Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources's Books

Publicly Funded Agricultural Research and the Changing Structure of U.S. Agriculture

By: Committee to Review the Role of Publicly Funded Agricultural Research on the Structure of U.S. Agriculture,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Division on Earth and Life Studies,National Research Council

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Publicly Funded Agricultural Research and the Changing Structure of U.S. Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested that the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Research Council (NRC) convene a panel of experts to examine whether publicly funded agricultural research has influenced the structure of U.S. agriculture and, if so, how. The Committee to Review the Role of Publicly Funded Agricultural Research on the Structure of U.S. Agriculture was asked to assess the role of public-sector agricultural research on changes in the size and numbers of farms, with particular emphasis on the evolution of very-large-scale operations.

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123

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309086574

ISBN 13

9780309086578

Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program

A Way Forward

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee to Review the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Management Program

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Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program

A Way Forward

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee to Review the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Management Program

Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward reviews the science that underpins the Bureau of Land Management's oversight of free-ranging horses and burros on federal public lands in the western United States, concluding that constructive changes could be implemented. The Wild Horse and Burro Program has not used scientifically rigorous methods to estimate the population sizes of horses and burros, to model the effects of management actions on the animals, or to assess the availability and use of forage on rangelands. Evidence suggests that horse populations are growing by 15 to 20 percent each year, a level that is unsustainable for maintaining healthy horse populations as well as healthy ecosystems. Promising fertility-control methods are available to help limit this population growth, however. In addition, science-based methods exist for improving population estimates, predicting the effects of management practices in order to maintain genetically diverse, healthy populations, and estimating the productivity of rangelands. Greater transparency in how science-based methods are used to inform management decisions may help increase public confidence in the Wild Horse and Burro Program.

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399

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309264979

ISBN 13

9780309264976

Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities

A Profile

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture,Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant System

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Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities

A Profile

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture,Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant System

Although few Americans work as farmers these days, agriculture on the whole remains economically importantâ€"playing a key role in such contemporary issues as consumer health and nutrition, worker safety and animal welfare, and environmental protection. This publication provides a comprehensive picture of the primary education system for the nation's agriculture industry: the land grant colleges of agriculture. Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities informs the public debate about the challenges that will shape the future of these colleges and serves as a foundation for a second volume, which will present recommendations for policy and institutional changes in the land grant system. This book reviews the legislative history of the land grant system from its establishment in 1862 to the 1994 act conferring land grant status on Native American colleges. It describes trends that have shaped agriculture and agricultural education over the decadesâ€"the shift of labor from farm to factory, reasons for and effects of increased productivity and specialization, the rise of the corporate farm, and more. The committee reviews the system's three-part missionâ€"education, research, and extension serviceâ€"and through this perspective documents the changing nature of funding and examines the unique structure of the U.S. agricultural research and education system. Demographic data on faculties, students, extension staff, commodity and funding clusters, and geographic specializations profile the system and identify similarities and differences among the colleges of agriculture, trends in funding, and a host of other issues. The tables in the appendix provide further itemization about general population distribution, student and educator demographics, types of degree programs, and funding allocations. Concise commentary and informative graphics augment the detailed statistical presentations. This book will be important to policymakers, administrators, educators, researchers, and students of agriculture.

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165

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309176174

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9780309176170

National Research Initiative

A Vital Competitive Grants Program in Food, Fiber, and Natural-Resources Research

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on an Evaluation of the US Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program

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National Research Initiative

A Vital Competitive Grants Program in Food, Fiber, and Natural-Resources Research

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on an Evaluation of the US Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program

