[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43637-43638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18535]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Stakeholder Listening Opportunity for Priorities in Research, 
Education and Extension

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of listening sessions and stakeholder feedback 
opportunities.

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SUMMARY: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture announces its 
stakeholder listening initiative ``NIFA Listens: Investing in Science 
to Transform Lives.'' This stakeholder listening opportunity informs 
the research, extension and education priorities of NIFA, which has the 
mission of investing in and advancing agricultural research, education 
and extension to solve societal challenges. For the purpose of this 
opportunity, Agriculture is defined broadly and includes research, 
extension, and education in food, fiber, forestry, range, nutritional 
and social sciences, including food safety and positive youth 
development. NIFA's investments in transformative science directly 
support the long-term prosperity and global pre-eminence of U.S. 
agriculture. This listening opportunity allows stakeholders to provide 
feedback on the following questions: ``When considering all of 
agriculture, what is the greatest challenge that should be addressed 
through NIFA's research, education, and extension?'', ``In your field, 
what is the most-needed breakthrough in science/technology that would 
advance your agricultural enterprise?'' and, ``What is your top 
priority in food and agricultural research, extension, or education 
that NIFA should address?''
    This effort to obtain input regarding the challenges, needed 
breakthroughs, and priorities will be carried out through online and 
in-person

[[Page 43638]]

submission mechanisms. Stakeholder input received from the two 
mechanisms is treated equally. The challenges, needed breakthroughs, 
and priorities identified by this effort will be evaluated in 
conjunction with input from NIFA staff. This information will be 
critical for NIFA's evaluation of existing science emphasis areas and 
to identify investment opportunities and gaps in the current portfolio 
of programs. The information obtained through this iterative analysis 
and synthesis will help to ensure the strategic positioning and 
relevancy of NIFA's investments in advancing agricultural research, 
education and extension.

DATES: 
    (A) Online Input: Submission of online stakeholder input to the 
target questions will be open upon publishing of this Notice through 5 
p.m. Eastern time November 30, 2018.
    (B) In-person Listening Sessions: Four listening sessions, each a 
full day, will be organized throughout the United States to obtain 
input from all stakeholders, including small institutions, local 
business and other stakeholder groups. The listening sessions will take 
place on October 11, 2018, October 18, 2018, October 25, 2018, and 
November 1, 2018. Each session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and is scheduled 
to end no later than 5:00 p.m. Each session will include a presentation 
of the goals and background information on NIFA programs, followed by 
comments from stakeholders. Each registered speaker will receive 5 
minutes to share their comments with the Agency. If time allows after 
all comments from registered speakers are made, unscheduled speakers 
will be allowed 5 minutes to present their comments to the Agency. The 
length of the sessions will be adjusted according to numbers of 
participants seeking to provide input. All parties interested in 
attending an in-person listening session must RSVP no later than one 
week prior to the scheduled session. These sessions will be webcast and 
transcribed. Information about registering for the in-person session, 
providing written comments and viewing the webcast can be found at 
https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens.
    Registration: The website, https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens, 
includes instructions on submitting written comments and registering to 
attend or speak at the in-person listening sessions. All parties 
interested in attending an in-person listening session must RSVP no 
later than one week prior to the scheduled session. The number of 
attendees and oral commenters is limited due to time and space 
constraints (see below). Oral commenter slots will be allotted on a 
first-come, first-served basis. All interested stakeholders, regardless 
of attendance, are welcome to submit written comments.
    Comments: Written comments are due by 5 p.m. Eastern time November 
30, 2018. Written comments must be submitted electronically through 
https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens or emailed to 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: The in-person listening sessions will take place at 
conference facilities in Hartford, CT (October 11, 2018), New Orleans, 
LA (October 18, 2018), Minneapolis, MN (October 25, 2018), and 
Albuquerque, NM (November 1, 2018).
    All parties interested in attending an in-person listening session 
must RSVP no later than one week prior to the scheduled session they 
wish to attend.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Haidet, Program Specialist, 
NIFA, at 202-401-6617, email [email protected], or visit 
https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens for detailed information about 
providing written comments, joining the in-person sessions remotely, or 
registering to speak at an in-person session.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The science priority-setting process at NIFA 
involves soliciting stakeholder input on agricultural research, 
education and extension needs, obtaining input from NIFA's science 
staff who are informed through interactions with scientific 
communities, and evaluating existing programs to identify critical gaps 
in the current portfolio of programs in order to address challenges in 
U.S. agriculture.
    This listening effort will focus on answers to the following 
questions, ``When considering all of agriculture, what is the greatest 
challenge that should be addressed through NIFA's research, education, 
and extension?'', ``In your field, what is the most-needed breakthrough 
in science/technology that would advance your agricultural 
enterprise?'', and ``What is your top priority in food and agricultural 
research, extension, or education that NIFA should address?''
    NIFA welcomes stakeholder input from any group or individual 
interested in agricultural research, extension or education priorities 
for NIFA. NIFA is eager to listen to stakeholder's comments on the 
challenges, needed breakthroughs, and priorities, solutions and 
opportunities that will facilitate long-term sustainable agricultural 
production, research, education and extension. Agriculture in this 
context is defined broadly and includes research, extension, and 
education in food, fiber, forestry, range, nutritional and social 
sciences, including food safety and positive youth development. This 
listening effort will focus on the agricultural science that NIFA 
invests in, but not on NIFA processes or procedures.
    All parties interested in attending an in-person listening session 
must RSVP no later than one week prior to the scheduled session they 
will attend. Abstracts from in-person speakers can be submitted upon 
registration via https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens.
    Written comments by all interested stakeholders are welcomed 
through 5 p.m. Eastern time, November 30, 2018. All input will become a 
part of the official record and available on the NIFA website, https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens.

    Done at Washington, DC, this day of August 1, 2018.
Thomas Shanower,
Acting Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2018-18535 Filed 8-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P