Research, Extension and Education
In comparison to the enormous opportunity that sustainable agriculture represents for farmers and rural communities, federal investment in sustainable agriculture research and extension has been miniscule. Without robust funding for public research that promotes ecologically-based production systems, scientific and technical innovation is stifled and U.S. farmers and ranchers are unable to fully participate in and benefit from emerging markets for sustainably-produced foods.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has been working to secure increased resources for sustainable agriculture research and extension. Significant gains were made in the 2008 Farm Bill to increase research and extension funding for sustainable and organic agriculture, public plant and animal breeding, renewable energy and conservation, minority and beginning farmer outreach and development, agricultural and rural entrepreneurship, and food systems and public health. Despite the gains, however, there is still a long way to go to ensure farmers have the knowledge and information they need to implement and maximize their sustainable agriculture systems.
NSAC will continue to push to ensure the nation’s investment in agricultural research and extension supports sustainable agriculture systems, including organic and other ecologically-based production systems, and involves farmers and ranchers directly in research as primary investigators and beneficiaries.
Priorities for the Research, Extension and Education Committee for 2011
Foster Sustainability through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, including:
- Small and Medium-Size Family Farm Prosperity/Agriculture of the Middle
- Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
- Rural Development and Rural Entrepreneurship
- Conventional Plant and Animal Breeding
- Sustainable and Organic Production Systems
- Local/Regional Food Systems
For information on NSAC’s appropriations campaign priorities, check our annual appropriations page.
Recent Actions Taken by NSAC:
- NSAC joined on a sign-on letter submitted by members of the AFRI Coalition and other groups, advocating for level funding for AFRI in the agricultural appropriations conference session, November 4, 2011.
- NSAC, along with 38 other organizations, submitted a letter on October 27, 2011 to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in support of mandatory funding for farm bill research programs that support beginning farmers, organic and specialty crop producers.
- NSAC joined on a sign-on letter submitted by the AFRI Coalition, urging leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to maintain funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative in their Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bills, September 23, 2011.
- NSAC and several other member organizations hosted a farmer fly in on July 20, 2011, to advocate for funding for sustainable agriculture research programs in the 2012 appropriations process and USDA’s fiscal year 2013 budget requests.
- NSAC submits a letter urging Senators and Representatives to support funding for USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA)’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) at $280 million for FY2011.
- NSAC joins on a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to support funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for fiscal year 2011.
- NSAC submits a letter urging Senators and Representatives to support funding for USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA)’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) at $280 million for FY2011.
- NSAC submits a letter to support funding for USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution.
- NSAC submits NSAC Resolution: Recommendations in Support of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, September 24, 2010.
- NSAC submits comments on the 2010 Request for Applications of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, September 14, 2009.
- NSAC submits comments on the Roadmap for USDA Research, Education, and Extension, May 31, 2009.