Our nation faces daunting challenges to its food and fiber system and to the condition of our natural resources in the coming decades. Rapid increases in world population and the pressure on resources generated by increasing per capita consumption as a result of increasing per capita income challenge the very basis of our standard of livingâ€"our food, fiber, and natural-resource base. As the nation faces the challenges, new technologies and new information systems are changing the face of biologic research. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has traditionally been the nation's primary public research engine in food, fiber, and natural resources. The National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI) is a small part of that USDA research effort, but it accounts for a substantial portion of the nation's merit-based peer-reviewed fundamental research efforts in food, fiber, and natural resources. In 1997, USDA asked the National Research Council Board on Agriculture (now the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources) to conduct an independent assessment of the NRI program. Specifically, USDA asked the Research Council to: perform a retrospective assessment of the quality and value of research funded by the program; determine whether the science and technology priorities in the major NRI programs are defined appropriately; assess how NRI activities complement other USDA programs, those of other federal agencies, and state programs in the private sector; and recommend the nature and content of changes for the future. This report summarizes the results of the committee's analysis. Chapter 2 summarizes the value of food, fiber, and natural resources-research to the United States, focusing on economic contributions and rates of return of food and fiber research. The committee's analysis of the quality, value, fairness, relevance, and responsiveness of the NRI competitive grants program is presented in chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents the committee's analysis of the role and scope of the NRI, including its scientific objectives, its value in training and education, and its complementarity with other research activities. The committee's analysis of NRI's priority-setting process and its research priorities is given in chapter 5. The committee's analysis of organizational and funding issues is given in chapter 6. Chapter 7 presents the committee's recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the NRI program. Additional supporting materials are found in appendixes A through I.

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212

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

030907083X

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9780309070836

Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities

Public Service and Public Policy

By: Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant University System,Board on Agriculture,National Research Council

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Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities

Public Service and Public Policy

By: Committee on the Future of the Colleges of Agriculture in the Land Grant University System,Board on Agriculture,National Research Council

Since their inception in 1862, the U.S. land grant colleges have evolved to become the training ground for the nation's and the world's agriculturists. In this book, the committee examines the future of the colleges of agriculture in light of changing national priorities for the agricultural, food, and natural resource system. The effects of federal funding constraints also are examined, as are opportunities for growth presented by developments in science. The committee's preceding volume, Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Universities: A Profile, is a compilation of the data that helped formulate the specific questions to be addressed. Colleges of Agriculture at the Land Grant Univerisities: Public Service and Public Policy is the deliberative report, rating conclusions and recommendations for institutional innovation and public policy. It addresses these and other questions: What education mission should colleges of agriculture adopt--and what strategies should they use--in light of significant changes in the agricultural complex? Research in agriculture is expected to respond to consumer demands, environmental concerns, world population growth, and increasing pressure on agricultural lands. Is the century-old structure of land grant university-based research up to the task? What is the role of extension in light of today's smaller farming communities and larger farming conglomerates? This volume is the culmination of a landmark evaluation of land grant colleges of agriculture, an American institution. This document will be of value to policymakers, administrators, and others involved in agricultural science and education.

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139

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309588936

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9780309588935

Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo

Final Report

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Institute for Laboratory Animal Research,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on the Review of the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park

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Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo

Final Report

This report follows up on an interim report released in February 2004 that focused on immediate needs in the areas of animal care and management, recordkeeping, and pest control. The report finds that the zoo has made good-faith efforts to correct deficiencies noted in the interim report and has made some noticeable improvements in the past year in zoo operations and animal care. However, problems in areas such as staff training, workplace culture, and strategic planning still need to be addressed. Specifically, the report recommends that the zoo immediately develop and implement animal-care training programs to ensure that people who are directly responsible for the well-being of its animal collection are adequately prepared and competent. The report commends a zoo-initiated strategic planning process as a positive step, but recommends it contain a more detailed, comprehensive strategy of how it will meet short-term goals and that it should link plans to upgrade facilities with those to acquire animals. The zoo should also focus on improving communication among keepers, veterinarians, nutritionists, senior managers, and curators.

