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America faces many serious challenges that can only be solved through enhanced scientific research, extension, and teaching:
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Five years after 9/11, our food, water, land, and natural resource systems remain extremely vulnerable to threats introduced intentionally or inadvertently. |
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The twin crises of obesity and diabetes continue to rage unabated, bringing unnecessary suffering to individuals and families and imposing ever larger burdens on society. |
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With petroleum prices at sustained highs, there is an urgent need for the next generation of biobased fuels and products (e.g. cellulosic) and holistic production approaches. |
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What do these and hundreds of other challenges have in common? They all rely upon leadership and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Unfortunately, USDA faces two major impediments: (1) an organizational structure lacking integration in many areas; and (2) federal funding mechanisms and levels that have not kept pace with inflation, let alone increased need. CREATE-21 addresses both of these needs:
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A new “National Institute” – integrating the agencies, programs, and activities currently spread over the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area and U.S. Forest Service R&D – will be created. |
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The Institute will be led by an eminent scientist/educator, nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term. |
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The Institute’s portfolio of programs will be collaboratively determined by the Director and the Institute’s land-grant and related university/institutional partners with recommendations from a new National Stakeholder Advisory Council. |
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The portfolio will include robust intramural and extramural research, extension, education, and international programs (including peer-reviewed competitive grant programs). |
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The Institute will sustain and expand the capability of USDA to carry out intramural (in-house) research programs and the capability of land-grant and related universities to perform extramural research, extension, education, and international programs. |
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Capacity funding for the land-grant system (through traditional formula funding mechanisms with matching requirements) will be maintained and enhanced, with particular attention placed on building infrastructure at minority-serving institutions. |
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However, competitive funding programs will be emphasized when it comes to expanded funding; some 70 percent of new funds would be directed to peer-reviewed, competitively-awarded grant programs. |
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At the end of seven years (assuming that all authorized funds are appropriated), the ratio of competitive to capacity funding would be 42/58 vs. the current ratio of 10/90.
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