USDA, INVESTMENT IN AG RESEARCH FEEDS FAMILIES AND FUELS THE FUTURE

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Every dollar invested in agricultural research generates $20 for the broader U.S. economy.

MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES & STRENGTHEN THE BIOECONOMY

PROMOTE HEALTHY FAMILIES

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

MAKE SURE OUR FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT

INSPIRE FUTURE AG SCIENTISTS

STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES & THE RURAL-URBAN INTERFACE

BREAKTHROUGHS IN RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE

1 INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

With climate variability, extreme weather conditions can make it difficult for farmers to meet consumer food demands with sufficient quantities of low-cost products. To address these challenges, USDA-funded researchers studying wheat and barley1 from 2005-2017 have developed new varieties adapted to changing environments. These varieties represent approximately 15 percent of the wheat harvested and 4 percent of the barley harvested in the United States, with respective production values of $1.8 billion and $61 million.

The rapidly increasing population that is projected to reach nearly 10 billion by the year 2050 is more than doubling global food demands. To meet these demands, breeders are using genomics to accelerate the develop-ment of high-performing, resilient crops

and livestock.

•USDA-funded researchers2 are expanding the genomic toolkit in dairy cattle

breeding by identifying genetic markers for milk yield and health. These tools are already accelerating the rate of increase in milk production by 50-100%, with even more rapid gains in traditionally hard-to-improve traits such as fertility and lifespan.

• USDA researchers and international partners3 identified molecular markers for cooking time in common bean. Breeders used these tools

to develop a new bean variety that cooks in one to two hours less than the original variety.

As a result, more protein is retained in the beans, less firewood is required to cook the beans, and less carbon is emitted during the cooking process.

2 MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHEN THE

BIOECONOMY

Increasingly variable weather and climate conditions make it increas-ingly difficult for farmers and foresters reliably produce food and fuel. USDA’s 10 regional climate hubs partner and collaborate with farmers, ranchers, and other government agencies to:

• Gather climate projections and identify resource vulnerabilities

• Deliver information and technologies to natural resource and agricultural managers

• Inform agricultural management decisions and reduce risk

How can data drive decision-making on the farm? Example: Satellite data can drive decision making for farmers responding to drought.

Farmers need weather data—like drought warnings—as early as possible to make critical decisions that may make or break their crop yields and food animal production. Researchers at the USDA Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab are using satellite data to inform farmers about drought at early stages. Satellites transmit time-sensitive imagery and other data to show drought impacts on agricultural lands.

What can be accomplished with a billion dry tons of sustainable biomass? The USDA’s Billion Ton Bioeconomy envisions a future with increased economic activity based on domestic, renewable resources. As a part of this vision, scientists have long sought to transform cellulose, the main component of wood and the most abundant material in nature, into sustainable biofuel. A USDA-funded pri-vate-public partnership4 recently accomplished this feat, fueling a commercial flight powered in part by 1,080 gallons of renewable fuel made from sticks and twigs salvaged after commercial timber harvest.

3 PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE

GENERATIONS

The existence and health of pollinator communities is essential for many crops. Farms generate $29 billion from insect-pollinated crops. The productivity of these crops are threatened, however, by

historically high, unexpected losses of honey bees. USDA-funded research has shown that diverse habitats promote pollinator health. Armed with this knowledge, farmers and beekeepers can adjust landscape composition to ensure healthy pollinators and produce fruitful crops.

4 PROMOTE HEALTHY FAMILIES

Food consumption surveys conducted by USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveal a dramatic shift away from home-prepared foods to foods prepared at sit-down restaurants, fast-food establish-ments, and other locations. Foods prepared outside of the home are

typically less nutritious than home- prepared food. Following the guidance of social science and behavioral research, USDA is encouraging parents to make healthy eating a family affair by controlling their children’s eating habits and involving their children in meal planning, vegetable

selection, and food preparation.

5 MAKE SURE OUR FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT

Noroviruses—one of the most common causes of stomach flu—annually cause approximately 5 million cases of foodborne illness costing

the U.S. more than $2 billion per year. USDA-funded scientists5 have successfully cultivated human noroviruses outside of the human body, which previously had not been possible. This breakthrough will enable scientists to better understand the norovirus, which will ultimately lead to new viral control strategies, mitigate food contamination, and reduce associated healthcare costs.