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304

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309095832

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9780309095839

Agriculture and the Undergraduate

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture

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Agriculture and the Undergraduate

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture

This book presents efforts to chart the comprehensive changes needed to meet the challenges of undergraduate professional education in agriculture. The United States needs to invest in the futureâ€"in human capital and the scientific knowledge baseâ€"to revitalize one of its leading industries, the agricultural, food, and environmental system. That objective can be met by educating all students about agriculture as well as by educating others specifically for careers in agriculture. Agriculture and the Undergraduate includes perspectives on rewarding excellence in teaching and formulating curricula to reflect cultural diversity, the environment, ecology, agribusiness and business, humanities and the social sciences, and the economic and global contexts of agriculture.

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293

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309046823

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9780309046824

Approaches for Evaluating the NRC Resident Research Associateship Program at NIST

By: National Research Council,Policy and Global Affairs,Board on Higher Education and Workforce,Committee on Approaches for the Evaluation of the NIST/NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program

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Approaches for Evaluating the NRC Resident Research Associateship Program at NIST

By: National Research Council,Policy and Global Affairs,Board on Higher Education and Workforce,Committee on Approaches for the Evaluation of the NIST/NRC Postdoctoral Research Associateships Program

The NRC Resident Research Associateship Program at NIST provides two-year temporary appointments for outstanding scientists and engineers. This book describes program applicants and awardees and offers suggestions for an in-depth assessment of career outcomes. Preliminary investigation indicates that outreach efforts produce more qualified applicants than NIST has slots to fill, the pool of applicants is increasingly diverse, and many Research Associates go on to permanent positions at NIST. The agency should conduct a more thorough evaluation of the program, including an assessment of outreach to potential applicants, individuals who decline an award, the program's impact on the careers of awardees, and the benefits of the program to NIST and the broader scientific and engineering community.

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170

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309112184

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9780309112185

Down to Earth

Geographic Information for Sustainable Development in Africa

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Earth Sciences and Resources,Mapping Science Committee,Committee on Geography,Committee on the Geographic Foundation for Agenda 21

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Down to Earth

Geographic Information for Sustainable Development in Africa

In 1992, world leaders adopted Agenda 21, the work program of the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. This landmark event provided a political foundation and action items to facilitate the global transition toward sustainable development. The international community marked the tenth anniversary of this conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2002. Down to Earth, a component of the U.S. State Department's "Geographic Information for Sustainable Development" project for the World Summit, focuses on sub-Saharan Africa with examples drawn from case-study regions where the U.S. Agency for International Development and other agencies have broad experience. Although African countries are the geographic focus of the study, the report has broader applicability. Down to Earth summarizes the importance and applicability of geographic data for sustainable development and draws on experiences in African countries to examine how future sources and applications of geographic data could provide reliable support to decision-makers as they work towards sustainable development. The committee emphasizes the potential of new technologies, such as satellite remote-sensing systems and geographic information systems, that have revolutionized data collection and analysis over the last decade.

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169

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309169259

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9780309169257

The Official SAT Study Guide, 2018 Edition

By: The College Board

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The Official SAT Study Guide, 2018 Edition

By: The College Board

Review every skill and question type needed for SAT success – now with eight total practice tests. The 2018 edition of The Official SAT Study Guide doubles the number of official SAT® practice tests to eight – all of them created by the test maker. As part of the College Board's commitment to transparency, all practice tests are available on the College Board's website, but The Official SAT Study Guide is the only place to find them in print along with over 250 pages of additional instruction, guidance, and test information. With updated guidance and practice problems that reflect the most recent information, this new edition takes the best-selling SAT guide and makes it even more relevant and useful. Be ready for the SAT with strategies and up-to-date information straight from the exam writers. The Official SAT Study Guide will help students get ready for the SAT with: • 8 official SAT practice tests, written in the exact same process and by the same team of authors as the actual exam • detailed descriptions of the math and evidenced based reading and writing sections • targeted practice questions for each SAT question type • guidance on the new optional essay, including practice essay questions with sample responses • seamless integration with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy

