Sanah Baig
Deputy Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics
2023 Annual Meeting
of the ORAU
Council of
Sponsoring
Institutions
March 6, 2023

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
Simon Liu
Administrator
Agricultural Research Service
Spiro Stefanou
Administrator
Economic Research Service
Hubert Hamer
Administrator
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Dionne Toombs
Acting Director
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Deirdra Chester
Director
Office of the Chief Scientist
REE LEADERSHIP
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Chavonda Jacobs-Young
Under Secretary & USDA Chief Scientist
Research, Education, and Economics
USDA LEADERSHIP
Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
Kevin Shea
Acting Deputy Secretary
of Agriculture
Sanah Baig
Deputy Under Secretary
Research, Education, and Economics

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation” 3
MISSION OF REE
REE is dedicated to creating a safe, sustainable, competitive, and equitable U.S. food and fiber system.
We support American farmers, ranchers, and foresters and help build stronger communities, families,
and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education.
Office of the
Chief Scientist
Agricultural
Research
Service
National
Institute of
Food and
Agriculture
Economic
Research
Service
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
USDA IS BUILDING U.S. AGRICULTURE BACK BETTER
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Making USDA
a Great Place
to Work
Advancing Racial
Justice, Equity,
Opportunity,
& Rural Prosperity
Tackling Food &
Nutrition
Insecurity
Creating More,
Better, & New
Market
Opportunities
Addressing
Climate Change

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
REE PRIORITIES
5
Advancing Precision Nutrition
& Nutrition Security
Advancing Research
Equity through Partnerships
Building Science Infrastructure
& Casting Vision for the Future

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation” 6
HISTORIC LANDMARK INVESTMENTS
American Rescue Plan
Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law
Inflation
Reduction Act

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
BUILDING A DIVERSE AG WORKFORCE
7
NIFA
• NEXTGEN program - $250M investment
• AFRI Education & Workforce Development Program
• Tribal Colleges Research Grant Program - $7.5M
• Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program-$12M
ARS
• Converted 67% of its 1890s graduating scholars
ERS
• Partnership with Agricultural & Applied Economics
Association - $400K

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) INVESTMENTS
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Chart 1: USDA ERS Chart 2: USDA ERS

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
• The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, also called
AIM for Climate
• Co-led by the U.S. & United Arab Emirates
• Raised $8 billion in global investments
• Expanded to 300+ partners worldwide
• AIM for Climate Summit, May 8-10, Washington D.C.
• Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
• Commitment of $3 billion to support 140 projects
• Projects involve over 60,000 farms & 25M acres
• Involves 100 Universities, including 30+ MSI’s
• President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative
• 40% of benefits from climate & environment
programs directed to underserved communities
USDA CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES
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USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
USDA CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH
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• Advancements in Biotechnology, Biomanufacturing,
& the Bioeconomy
• President Biden’s Executive Order
• Bioproduct Pilot Program - $9.5M, 3 projects:
• SoyLei Innovations (& Iowa State University) - $4.6M
• Virginia Tech - $2.4M
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - $2.5M
• USDA Climate Hubs
• Links science and management, helping to bring
USDA research and resources into practice
• Visit: www.climatehubs.usda.gov

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
REE CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH
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• ARS Scientists Are Researching:
• Simulation models for how crop & animal production
respond to climate change
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Increasing soil carbon & methane sequestration
• Breeding drought-, flood- and pest-resistant crops
• NASS + NRCS Partnership:
• Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey
• NIFA AFRI Grant Programs:
• Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS)
• Foundational and Applied Science

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
NIFA'S AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE (AFRI) - OVERVIEW
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• Agriculture's Flagship Competitive Grants Program
• Originally authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, most recently
reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill at $700 million
• Appropriated at $455 million in the FY2023 Consolidated
Appropriations Act
• Aligned with the 6 Farm Bill established priorities
• Three Requests for Applications (RFAs)
• Foundational and Applied Science*
• Education and Workforce Development*
• Sustainable Agricultural Systems
*Published as 2-year RFAs

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
NIFA'S AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE - TYPES OF GRANTS
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Types of Grants:
• Standard Grants (amounts specified in RFA's)
• Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) (up to $10M)
• Conference Grants (rolling deadline, up to $50,000)
• Food and Agriculture Science Enhancement
(FASE) Grants
• Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants
• Strengthening Grants
• New Investigator Grants

USDA Science
“Cultivating Scientific Innovation”
NIFA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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Learn more about NIFA’s funding
opportunities by…
• Bookmarking NIFA’s Upcoming
RFA Calendar
• Subscribing to the NIFA Update
• Contacting a National Program
Leader
• Becoming a Peer Review Panelist
Visit:
nifa.usda.gov
Subscribe!

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THANK YOU!
Sanah Baig
Email: Sanah.Baig@usda.gov
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@USDAScience