[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35841-35843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15275]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Research, Education 
and Extension Programs Related to Food Safety Administered by the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service and the 
Agricultural Research Service

AGENCIES: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
and Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of stakeholders' listening session on food safety 
research priorities.

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SUMMARY: Section 102(b) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) (7 U.S.C. 7612) requires the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) 
and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in establishing priorities 
for agricultural research, extension, and education activities 
conducted or funded by CSREES and ARS to solicit and consider input and 
recommendations from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, 
extension, or education. As part of the Agencies' ongoing stakeholder 
input processes, CSREES and ARS are soliciting input and comments on 
the top food safety research priorities of partners and stakeholders. 
As part of this effort, CSREES and ARS are planning to conduct a 
``Stakeholders' Listening Session on Food Safety Research Priorities'' 
in Denver, Colorado.
    Dates and Addresses: The listening session will be held on Monday, 
June 30, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Denver 
Stapleton Plaza; 3333 Quebec Street; Denver, CO 80207. Attendees must 
make their own hotel arrangements.

    To aid participants in scheduling their attendance, the following 
schedule is anticipated for the listening session:

8:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Introductory Remarks and Background.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Scheduled 5-Minute Comment Periods.
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Scheduled 5-Minute Comment Periods.

    Persons interested in submitting comments but unable to attend 
should submit written presentations to be received by 5 p.m. e.d.t. 
July 14, 2003. Send written presentations to Dr. Pat Kendall at the 
address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All those intending to attend and make 
oral presentations at this meeting are required to pre-register. A List 
of Participants, including all those who have pre-registered, will be 
available at the Listening Session. Participants may pre-register by 
contacting Dr. Pat Kendall at (970) 491-7334, by fax at (970) 491-7252 
or by e-mail to [email protected] or by registering on 
line at www.cahs.colostate.edu/fshn/foodsafety/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of This Listening Session

    The purpose of this Listening Session is to allow CSREES and ARS 
partners and stakeholders an opportunity to identify up to five food 
safety research priorities requiring increased attention over the next 
five years. All oral presentations should follow the following format:
    (1) Provide a clear description of up to five food safety 
priorities;
    (2) Describe the current state of affairs for each priority; and
    (3) Indicate where the organization/agency would like to be in five 
years in regard to each priority.
    ARS and CSREES are seeking comments on research priorities related 
to food safety topics in meat and poultry and fresh fruits and 
vegetables. Comments are solicited on such subjects including, but not 
limited to, pre- and post-harvest pathogen reduction, mycotoxins, 
residues, poisonous plants, good manufacturing practices, worker 
education and antibiotic resistance. The food safety research 
priorities identified by partners and stakeholders will provide 
valuable input for USDA food safety agencies. National Program Leaders 
from CSREES and ARS will conduct a series of follow-up meetings to 
develop national and agency-wide strategies for working with partners 
and stakeholders to help them achieve their 5-year food safety research 
goals.

Making Reservations To Attend This Listening Session

    When making a reservation for a 5-minute oral comment period, 
participants should provide a title for their presentation. More time 
may be available in the comment session, depending on the number of 
people wishing to make a presentation. Reservations will be confirmed 
on a first-come, first-served basis. The final 30 minutes of the 
Listening Session will be reserved for unscheduled participants wishing 
to make 5-minute presentations. Participants who require a sign 
language interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Dr. 
Pat Kendall as directed above.

[[Page 35842]]

    All those making oral presentations at the meeting are required to 
submit the text of their written presentations. Those unable to attend 
the meeting may also submit written presentations. Written 
presentations will be accepted through July 14, 2003. Written 
presentations may be submitted for the record by e-mailing them to 
[email protected] or by mailing them to: CSREES/ARS 
Listening Session; c/o Dr. Pat Kendall; Colorado State University; 
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition-1571; Fort Collins, CO 
80523-1571. Please provide three copies of the written presentations. 
Presentations also may be faxed to Dr. Kendall at (970) 491-7252.
    Information gathered from the Listening Session will be available 
for review on the CSREES Web page (http://www.reeusda.gov).