6 INSPIRE TOMORROW’S AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS

Over the next five years, food, agricultural, natural resources, and environmental sciences are protect-ed to generate nearly 58,000 new jobs. However, only 35,000 students will graduate from U.S. colleges of agriculture— a 40% shortfall in qualified workers6. USDA therefore invests in developing the next generation of scientists in these fields and is

committed to building a diverse workforce that represents broader U.S. demographics. For example, the Hispanic Serving Institutions

(HSI) Education Grant program strengthens the educational capacities of HSIs and offers students experiential learning opportunities. Through this program, NIFA also partners with ARS to offer 125 summer internships every year that enable students to work under the supervision of an ARS mentor on a groundbreaking project.

7 STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE

RURAL-URBAN INTERFACE

Strong local and regional food systems increase access to fresh foods in both rural and urban areas, reducing hunger in at-risk communities. These food systems also create jobs throughout rural America, supporting small and mid-sized farmers and revitalizing rural economies. In 2014, industry estimates indicated that 160,000 farms are involved in food sales and that the value of the local foods market was nearly $12 billion. In 2016, NASS launched the Local Food Marketing Practices Survey8, the first-ever survey to provide official benchmark data on the U.S. local food sector. These data will be used to identify future needs and inform decisions and programs that support local and regional food systems.

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES: 1Triticeae Coordinated Agricultural Project. www.triticeaecap.org | 2Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes. www.faang.org | 3Bean Coordinated Agricultural Project. www.beancap.org | 4Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance. Nararenewables.org. | 5Norovirus Collaborative for Outreach, Research, and Education. Norocore.ncsu.edu 6Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment—United States, 2015-2020. www.purdue.edu/usda/employment. | 7Local Food Marketing Practices Survey. www.agcensus.usda.gov | *USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission area is comprised of Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and Forest Service (FS) Research and Development. | Infographic editor: Stephanie Pearl, USDA/NIFA | Infographic designer: Stephanie Engle, USDA/NIFA | January 2017

HIGHLIGHTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE REE ACTION PLAN

FOR MORE GO TO WWW.REE.USDA.GOV

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

USDA, REE INVESTMENT IN AG RESEARCH FEEDS FAMILIES AND FUELS THE FUTURE

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

Every dollar invested in agricultural research generates $20 for the broader U.S. economy.

BREAKTHROUGHS IN RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE

1 INCREASE AGRICULTURAL • USDA researchers and international partners3 Farmers need weather data—like drought historically high, unexpected losses of honey the U.S. more than $2 billion STRENGTHEN RURAL PRODUCTIVITY identified molecular markers for cooking time warnings—as early as possible to make critical bees. USDA-funded research has shown that per year. USDA-funded COMMUNITIES AND THE

in common bean. Breeders used these tools decisions that may make or break their crop diverse habitats promote pollinator health. scientists5 have successfully 7RURAL

-URBAN INTERFACEWith climate variability, extreme weather to develop a new bean variety yields and food animal production. Researchers Armed with this knowledge, farmers and cultivated human noroviruses outside of conditions can make it difficult for farmers to Strong local and regional food systems that cooks in one to two hours at the USDA Hydrology and Remote Sensing beekeepers can adjust landscape the human body, which previously had not meet consumer food demands with sufficient increase access to fresh foods in both rural less than the original variety. Lab are using satellite data to inform farmers composition to ensure healthy been possible. This breakthrough will enable quantities of low-cost products. To address and urban areas, reducing hunger in at-risk

As a result, more protein is retained in about drought at early stages. Satellites pollinators and produce fruitful scientists to better understand the norovirus, these challenges, USDA-funded researchers communities. These food systems also create 1 the beans, less firewood is required to transmit time-sensitive imagery and other data crops. which will ultimately lead to new viral control studying wheat and barley from 2005-2017 jobs throughout rural America,

cook the beans, and less carbon is emitted to show drought impacts on agricultural lands. strategies, mitigate food contamination, have developed new varieties adapted to 4 supporting small and mid-sized

during the cooking process. PROMOTE and reduce associated healthcare costs.changing environments. These varieties What can be accomplished with farmers and revitalizing rural

