USDA casts vision for scientific initiatives through 2025

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the publication of the USDA Science Blueprint, which will serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s vision for and continued commitment to scientific research.

“USDA’s agricultural research is vital to helping our farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters increase efficiency and productivity, and our science agencies play an integral role in setting forth new visions for innovation through their work,” said Secretary Perdue. “As the Department strives to anticipate and meet the future needs of our customers, the USDA Science Blueprint will serve as a roadmap to guide our scientific collaboration over the next five years across the Department and with our partnering research organizations.”

“USDA has a long history of putting its scientific discoveries and knowledge into practice,” said Scott Hutchins, who leads USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area. “By prioritizing our research initiatives around these themes, it will enable us to best conduct critical, long-term, broad-scale science and spur innovation throughout our nation’s agricultural enterprise, natural resource base, and food systems. We are committed to putting science to work for the American public. We will always strive for scientific excellence and integrity in support of America’s agriculture.”

Hutchins first announced the publication during remarks to the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research conference.

The USDA Science Blueprint provides a foundation for focused leadership and direction in advancing USDA’s scientific mission through 2025. It lays out five overarching themes for research, education, and economics, each with established objectives, strategies, and evidence-building measures. The five Program Themes include:

1. Sustainable Ag Intensification;

2. Ag Climate Adaptation;

3. Food and Nutrition Translation;

4. Value-Added Innovations; and

5. Ag Science Policy Leadership.

The USDA Science Blueprint includes the four REE mission area agencies—the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture—along with the Office of the Chief Scientist and the science arms of the U.S. Forest Service, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

USDA continues to strengthen strategic coordination of our science portfolio to better inform the Department and the federal government’s decisions, policies, and regulations. Together, USDA’s science agencies serve our nation’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, and consumers by delivering timely and relevant scientific innovations and knowledge.