EFNEP 'Call-to-Conversation' Next Steps

On June 14 and 15, the University of Missouri, Lincoln University, and NIFA hosted a conversation on the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP). Roughly 60 stakeholders, representing EFNEP’s low-income target audience, paraprofessional peer educators and supervisory staff, university leadership, federal, state, and professional organizations came together to discuss how to efficiently and effectively to expand EFNEP and its reach, while maintaining its high rate of return and impacts. Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA Director, challenged participants to consider the question: Having nearly 50 years of experience with EFNEP and knowing what we know, if we were to start with a blank slate, what should EFNEP look like in 30 years?  Twenty-four hours later, the NIFA team returned to Washington, D.C., with heads and suitcases full of ideas, comments, suggestions, and feedback.

Next steps are to analyze the data received. A summary of findings will be shared on NIFA’s Call-to-Conversations webpage, where other stakeholders are invited to email their thoughts and comments. The summary will also be used by a smaller group that will be convened to further develop a shared vision for EFNEP in 2047 – 30 years from now!  

Caption: Albert Essel, Dean Lincoln University addresses EFNEP meeting participants.

Blog: Our Nation’s Commitment to Rural Quality of Life Began with a Seminal Idea 

By Sonny Ramaswamy

We have schools to teach the art of manslaying… Shall we not have schools to teach men the way to feed, clothe, and enlighten the brotherhood of man? - Justin Smith Morrill, April 20, 1858 

By 1862, in the midst of the Civil War, Justin Smith Morrill, the representative from Vermont, with little formal education beyond 8th grade level, had accomplished his vision of having schools teach the way to feed, clothe, and enlighten.

The Morrill Act created the land-grant colleges was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln as a way to bring scientific and classical studies, along with liberal and practical education in the agriculture and mechanic arts, and military tactics and leadership education to the children of the working class. America’s Land-Grant University (LGU) System celebrates its 155th anniversary July 2. The LGUs are now strong and stable pillars in scientific research, education, and extension supporting our nation’s food and agricultural systems. Read the entire Blog.

Purdue University Picks First Female Dean of Agriculture

Purdue University’s College of Agriculture recently named Dr. Karen Plaut, currently is serving as the senior associate dean for research and faculty affairs, as the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. An opening for the dean’s position was created when Purdue President Mitch Daniels appointed Jay Akridge, who is the current dean of agriculture, as the interim provost for the university. Plaut, began her new role July 1, is the first female to serve as a dean of agriculture at Purdue.

Food Packaging as a Key for Enhancing Food Safety 

In addition to lowering the risk of microbial contamination in foods, nanotechnology in packaging offers the promise of extending food shelf life and reducing waste, said Hongda Chen, national program leader, bioprocessing engineering and nanotechnology at NIFA. In a Food Business News article, Chen said studies have come a long way toward easing safety concerns about the technology.

Chen participated in a panel discussion about nanotechnology and packing at the 2017 Institute of Food Technologists' annual meeting and Food Exposition recently held in Las Vegas. 

USDA's investment in nanotechnology for the food industry has been considerable, Chen said. NIFA has invested more than $100 million in research over the last several years. The origins of nanotechnology dates back to a 1959 speech by Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist who later was awarded a Nobel prize for his work. Read the full article, courtesy of Food Business News. 

FY 2018 House Agriculture Appropriations   

On June 28, the FY 2018 House Agriculture Appropriations bill was passed out of the Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations by voice vote.  

Key points:

• $830,402,000 for Research and Education Activities; a decrease of $19,116,000 below the 2017 level.
• $475,876,000 for Extension Activities; a decrease of $1,515,000 below the 2017 
• $35,000,000 for Integrated Activities; a decrease of $1,000,000 below the 2017 level.

The bill maintains language supporting a 5 percent administrative rate for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Program. In addition, it continues the provision that indirect costs shall not be charged to Extension Implementation Program Area under the Crop Protection/Pest Management Program. A new General Provision would require a three-day advanced Congressional notification for grant allocations or contract awards totaling $1 million or more of discretionary funds. You can view the press release. Additional details on the NIFA budget will be available when the full Committee on Appropriations marks up the Ag Bill. The date for full Committee markup has not been set.