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FY2004 Research Priorities

• (5) Other relevant areas of research
• Non-target effects
• Herbicide resistance management
• Effects of genetically engineered plants with
  stacked genes

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FY2004 Priorities
(6) Conferences designed to bring together
scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders
to review the science- based data relevant to
science-based risk assessment/management of
genetically-modified organisms released into
the environment
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USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research
Grants Program
Will NOT support -food safety risk
assessment -human/animal health effects -social
or economic issues -clinical trials -commercial
product development -product marketing strategies
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Review Criteria

• Scientific Merit
• Relevance to Risk Assessment/Risk Management and
  Federal Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology
• Investigators Institutional Capabilities

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Funding Statistics
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Analysis of the USDA Biotechnology Risk
Assessment Research Grants Program
1992 2002 2003
2004 Average Award 179,646
280,900 313,670 Average Duration
32.9 34.1 36.0
(months) Average /Year 65,569
99,141 104,560 Success Rate NA
20 20
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Number of Awards Funding (M)1992-2003
Awards Dollars (M) Transgene Movement
36 7.29 Nontarget Effects 18
3.55 Viral Recombination 20
3.50 Resistant Pests 11 2.34 Whole
Organism 26 4.29 Total 111 20.97
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Number of Awards Funding (M)1992-2003
Awards Dollars (M) Microbes 51
8.77 Plants 35 7.19 Insects 17
3.65 Fish 7 1.09 Mammals Birds
1 0.27 Total 111 20.97