Newswise — Washington, D.C. Feb. 23, 2011: Public and private research and development collaborations in agriculture, food, nutrition and natural resources are an important tool for meeting the challenge of feeding future generations.
Key elements of successful collaborations between federal agencies and partner organizations are the focus of the Agriculture, Food, Nutrition and Natural Resources R&D Round Table, to take place Tuesday, March 15 at the Abelson/Haskins Conference Room of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.
“If the challenges of both national and global food security are to be met in the decades ahead, significant attention must be directed to research and development work that addresses agriculture, food, nutrition and natural resources issues,” said Richard Ridgway, president of the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation. He cites estimates by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that global food production will need to double by 2050 to feed a population of 9.2 billion people. FAO also estimates 70% of that increased production will need to come from the creation and adoption of new technologies.
The Round Table is targeted to federal government agency officials who are involved in research related to agriculture, food, nutrition and natural resources with substantial involvement by universities, scientific societies, and various partners. The Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation is organizing the event along with Farm Foundation, NFP, the Institute of Food Technologists, the Federation of Animal Science Societies, the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America and the Crop Science Society of America.
The Round Table program will highlight how society benefits from federal investments in agriculture-related research by USDA and other federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Interior, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy.
The keynote address will be given by Shere Abbott, associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President. Lessons learned and opportunities for the future will be discussed by Cathie Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Extension.
Featured in the program will be case studies of selected collaborative research projects that have yielded significant impacts for taxpayers through benefits to agriculture, food, nutrition or natural resources. The case studies to be presented will deal with the bovine genome, nutrition, food safety, pest control, crop production and water management, conservation, wildland restoration, and biofuels.
Collaborating with the organizing groups to present this program are USDA’s Research, Education and Economics Mission Area, USDA Forest Service and USDA’s National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economics Advisory Board.
Meeting space is limited and attendance is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is now closed.
The Round Table will be webcast. To register for the webcast go to: www.tvworldwide.com/events/farmfoundation/110315/
For more information, contact:
Neil Conklin, Farm Foundation, NFP, [email protected]
Richard Ridgway, Riley Memorial Foundation, [email protected]
William Fisher, Institute of Food Technologists, [email protected]
Lowell Randel, Federation of Animal Science Societies, [email protected]
About the organizing groups:
Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation, (www.rileymemorial.org), was created in 1985 “to promote a broader and more complete understanding of agriculture as the most basic human endeavor; to make secure the lever that is agriculture and its fulcrum, the natural environment, during this and succeeding generations; and to enhance agriculture through increased scientific knowledge.”
Farm Foundation, NFP (www.farmfoundation.org) works as a catalyst for sound public policy by providing objective information to foster a deeper understanding of issues shaping the future for agriculture, food systems and rural regions. Farm Foundation does not lobby or advocate.
Federation of Animal Science Societies (www.fass.org) strengthens the common interests and collective good of member societies through a unified science-based voice that supports animal agriculture, animal products, and food systems globally through effective and efficient management services.
Institute of Food Technologists, (www.ift.org) exists to advance the science of food. Its long-range vision is to ensure a safe and abundant food supply contributing to healthier people everywhere. IFT strives to provide an inclusive and welcoming community for all food science and technology professionals and the knowledge and tools they need to enhance their professional capacity and competency.
The American Society of Agronomy (www.agronomy.org), Crop Science Society of America (www.crops.org), and Soil Science Society of America(www.soils.org) are scientific societies based in Madison, Wis., helping their 10,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy, crop, soil sciences, and related disciplines by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and providing quality, research-based publications, certification programs, and a variety of member services.
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