[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]
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