Background on Listening Sessions and CSREES Programs

    Section 102(b) of AREERA (7 U.S.C. 7612) requires that CSREES and 
ARS, in establishing priorities for agricultural research, extension, 
and education activities conducted or funded by CSREES and ARS, solicit 
and consider input and recommendations from persons who conduct or use 
agricultural research, extension, or education. As part of this ongoing 
effort, CSREES and ARS conduct listening sessions to solicit input and 
comments on the effectiveness of the existing agricultural research, 
education and extension programs administered by CSREES and ARS in 
meeting current and future challenges in the food and agricultural 
sciences.
    Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), 7 U.S.C. 3101, specifies that 
the purposes of agricultural research, extension, and education are to 
(1) enhance the competitiveness of the United States agriculture and 
food industry in an increasingly competitive world environment; (2) 
increase the long-term productivity of the United States agriculture 
and food industry while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource 
base on which rural America and the United States agricultural economy 
depend; (3) develop new uses and new products for agricultural 
commodities, such as alternative fuels, and develop new crops; (4) 
support agricultural research and extension to promote economic 
opportunity in rural communities and to meet the increasing demand for 
information and technology transfer throughout the United States 
agriculture industry; (5) improve risk management in the United States 
agriculture industry; (6) improve the safe production and processing 
of, and adding of value to, United States food and fiber resources 
using methods that maintain the balance between yield and environmental 
soundness; (7) support higher education in agriculture to give the next 
generation of Americans the knowledge, technology, and applications 
necessary to enhance the competitiveness of United States agriculture; 
and (8) maintain an adequate, nutritious, and safe supply of food to 
meet human nutritional needs and requirements.
    Section 1404 of NARETPA, 7 U.S.C. 3103, defines ``Food and 
Agricultural Sciences'' as meaning basic, applied, and developmental 
research, extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber, 
agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical and 
social sciences, including activities relating to the following: (1) 
Animal health, production, and well-being, (2) plant health and 
production, (3) animal and plant germplasm collection and preservation, 
(4) aquaculture, (5) food safety, (6) soil and water conservation and 
improvement, (7) forestry, horticulture, and range management, (8) 
nutritional sciences and promotion, (9) farm enhancement, including 
financial management, input efficiency, and profitability, (10) home 
economics, (11) rural human ecology, (12) youth development and 
agricultural education, including 4-H clubs, (13) expansion of domestic 
and international markets for agricultural commodities and products, 
including agricultural trade barrier identification and analysis, (14) 
information management and technology transfer related to agriculture, 
(15) biotechnology related to agriculture, and (16) the processing, 
distributing, marketing, and utilization of food and agricultural 
products.
    CSREES currently supports agricultural research, extension and 
education activities through a broad array of programs which includes 
both formula funded and competitively awarded grant programs. The 
formula funded programs include the agricultural research programs 
authorized under the Hatch Act (7 U.S.C. 361a et seq.) for the State 
Agricultural Experiment Stations; section 1445 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 
3222) for the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions including Tuskegee 
University, and West Virginia State College; the McIntire-Stennis 
Cooperative Forestry Act (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.); and section 1433 of 
NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3195) for the Animal Health and Disease Research 
program. The agricultural extension programs are funded under section 3 
of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) for the cooperative extension 
services at the 1862 Land-Grant Institutions; section 3(d) of the 
Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343(d)) for targeted, national programs; and 
section 1444 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3221) for the 1890 Land-Grant 
Institutions including Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State 
College. Section 534(a) of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status 
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note) authorizes funding for the 1994 
Institutions to strengthen their teaching programs in food and 
agricultural sciences.
    The CSREES competitive grant programs include the National Research 
Initiative authorized under section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, 
and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i); the Initiative for 
Future Agriculture and Food Systems authorized under section 401 of 
AREERA (7 U.S.C. 7621); the Integrated Research, Education, and 
Extension Competitive Grants Program authorized under section 406 of 
AREERA (7 U.S.C. 7626); the Food and Agricultural Sciences National 
Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants Program authorized under section 
1417(b)(6) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6)); the Higher Education 
Challenge Grants Program authorized under section 1417(b)(1) of NARETPA 
(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)); the Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge 
Grants Program authorized under section 1417(j) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 
3152(j)); and the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants 
Program authorized under section 1455 of NAREPTA (7 U.S.C. 3241). In 
addition, sections 535 and 536 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note) authorize competitive capacity 
building and research grant programs for the 1994 Institutions. Further 
information about CSREES grant programs is available through the CSREES 
Web page at http://www.reeusda.gov as the above list of CSREES grant 
programs is not exhaustive.
    A majority of the agricultural research, extension, and education 
activities funded by CSREES are conducted through the 1862 Land-Grant 
Institutions which were established under the First Morrill Act (7 
U.S.C. 301 et seq.); the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions under the Second 
Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.); and the 1994 Institutions under the 
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 
note).
    The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the in-house research 
agency of

[[Page 35843]]

the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Authority for ARS research 
is derived from the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862 (7 
U.S.C. 2201), which established the Department of Agriculture. The 
scope of USDA's agricultural research programs has been expanded and 
extended many times since the Department was first created. Today ARS 
has a workforce of approximately 8,000 employees including 2,000 
scientists representing a wide range of disciplines. ARS conducts 1,200 
research projects at over 100 locations across the country and at four 
overseas laboratories. The National Agricultural Library and the 
National Arboretum are also part of ARS.
    ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to 
agricultural problems of high national priority and provides 
information access and dissemination to (1) Ensure high-quality, safe 
food and other agricultural products, (2) assess the nutritional needs 
of americans, (3) sustain a competitive agricultural economy, (4) 
enhance the natural resource base and the environment, and (5) provide 
economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as 
a whole.
    To achieve these objectives, ARS research projects are divided into 
National Programs. Currently, ARS research is organized into 22 
National Programs which are described in detail on the ARS Web site at 
http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/. ARS also works to ensure the timely 
transfer of new knowledge and technologies to potential users. ARS 
seeks to broaden public understanding of the value of agriculture and 
agricultural research to ensure the continued primacy of the U.S. 
agriculture in the 21st century. Program direction related specifically 
to food safety programs can be found at http://www.nps.ars.usda.gov/programs/programs.htm?NPNUMBER=108.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of June, 2003.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 03-15275 Filed 6-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P