Tài liệu A Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture pdf

A Science

Roadmap for

Food and

Agriculture

A Science

Roadmap for

Food and

Agriculture

Prepared by the

Association of Public and

Land-grant Universities (AsPsLsU)

Experiment Station

Committee on

Organization and Policy (ESCOP)—

Science and Technology Committee

November 2010

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A Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture p i

About this Publication

To reference this publication, please use the following citation:

Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Experiment Station

Committee on Organization and Policy—Science and Technology

Committee, “A Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture,”

November 2010.

To obtain additional copies contact:

Daniel Rossi

[email protected]

Cover photo: FreeFoto.com

Cover and document design: Diane Clarke

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Contents

n Preamble v

n Foreword vii

n Introduction 1

n Grand Challenge 1 9

We must enhance the sustainability, competitiveness, and profitability of U.S. food

and agricultural systems.

n Grand Challenge 2 21

We must adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on food, feed, fiber, and

fuel systems in the United States.

n Grand Challenge 3 29

We must support energy security and the development of the bioeconomy from

renewable natural resources in the United States.

n Grand Challenge 4 37

We must play a global leadership role to ensure a safe, secure, and abundant food

supply for the United States and the world.

n Grand Challenge 5 45

We must improve human health, nutrition, and wellness of the U.S. population.

n Grand Challenge 6 55

We must heighten environmental stewardship through the development of sustainable

management practices.

n Grand Challenge 7 67

We must strengthen individual, family, and community development and resilience.

n Appendix A 81

Crosswalking Grand Challenges

n Appendix B 85

Science Roadmap Contributors

n Glossary 89

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I am honored to have been able to provide oversight to the important task of preparing

a Science Roadmap for food and agricultural research at our land-grant institutions. Many

outstanding scientists within our community contributed to this document. This process

began with some 250 scientists participating in a Delphi survey that helped to identify

research priorities to which our research community could make significant contributions.

Once a consensus was formed, seven challenges emerged, and writing teams were assigned

to each challenge area. More than 80 scientists were involved in the preparation and review

of the seven grand challenge white papers.

The overall document was also reviewed by two long-time leaders in the land-grant

system—Drs. Colin Kaltenbach and Daryl Lund—and I want to express my appreciation

for their insights and suggestions, and for their long-term guidance on many issues. Finally,

my sincere thanks go to our professional editor, Diane Clarke, for her expertise in preparing

the final report.

Given the broad and enthusiastic participation in the development of this Science Roadmap,

I am confident that it will provide critical guidance to academic research administrators

and to our federal and private sector partners regarding research directions over the next

decade. These efforts will make a difference for the future of our nation relative to how

we respond to the seven Grand Challenges. We recognize there are redundancies and

differences of opinion among the various sections of the report; this is the nature of

science. While the Roadmap does not prescribe solutions, it does identify direction and

course. More importantly, it is a basis for substantive discussion of concepts associated

with, and approaches to addressing, societal issues as they relate to the food, agricultural,

and environmental sciences.

I want to thank the many individuals who participated and volunteered time, creativity,

and energy throughout this project. Dr. Travis Park of Cornell and other members of

the ESCOP Social Sciences Subcommittee provided early guidance to the process used

to develop the project. I also want to thank my fellow members of the ESCOP Science

and Technology Committee who directly contributed to the project. Finally, this edition

of the Science Roadmap for Food and Agriculture would not have been completed without

the coordination and leadership of Dan Rossi and his fellow Executive Directors of the

regional associations of state agricultural experiment stations, including Carolyn Brooks,

Mike Harrington, Arlen Leholm, and Eric Young. Their support for this endeavor was

essential.

Bill Ravlin

Chair, ESCOP Science and Technology Committee

September 2010

Preamble

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The last Science Roadmap for the land-grant university system was prepared nearly

10 years ago. There have been many changes in societal needs and priorities over the

past decade. The issues of climate change, energy and food security, environmental and

economic sustainability, and globalization have moved to the forefront of concerns for the

public and for policy makers in the United States. These issues are highly interdependent,

and any attempt to address them will require systematic and science-based solutions. Major

investments in scientific research as it relates to food and energy production, utilization

of natural resources, and development of individuals, families, and communities will be

necessary for the United States to remain competitive, sustainable, and socially responsive

to its citizens and the citizens of the world.

This Science Roadmap is very timely and will be an important resource not only for our

academic leadership but also for our public and private partners and advocates. It has been

developed through a broad consensus of some of our best scientific leaders. As a roadmap,

it does not provide direct solutions to problems; rather, it lays out well-thought-out paths

the scientific community can take to reach potential solutions. I am very excited about this

major accomplishment and am looking forward to development of the next steps that will

be necessary to operationalize its recommendations.

The land-grant university system is indebted to the many faculty members who contributed

to this endeavor. Their insights and commitment to the land-grant mission are clearly

represented in this document. I thank them and the members of the ESCOP Science and

Technology Committee for the contribution of their time and expertise to this project.

Clarence Watson

Chair, ESCOP

September 2010

Foreword

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