National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Division on Earth and Life Studies
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agricultural Research
Summary:
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) is seeking nominations for individuals across various disciplines to be part of an activity that will develop a compelling strategy for food and agricultural research for the next decade and beyond. Nominations are sought for transformational thinkers across the scientific enterprise (including but not exclusively limited to the agricultural sciences) to be considered for the executive committee. In addressing its statement of task, the executive committee will offer a strategic and ambitious view of the opportunities for fundamental and applied interdisciplinary research that is both grounded by a deep scientific understanding of food and agricultural challenges and elevated by the breakthrough potential of insights and tools from newly converging disciplines in the food and agriculture setting. If implemented, the strategy would stimulate transformational change in the food and agricultural system by catalyzing new research directions and partnerships, attracting new research talent, stimulating entrepreneurial activities, increasing funding opportunities, and ultimately opening new paths to a safe, healthful, and sustainable supply of food and fiber.
Statement of Task:
An executive committee, assisted by science panels, will be appointed to lead the development of an innovative strategy for the future of food and agricultural research, answering the following questions:
- What are the greatest challenges that food and agriculture are likely to face in the coming decades?
- What are the greatest foreseeable opportunities for advances in food and agricultural science?
- What fundamental knowledge gaps exist that limit the ability of scientists to respond to these challenges as well as take advantage of the opportunities?
- What general areas of research should be advanced and supported to fill these knowledge gaps?
In the process of addressing these questions, the committee will gather insights from scientists and engineers in the traditional fields of science in food and agriculture, seek ideas from scientists in other disciplines whose knowledge, tools, and techniques might be applied to food and agricultural challenges, and organize interdisciplinary dialogues to uncover novel, potentially transformational, approaches to advancing food and agricultural science.
At the end of its exploration, the executive committee will produce a consensus report recommending future research directions in food and agriculture. The committee will frame its recommendations in the context of the importance and relevance of the science to the public’s interest in the benefits of catalyzing knowledge creation--a sustainable food and fiber supply, better public health, a strengthened natural resource base, and the creation of new economic opportunities and jobs. Prior to its finalization, the report will be anonymously peer-reviewed, and revised by the executive committee before release to the sponsors and the public.
Sponsors:
Supporters of Agriculture Research (SoAR), Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), and U.S. Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Deadline:
Please submit nominations by March 22, 2017