[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22124-22125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08402]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture


Solicitation of Stakeholder Input for Urban, Indoor, and Other 
Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education, and Extension 
Initiative

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

ACTION: Request for written stakeholder input.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is 
requesting written stakeholder input on the Urban, Indoor and other 
Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension 
Initiative. The purpose of this Notice is to assist NIFA in developing 
the fiscal year 2020 Request for Applications for the Urban, Indoor and 
other Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and 
Extension Initiative.

DATES: Written comments on this Notice must be received by June 22, 
2020, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NIFA-2020-0001, 
through

[[Page 22125]]

the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Instructions: All comments received will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bradley Rein, Agricultural Division 
Director; Phone: 202-445-5442; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIFA is moving forward to implement Section 
7212 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. This section 
``authorizes the Agency, in consultation with the Urban Agriculture and 
Innovative Production Advisory Committee established under section 
222(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, to 
make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension 
activities for the purposes of facilitating the development of urban, 
indoor, and other emerging agricultural production, harvesting, 
transportation, aggregation, packaging, distribution and markets, 
including:
    (1) Assessing and developing strategies to remediate contaminated 
sites;
    (2) determining and developing the best production management and 
integrated pest management practices;
    (3) identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, and 
economic factors that contribute to successful urban, indoor, and other 
emerging agricultural production;
    (4) analyzing the means by which new agricultural sites are 
determined, including an evaluation of soil quality, condition of a 
building, or local community needs;
    (5) exploring new technologies that minimize energy, lighting 
systems, water, and other inputs for increased food production;
    (6) examining building material efficiencies and structural 
upgrades for the purpose of optimizing growth of agricultural products;
    (7) developing new crop varieties and agricultural products to 
connect to new markets; or
    (8) examining the impacts of crop exposure to urban elements on 
environmental quality and food safety.
    It also authorizes the Agency to give priority consideration to 
grant proposals that involve--
    (1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or
    (2) States or regions with a high concentration of or significant 
interest in urban farms, rooftop farms, and indoor production 
facilities.
    The intent of this Notice is to gather stakeholder input on the 
most urgent and highest priorities for research, education and 
extension (REE) funding authorized under the Urban, Indoor and other 
Emerging Agricultural Production Research, Education and Extension 
Initiative. NIFA seeks written feedback in response to the following 
two questions:
    (1) Considering agricultural production through marketing; which 
phase has the greatest and most urgent REE needs in developing urban 
and indoor agriculture?

(a) Agricultural Production
(b) Harvesting
(c) Transportation
(d) Aggregation
(e) Packaging
(f) Distribution
(g) Markets

    (2) Of the eight priorities listed below, which priority has the 
greatest and most urgent REE need in developing urban and indoor 
agriculture that is not being adequately addressed in other Federal REE 
programs:
    (a) Assessing and developing strategies to remediate contaminated 
sites;
    (b) determining and developing the best production management and 
integrated pest management practices;
    (c) identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, and 
economic factors that contribute to successful urban, indoor, and other 
emerging agricultural production;
    (d) analyzing the means by which new agricultural sites are 
determined, including an evaluation of soil quality, condition of a 
building, or local community needs;
    (e) exploring new technologies that minimize energy, lighting 
systems, water, and other inputs for increased food production;
    (f) examining building material efficiencies and structural 
upgrades for the purpose of optimizing growth of agricultural products;
    (g) developing new crop varieties and agricultural products to 
connect to new markets; or
    (h) examining the impacts of crop exposure to urban elements on 
environmental quality and food safety.
    NIFA invests in Urban Agriculture research and education through 
its Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program, AFRI 
Foundational Knowledge of Agriculture Production Systems, Specialty 
Crop Research Initiative, AFRI Small and Medium Sized Farms, Community 
Food Projects, and the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension 
Initiative. Information on these programs and how they help address 
urban, indoor and emerging agricultural production priorities can be 
found in NIFA's website through the following address: https://nifa.usda.gov/program/uie-ag.

Stephen L. Censky,
Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2020-08402 Filed 4-20-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P