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Articles by Sonny Ramaswamy
Commentary: Choose science over fiction
REDMOND, Wash. — During my years as director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), I had the privilege of working with and supporting the efforts of phenomenally innovative and successful farmers and ranchers across America. Every farmer I interacted with knew their success was the result of reliance on sound science, which created the most productive agricultural production system in the world.
NIFA, Agricultural Research Tackle Society’s ‘wicked’ problems
Our charge in the food and agricultural sciences is to move from evolutionary discoveries, which contribute to marginal changes over long periods of time, to revolutionary thinking to deal with ‘wicked’ problems by deploying transdisciplinary approaches that solve complex societal challenges.
A Culture of Inclusivity at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Fine words, to be sure, but how do we make it true in a department that employs almost 100,000 directly and countless more indirectly at thousands of locations across the country? At USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), civil rights are inherent to our mission. By promoting equal opportunity and supporting underserved groups and communities, NIFA’s programs help people improve their lives and communities.
Reversing Pollinator Decline is Key to Feeding the Future
Without pollinators, we don’t eat—it’s simple as that—and, at the moment, large numbers of pollinators are dying. With the world’s population projected to exceed 9 billion in just the next 30 years or so, that is not a good position for us to be in. More than 90 species of U.S. specialty crops require pollination, and various animals, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and birds are a critical part of the pollinator-plant ecosystem.
Washington Middle School Students Give Back for Third Annual Day of Service
Over the past three years, USDA has welcomed seventh-graders from Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C. to participate in “Deal Gives Back,” a day of service that empowers students to serve their community. This year was no exception.
USDA and MANRRS Help Cultivate the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders
Recently, the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) hosted its 31st National Career Fair and Training Conference. MANRRS is a non-profit organization that promotes academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences, and has more than 1,650 members in 38 states.
Agricultural Research Needs to Be a Priority
Seeing President Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget proposal and the strong commitment it makes to agricultural research reminds me of Dr. Consuelo De Moraes. As a university researcher and panel manager of the National Research Initiative (NRI) competitive grants program, I called Dr. De Moraes in 2002 to inform her that USDA was going to fund her research proposal on determining how plants defend themselves against insects, so farmers could exploit the same as a means to control pests.
Second Morrill Act Redux: America’s 1890s Land Grant Universities Academic Excellence
Booker T. Washington. George Washington Carver. Educators par excellence. Pioneers in food and agricultural scientific research. Dedicated their lives to helping “lift the veil of ignorance” by bringing knowledge to African-Americans and others with limited resources. For 125 years, since passage of the Second Morrill Act on Aug.
NIFA and the Farm Bill: A Year Later
Posted by Sonny Ramaswamy, Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture , on February 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM February 7 marks the first anniversary of the Agriculture Act of 2014, commonly known as the 2014 Farm Bill. This milestone provides an opportunity to report on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) efforts during the last year to implement the many provisions of relevance to the agency.
Spraying Smarter Strengthens Strawberry Production
This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. With the U.S. being the world’s leading producer of strawberries, the success of these tart and sweet treats is essential to the economy of a state like Florida. In fact, with a $366 million-per-year industry, the state comes second only to California as the nation’s largest strawberry producer.
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