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1421

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College Board

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ISBN 10

1457312204

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9781457312205

Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act

Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on the Mississippi River and the Clean Water Act

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Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act

Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on the Mississippi River and the Clean Water Act

The Mississippi River is, in many ways, the nation's best known and most important river system. Mississippi River water quality is of paramount importance for sustaining the many uses of the river including drinking water, recreational and commercial activities, and support for the river's ecosystems and the environmental goods and services they provide. The Clean Water Act, passed by Congress in 1972, is the cornerstone of surface water quality protection in the United States, employing regulatory and nonregulatory measures designed to reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways. The Clean Water Act has reduced much pollution in the Mississippi River from "point sources" such as industries and water treatment plants, but problems stemming from urban runoff, agriculture, and other "non-point sources" have proven more difficult to address. This book concludes that too little coordination among the 10 states along the river has left the Mississippi River an "orphan" from a water quality monitoring and assessment perspective. Stronger leadership from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is needed to address these problems. Specifically, the EPA should establish a water quality data-sharing system for the length of the river, and work with the states to establish and achieve water quality standards. The Mississippi River corridor states also should be more proactive and cooperative in their water quality programs. For this effort, the EPA and the Mississippi River states should draw upon the lengthy experience of federal-interstate cooperation in managing water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

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252

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309114098

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9780309114097

Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on Twenty-First Century Systems Agriculture

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Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on Twenty-First Century Systems Agriculture

In the last 20 years, there has been a remarkable emergence of innovations and technological advances that are generating promising changes and opportunities for sustainable agriculture, yet at the same time the agricultural sector worldwide faces numerous daunting challenges. Not only is the agricultural sector expected to produce adequate food, fiber, and feed, and contribute to biofuels to meet the needs of a rising global population, it is expected to do so under increasingly scarce natural resources and climate change. Growing awareness of the unintended impacts associated with some agricultural production practices has led to heightened societal expectations for improved environmental, community, labor, and animal welfare standards in agriculture. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century assesses the scientific evidence for the strengths and weaknesses of different production, marketing, and policy approaches for improving and reducing the costs and unintended consequences of agricultural production. It discusses the principles underlying farming systems and practices that could improve the sustainability. It also explores how those lessons learned could be applied to agriculture in different regional and international settings, with an emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. By focusing on a systems approach to improving the sustainability of U.S. agriculture, this book can have a profound impact on the development and implementation of sustainable farming systems. Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century serves as a valuable resource for policy makers, farmers, experts in food production and agribusiness, and federal regulatory agencies.

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598

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309148960

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9780309148962

Clean Coastal Waters

Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient Pollution

By: National Research Council,Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources,Water Science and Technology Board,Ocean Studies Board,Committee on the Causes and Management of Coastal Eutrophication

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Clean Coastal Waters

Understanding and Reducing the Effects of Nutrient Pollution

Environmental problems in coastal ecosystems can sometimes be attributed to excess nutrients flowing from upstream watersheds into estuarine settings. This nutrient over-enrichment can result in toxic algal blooms, shellfish poisoning, coral reef destruction, and other harmful outcomes. All U.S. coasts show signs of nutrient over-enrichment, and scientists predict worsening problems in the years ahead. Clean Coastal Waters explains technical aspects of nutrient over-enrichment and proposes both immediate local action by coastal managers and a longer-term national strategy incorporating policy design, classification of affected sites, law and regulation, coordination, and communication. Highlighting the Gulf of Mexico's "Dead Zone," the Pfiesteria outbreak in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, and other cases, the book explains how nutrients work in the environment, why nitrogen is important, how enrichment turns into over-enrichment, and why some environments are especially susceptible. Economic as well as ecological impacts are examined. In addressing abatement strategies, the committee discusses the importance of monitoring sites, developing useful models of over-enrichment, and setting water quality goals. The book also reviews voluntary programs, mandatory controls, tax incentives, and other policy options for reducing the flow of nutrients from agricultural operations and other sources.

