[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38482-38483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15872]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 130 / Tuesday, July 8, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38482]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of the Chief Economist; Global Climate Change, Food 
Security, and the U.S. Food System

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Request for nominations of expert peer reviewers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites the public 
to nominate scientific experts to be considered as peer reviewers for 
the external peer review of the draft document entitled, ``Global 
Climate Change, Food Security, and the U.S. Food System.'' The draft 
document was prepared by USDA and a team of multi-institutional experts 
to support the National Climate Assessment. The draft document is a 
technical analysis of the issues, and policy considerations are outside 
its scope.

DATES: Responses to this notice should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. 
Eastern Time on August 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Any interested person or organization may nominate 
scientific experts to be considered as a peer reviewer. Self-
nominations will be accepted. Nominations may be submitted 
electronically or by overnight/priority mail service. Nominations may 
not be submitted via the U.S. Postal Service. Nominations must include 
all nominee information outlined in Section II of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
     Email: [email protected], Subject Line: Peer-Review 
Nomination.
     Overnight/Priority/Courier: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Climate Change Program Office, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Room 4407, Washington, DC 20250.
     Mail: Nominations cannot be accepted via the U.S. Postal 
Service.
    Instructions: Please see Supplementary Information II below for 
more information and necessary materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning nomination 
receipt should be directed to Margaret Walsh of the Climate Change 
Program Office via Email: [email protected] or by telephone 202-720-
9978.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

 I. Information on the Draft Documents for Global Climate Change, Food 
Security, and the U.S. Food System

    This report will be published as a USDA technical document. 
Publication is anticipated in the Fall of 2015. Connections between 
weather, climate, and food security have long been recognized. This 
report evaluates the possible changes to each element of the food 
system and food security as a result of changes in climate based on 
information in the peer-reviewed scientific and economic literature. 
Temperature and precipitation patterns, as well as changes in weed, 
pest, and disease prevalence are already occurring under a changing 
climate. These effects are expected to result in transformations in 
ecosystem functioning and in the economic viability of agriculture in 
many regions of the world, as well as in the refrigeration requirements 
of food products, transportation patterns, and other effects. The U.S. 
is currently a major food importer and exporter, and provides a safety 
net for many food insecure nations. Global changes both in climate and 
in food security are therefore likely to influence the U.S. food system 
through altered production decisions, the goods available to consumers, 
and their prices.
    The Global Climate Change, Food Security, and the U.S. Food System 
report will examine how a changing climate may affect global food 
security today, in 25 years, and in 100 years. The report, to be 
published by USDA as a technical input to the National Climate 
Assessment, will provide a review of current literature and will report 
on analyses that illuminate the interactions between climate and food 
security. Food security is a social and economic concept, and its 
relationship with agriculturally relevant weather dynamics, and 
ultimately climate change, is complex. The report will explore these 
connections, discuss the implications of a changing climate for food 
security and food systems globally, and present implications for U.S. 
producers and consumers.

II. How To Submit Nominations for Peer Reviewers

    Expertise Sought: USDA is seeking candidates who are nationally 
and/or internationally recognized scientific experts to serve as 
external peer reviewers. Nominees should possess and demonstrate 
background knowledge and experience in one or more of the following 
areas: Food security; food systems; agricultural production; economic 
access to food; food utilization; stability of food availability, 
access, or utilization; climate change; food production; agricultural 
employment; food storage; food transportation; food processing, food 
packaging, food retailing, food consumption and food disposal. 
Reviewers may not be authors or technical contributors to the draft 
report. Qualified experts representing a range of educational 
institutions, international institutions, non-governmental/non-profit 
organizations, private industry, independent scientific institutions, 
and the Federal service are desired for the final review panel. No 
travel will be required, but nominees must be available between 
September 18, 2014 and November 7, 2014 to comprehensively review the 
250 (estimated)-page draft report. A form will be provided to reviewers 
for comments and proposed edits.
    Selection Criteria: Selection criteria for individuals nominated to 
serve as external peer reviewers of the draft documents include the 
following: (1) Demonstrated expertise through relevant peer reviewed 
publications, (2) professional accomplishments and recognition by 
professional societies, (3) demonstrated ability to work constructively 
and effectively toward scientific consensus, and (4) willingness to 
commit adequate time for a thorough review of the draft document 
commencing in September, 2014.
    Required Nominee Information: To receive full consideration, the 
following information should be provided in the nomination materials: 
(1) Contact information for the person making the nomination (self-
nominations are acceptable); (2) contact information for the nominee; 
(3) the disciplinary and specific areas of expertise of the nominee; 
(4) the nominee's curriculum

[[Page 38483]]

vita; and (5) a biographical sketch of the nominee indicating current 
position, educational background, past and current research activities, 
recent relevant service, and other comments on the relevance of the 
nominee's expertise to this peer review topic. Compensation is not 
available, in order to ensure an unbiased review process.
    Selection Process: An interagency panel will select from the 
available nominees according to the selection criteria presented above. 
An independent search for candidates to assemble a balanced group 
representing the expertise needed to fully evaluate the draft document 
may also occur. Up to eight reviewers will be selected who best provide 
expertise spanning the multiple areas listed above and, to the extent 
feasible, best provide a balance of perspectives.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD).

Joseph W. Glauber,
Chief Economist.
[FR Doc. 2014-15872 Filed 7-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P