ASAS Public Policy Committee Symposium: Government Science and Research Strategy as Applied to Animal Agriculture

The American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Public Policy Committee (PPC) is dedicated to influencing public policy and opinion on issues affecting farm and companion animals. Meeting monthly, the PPC sets goals and creates conduits to make federal agencies aware of the rich scientific expertise and resources within the ASAS membership. This expertise can be leveraged to develop science-based federal policies impacting poultry and livestock production.

Mission and Activities

The PPC's mission is executed through various activities, including:

• Annual Symposia: Hosting events on contemporary issues.
• Research Challenges: Identifying grand challenges for research.
• Communication: Creating updates and articles shared via the "Taking Stock DC" vehicle.
• Educational Sessions: Conducting "Sack and Facts" information sessions.
• Collaboration: Partnering with organizations with similar goals.
• Internship Program: Selecting an ASAS-sponsored DC intern.

2024 Symposium Overview

This year’s PPC symposium, co-chaired by Don Mulvaney and Teres Davis, featured notable speakers such as Dr. Jeff Silverstein, Deputy Administrator of the USDA Agricultural Research Service; Dr. Mark A. Mirando, National Science Liaison and Animal Production Systems Science Coordinator for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture; and Lowell Randel from the Randel Group, a full-service government relations firm.

Dr. Jeff Silverstein's Presentation

Dr. Silverstein discussed the USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission areas, emphasizing the integration of research, analysis, and education to create a safe, sustainable, and competitive U.S. agricultural system. He clarified that while REE agencies conduct research, they are not regulatory bodies, although their findings inform regulatory decisions. The four REE agencies include:

1. Economic Research Service (ERS): Assesses agricultural trends and conducts economic research to enhance decision-making.

2. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS): Conducts surveys and reports on U.S. agriculture, including the Census of Agriculture.

3. National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA): Provides research funding to land-grant universities.

4. Agricultural Research Service (ARS): USDA’s primary in-house scientific research agency, with a budget of $1.7 billion funding 660 research projects. ARS has 90 research locations in the U.S. and laboratories worldwide.

Dr. Silverstein highlighted ARS’s ability to undertake long-term studies and respond rapidly to emerging threats, such as the HPAI outbreak in dairy cows. ARS scientists played a critical role in testing pasteurization impacts on the virus in milk and researching vaccine development.

Dr. Mark A. Mirando's Presentation

Dr. Mirando focused on setting priorities for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), USDA’s flagship competitive grant program. He explained that priorities are based on legislative authority (such as the Farm Bill), congressional funding, and staff expertise. NIFA seeks stakeholder input through scientific meetings, communications, and calls.

Lowell Randel's Presentation

Lowell Randel discussed the importance of societies in developing policies and priorities, emphasizing the need for engagement in conversations about animal agriculture. He highlighted several factors affecting the significance of engagement:

• Limited federal resources for agricultural research.
• Competition for congressional and agency allocations.
• Historical imbalance between animal and plant research funding.
• Campaigns against animal agriculture and animal science.

Randel referenced the declining investment in research compared to other countries and the National Academy of Science report "Critical Role of Animal Science Research in Food Security and Sustainability," which underscores the need for more animal science research. He urged society members to take action by advocating for animal sciences within their institutions and participating in agency stakeholder invitations, Congressional meetings, and town halls.

Conclusion

The ASAS PPC symposium underscored the critical role of research, education, and engagement in shaping policies for animal agriculture. The presentations by Dr. Silverstein, Dr. Mirando, and Lowell Randel highlighted the importance of stakeholder input, long-term research, and proactive advocacy to address the challenges facing animal agriculture and animal science.