NCGA Supports NIFA Legislation Advancing Agriculture Research (5-17-06)

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture Act of 2006, S. 2782, introduced by Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) would establish a National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the purpose of advancing fundamental agricultural research. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) fully supports the legislation because of USDA’s broad goals, which include increasing the role American agriculture plays in development of food, health, national and rural economies and national security through research.

“NCGA supports legislation that will place agriculture research at the forefront,” said Clark Gerstacker, chairman of NCGA’s Research and Business Development Action Team. “We are pleased to see policy introduced that will support bringing the concept of advancing agriculture research to reality. More federal investment in food and agriculture is needed in order to develop food, feed, fiber and fuel for the national and global marketplace.”

The NIFA legislation, cosponsored by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), would implement recommendations from USDA’s Research, Education and Economics task force established in the 2002 farm bill and provide funding of the research through a competitively award grant program.
According to Talent, NIFA’s key recommendations would complement existing programs by generating value-added outcomes through fundamental research that will help increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, develop foods that will improve nutrition and combat obesity, improve food safety and security, enhance sustainability and improve the environment, strengthen rural economies, and reduce dependence on foreign sources of petroleum through biofuels. 

Gerstacker noted such opportunities to advance research will result in new benefits to consumers and help to create possible new markets for corn as well as other products.

NCGA has long supported the development of NIFA.