ASA First Vice-President Richard Wilkins represented ASA at the 2014 annual board meeting of the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (N-CFAR). Among the speakers were USDA Under Secretary for Research Catherine Woteki and Jo Handelsman, Associate Director for Science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Dr. Wotecki spoke to the group about four presidential directives the REE (Research, Education and Economics) mission area at USDA is focused on: pollinators, climate change impacts, anti-microbial resistance and alternatives to antibiotics for herd and flock health.

Two positive developments in the recent omnibus appropriations bill are a small increase for AFRI funding (USDA’s competitive research grant program) and long-delayed funding for ARS buildings and facilities. Dr. Handelsman also spoke about pollinators and talked at length about OSTP’s interest in aquaculture. The Coalition for US Seafood Production, of which ASA is a member, met with her in May. Her comments focused on the need for “new, creative models” for aquaculture production and the need to change the image of aquaculture. U.S. farm-raised fish offer an opportunity to change negative perceptions of aquaculture production. Other topics on the agenda at the meeting were the new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), which just held its first organizing session and other new initiatives to raise the visibility of agricultural research.