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421

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309172098

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9780309172097

Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture

A Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Program

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on a Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

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Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture

A Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Program

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on a Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

The United States embarked on bold polices to enhance its food and agricultural system during the last half of the 19th century, investing first in the education of people and soon thereafter in research and discovery programs aimed at acquiring new knowledge needed to address the complex challenges of feeding a growing and hungry nation. Those policies, sustained over 125 years, have produced the most productive and efficient agricultural and food system in history. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the primary agency responsible for supporting innovations and advances in food and agriculture. USDA funds are allocated to support research through several mechanisms, including the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). In 2008, Congress replaced USDA's National Research Initiative with AFRI, creating USDA's flagship competitive research grants program, and the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act, known as the Farm Bill, outlined the structure of the new program. Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture assesses the effectiveness of AFRI in meeting the goals laid out by Congress and its success in advancing innovations and competitiveness in the U.S. food and agriculture system. Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture evaluates the value, relevance, quality, fairness, and flexibility of AFRI. This report also considers funding policies and mechanisms and identifies measures of the effectiveness and efficiency of AFRI's operation. The study examines AFRI's role in advancing science in relation to other research and grant programs inside of USDA as well as how complementary it is to other federal research and development programs. The findings and conclusions of this report will help AFRI improve its functions and effectiveness in meeting its goals and outcomes.

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206

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309299594

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9780309299596

Biobased Industrial Products

Priorities for Research and Commercialization

By: National Research Council,Commission on Life Sciences,Board on Biology,Committee on Biobased Industrial Products

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Biobased Industrial Products

Priorities for Research and Commercialization

By: National Research Council,Commission on Life Sciences,Board on Biology,Committee on Biobased Industrial Products

Petroleum-based industrial products have gradually replaced products derived from biological materials. However, biologically based products are making a comebackâ€"because of a threefold increase in farm productivity and new technologies. Biobased Industrial Products envisions a biobased industrial future, where starch will be used to make biopolymers and vegetable oils will become a routine component in lubricants and detergents. Biobased Industrial Products overviews the U.S. land resources available for agricultural production, summarizes plant materials currently produced, and describes prospects for increasing varieties and yields. The committee discusses the concept of the biorefinery and outlines proven and potential thermal, mechanical, and chemical technologies for conversion of natural resources to industrial applications. The committee also illustrates the developmental dynamics of biobased products through existing examples, as well as products still on the drawing board, and it identifies priorities for research and development.

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163

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309053927

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9780309053921

Renewable Fuel Standard

Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy

By: National Research Council,Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences,Board on Energy and Environmental Systems,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production

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Renewable Fuel Standard

Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy

In the United States, we have come to depend on plentiful and inexpensive energy to support our economy and lifestyles. In recent years, many questions have been raised regarding the sustainability of our current pattern of high consumption of nonrenewable energy and its environmental consequences. Further, because the United States imports about 55 percent of the nation's consumption of crude oil, there are additional concerns about the security of supply. Hence, efforts are being made to find alternatives to our current pathway, including greater energy efficiency and use of energy sources that could lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as nuclear and renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. The United States has a long history with biofuels and the nation is on a course charted to achieve a substantial increase in biofuels. Renewable Fuel Standard evaluates the economic and environmental consequences of increasing biofuels production as a result of Renewable Fuels Standard, as amended by EISA (RFS2). The report describes biofuels produced in 2010 and those projected to be produced and consumed by 2022, reviews model projections and other estimates of the relative impact on the prices of land, and discusses the potential environmental harm and benefits of biofuels production and the barriers to achieving the RFS2 consumption mandate. Policy makers, investors, leaders in the transportation sector, and others with concerns for the environment, economy, and energy security can rely on the recommendations provided in this report.