2 HEALTHY FAMILIES

represent approximately 15 percent of the a billion dry tons of sustainable economies. In 2014, industry MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES INSPIRE TOMORROW’S wheat harvested and 4 percent of the barley biomass? The USDA’s Billion Ton Food consumption surveys conducted by 6 estimates indicated that 160,000 farms are AND STRENGTHEN THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTSharvested in the United States, with respective Bioeconomy envisions a future with increased USDA and U.S. Department of Health and involved in food sales and that the value of BIOECONOMYproduction values of $1.8 billion and economic activity based on domestic, Human Services reveal a dramatic shift Over the next five years, food, the local foods market was nearly $12 billion. $61 million. Increasingly variable weather and renewable resources. As a part of this vision, away from home-prepared foods agricultural, natural resources, and In 2016, NASS launched the Local Food

climate conditions make it increas- scientists have long sought to transform to foods prepared at sit-down environmental sciences are protect- Marketing Practices Survey8, the first-ever ingly difficult for farmers and cellulose, the main component of wood and restaurants, fast-food establish- ed to generate nearly 58,000 new survey to provide official benchmark data on

The rapidly increasing population that is foresters reliably produce food and fuel. the most abundant material in nature, into ments, and other locations. jobs. However, only 35,000 students will the U.S. local food sector. These data will be projected to reach nearly 10 billion by the USDA’s 10 regional climate hubs partner sustainable biofuel. A USDA-funded pri- Foods prepared outside of the home are graduate from U.S. colleges of agriculture— used to identify future needs and inform year 2050 is more than doubling global food and collaborate with farmers, ranchers, vate-public partnership4 recently accomplished typically less nutritious than home- a 40% shortfall in qualified workers6. USDA decisions and programs that support local demands. To meet these demands, breeders and other government agencies to: this feat, fueling a commercial flight powered prepared food. Following the guidance therefore invests in developing the next and regional food systems.are using genomics to accelerate the develop- in part by 1,080 gallons of renewable fuel of social science and behavioral research, • eneration of scientists in these fields and is e projections and identify gGather climat ment of high-performing, resilient crops made from sticks and twigs salvaged after USDA is encouraging parents to make committed to building a diverse resource vulnerabilitiesand livestock. commercial timber harvest. healthy eating a family affair by controlling workforce that represents broader

• Deliver information and technologies to their children’s eating habits and involving U.S. demographics. For example, •USDA-funded researchers2 natural resource and agricultural managersare expanding the genomic 3

HIGHLIGHTED PROTECT OUR NATURAL their children in meal planning, vegetable the Hispanic Serving Institutions ACCOMPLISHMENTS RESOURCES FOR FUTURE selection, and food preparation. ducation Grt • Inform agricultural management (HSI) E ant program strengthens oolkit in dairy cattle

decisions and reduce risk GENERATIONS

5 IN SUPPORT OF THE

the educational capacities of HSIs and offers breeding by identifying genetic markers for MAKE SURE OUR FOOD REE ACTION PLANstudents experiential learning opportunities. milk yield and health. These tools are already How can data drive The existence and health of IS SAFE TO EAT Through this program, accelerating the rate of NIFA also partners increase in milk pollinator communities is essential FOR MORE GO TO decision-making on the

production by 50-100%, with even more rapid Noroviruses—one of the most common causes with ARS to offer 125 summer internships WWW.REE.USDA.GOVfarm? Example: Satellite for many crops. Farms generate $29 billion

that enable students to work gains in traditionally hard-to-improve traits every yeardata can drive decision from insect-pollinated crops. The productivity of stomach flu—annually cause approximately

under the supervision of an ARS mentor such as fertility and lifespan. making for farmers responding to drought. of these crops are threatened, however, by 5 million cases of foodborne illness costing on a groundbreaking project.

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES: 1Triticeae Coordinated Agricultural Project. www.triticeaecap.org | 2Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes. www.faang.org | 3Bean Coordinated Agricultural Project. www.beancap.org | 4Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance. Nararenewables.org. | 5Norovirus Collaborative for Outreach, Research, and Education. Norocore.ncsu.edu 6Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment—United States, 2015-2020. www.purdue.edu/usda/employment. | 7Local Food Marketing Practices Survey. www.agcensus.usda.gov | *USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Mission area is comprised of Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Economic Research Service (ERS), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). REE coordinates with Forest Service Research and Development (FS R&D). | Infographic editor: Stephanie Pearl, USDA/NIFA | Infographic designer: Stephanie Engle, USDA/NIFA | January 2017

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

MEET CLIMATE CHALLENGES & STRENGTHEN THE BIOECONOMY

PROMOTE HEALTHY FAMILIES

PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

MAKE SURE OUR FOOD IS SAFE TO EAT

INSPIRE FUTURE AG SCIENTISTS

STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES & THE RURAL-URBAN INTERFACE