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416

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309187516

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9780309187510

Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Life Sciences,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on a Leadership Summit to Effect Change in Teaching and Learning

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Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World

During the next ten years, colleges of agriculture will be challenged to transform their role in higher education and their relationship to the evolving global food and agricultural enterprise. If successful, agriculture colleges will emerge as an important venue for scholars and stakeholders to address some of the most complex and urgent problems facing society. Such a transformation could reestablish and sustain the historical position of the college of agriculture as a cornerstone institution in academe, but for that to occur, a rapid and concerted effort by our higher education system is needed to shape their academic focus around the reality of issues that define the world's systems of food and agriculture and to refashion the way in which they foster knowledge of those complex systems in their students. Although there is no single approach to transforming agricultural education, a commitment to change is imperative.

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221

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309132215

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9780309132213

River Basins and Coastal Systems Planning Within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Ocean Studies Board,Committee to Assess the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Methods of Analysis and Peer Review for Water Resources Project Planning,Panel on River Basin and Coastal Systems Planning

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River Basins and Coastal Systems Planning Within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) has played a large and important role in shaping water resources systems in the United States since Congress first tasked it in 1824 to improve navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Since then, rivers have been modified for navigation and flood control, harbors have been dredged for shipping, and coastlines are routinely fortified against erosion and beach loss. Recent decades have seen an overall decline in budgets for civil works project construction, yet the range of objectives for water resources projects has broadened as society places more value on environmental and recreational benefits. Thus, the Corps' portfolio of water resources projects has changed considerably. There is a reduced emphasis on traditional construction projects and an increased focus on maintenance and reoperation of existing projects such as locks, dams, and levees and on environmental restoration projects. An integrated approach to water resources planning at the scale of river basins and coastal systems is widely endorsed by the academic and engineering communities. The Corps' mission, expertise, and experience give it immense potential to alter the structure and functioning of the nation's waterways and coasts. As might be expected in a large and complex organization answering to a range of public and private demands, implementation of these new policies and objectives is neither consistent nor complete. River Basins and Coastal Systems Planning within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends improvements in the Corps' water resource project planning and review process. This report compares economic and environmental benefits and costs over a range of time and space scales, suggests multiple purpose formulation and evaluation methods, and recommends integration of water development plans with other projects in the region.

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183

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309166217

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9780309166218

Forested Landscapes in Perspective

Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture,Committee on Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests

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Forested Landscapes in Perspective

Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests

By: National Research Council,Board on Agriculture,Committee on Prospects and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of America's Nonfederal Forests

The federal role in the management of nonfederal U.S. forests was once relatively simple: to assist in the prevention and control of wildfires. The administrative structure to carry out this role was similarly uncomplicated, with most programs under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In recent years, however, both the management and administrative landscapes have changed dramatically. Responsibility for the federal role in nonfederal forests has been expanded to include a number of cabinet departments and independent agencies, which must address critical issues such as reforestation, wetlands disruption, and biodiversity protection. With two-thirds of all U.S. forests on nonfederal lands, these issues are becoming increasingly more important. Now, a first-of-its-kind examination of the federal role in nonfederal forest management, Forested Landscapes in Perspective presents a comprehensive look at the current landscape and recommends improvements that best serve public and private interests. This timely volume includes an insightful description of the current situation and recent trends, followed by a thorough examination of major policy and program issues affecting nonfederal forests. Among these are emerging environmental concerns such as forest fragmentation and large-scale climate change, as well as issues of economic importance, such as the availability of timber supplies.

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273

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National Academies Press

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ISBN 10

0309056411

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9780309056410

Direct and Indirect Human Contributions to Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes

A Workshop Summary

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Stephanie Johnson,Rob Coppock

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Direct and Indirect Human Contributions to Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes

A Workshop Summary

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Stephanie Johnson,Rob Coppock

Human-induced climate change is an important environmental issue worldwide, as scientific studies increasingly demonstrate that human activities are changing the Earth's climate. Even if dramatic reductions in emissions were made today, some human-induced changes are likely to persist beyond the 21st century. The Kyoto Protocol calls for emissions reporting that separates out management-induced changes in greenhouse gases from those changes caused by indirect human effects (e.g., carbon dioxide fertilization, nitrogen deposition, or precipitation changes), natural effects, and past practices on forested agricultural lands. This book summarizes a September 2003 workshop where leaders from academia, government and industry came together to discuss the current state of scientific understanding on quantifying direct human-induced change in terrestrial carbon stocks and related changes in greenhouse gas emissions and distinguishing these changes from those caused by indirect and natural effects.

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National Academies Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0309165857

ISBN 13

9780309165853

Frontiers in Agricultural Research

Food, Health, Environment, and Communities

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on Opportunities in Agriculture

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Frontiers in Agricultural Research

Food, Health, Environment, and Communities

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources,Committee on Opportunities in Agriculture

This report is a congressionally mandated review of the US Department of Agriculture's Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, the main engine of publicly funded agricultural research in the United States. A changing social and scientific context of agriculture requires a new vision of agricultural research-one that will support agriculture as a positive economic, social, and environmental force. REE is uniquely positioned to advance new research frontiers in environment, public health, and rural communities. The report recommends that REE be more anticipatory and strategic in its use of limited resources and guide and champion new directions in research.

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269

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National Academies Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0309084946

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9780309084949

Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides

By: Committee on Ecological Risk Assessment Under FIFRA and ESA,Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology,Division on Earth and Life Studies,National Research Council

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Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides

By: Committee on Ecological Risk Assessment Under FIFRA and ESA,Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology,Division on Earth and Life Studies,National Research Council

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are responsible for protecting species that are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and for protecting habitats that are critical for their survival. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for registering or reregistering pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and must ensure that pesticide use does not cause any unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, which is interpreted to include listed species and their critical habitats. The agencies have developed their own approaches to evaluating environmental risk, and their approaches differ because their legal mandates, responsibilities, institutional cultures, and expertise differ. Over the years, the agencies have tried to resolve their differences but have been unsuccessful in reaching a consensus regarding their assessment approaches. As a result, FWS, NMFS, EPA, and the US Department of Agriculture asked the National Research Council (NRC) to examine scientific and technical issues related to determining risks posed to listed species by pesticides. Specifically, the NRC was asked to evaluate methods for identifying the best scientific data available; to evaluate approaches for developing modeling assumptions; to identify authoritative geospatial information that might be used in risk assessments; to review approaches for characterizing sublethal, indirect, and cumulative effects; to assess the scientific information available for estimating effects of mixtures and inert ingredients; and to consider the use of uncertainty factors to account for gaps in data. Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides, which was prepared by the NRC Committee on Ecological Risk Assessment under FIFRA and ESA, is the response to that request.

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195

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National Academies Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0309285844

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9780309285841

Valuing Ecosystem Services

Toward Better Environmental Decision-Making

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on Assessing and Valuing the Services of Aquatic and Related Terrestrial Ecosystems

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Valuing Ecosystem Services

Toward Better Environmental Decision-Making

By: National Research Council,Division on Earth and Life Studies,Water Science and Technology Board,Committee on Assessing and Valuing the Services of Aquatic and Related Terrestrial Ecosystems

Nutrient recycling, habitat for plants and animals, flood control, and water supply are among the many beneficial services provided by aquatic ecosystems. In making decisions about human activities, such as draining a wetland for a housing development, it is essential to consider both the value of the development and the value of the ecosystem services that could be lost. Despite a growing recognition of the importance of ecosystem services, their value is often overlooked in environmental decision-making. This report identifies methods for assigning economic value to ecosystem servicesâ€"even intangible onesâ€"and calls for greater collaboration between ecologists and economists in such efforts.

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291

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National Academies Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

030909318X

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9780309093187

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