Science Policy Report

Address all comments to the Science Policy Office at:
sciencepolicy@sciencesocieties.org

14 October 2020

In This Issue:

Policy News

~ World Food Program awarded Nobel Peace Prize for work during pandemic
~ This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry honors a revolution
~ Major changes to student visa rules proposed
~ ASA, CSSA, and SSSA oppose the elimination of federal diversity training
~ Newsom signs order to protect 30% of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030
~ How to Save Bt
~ ASA, CSSA, and SSSA encourage members to vote in the November 3 election!

Science and Society News

~ Rattan Lal, past president of SSSA, honored with World Food Prize
~ 2020 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting is Virtual | 2500+ Presentations, 1 Customized Experience
~ Save 20% on Job Postings | Reach qualified applicants with ASA, CSSA, SSSA!
~ Join the Discussion! Login to the Discussion Boards for ASA Communities, CSSA/SSSA Division, and Specialty Groups
~ SoAR report finds international agricultural research investment generates 10 to 1 return
~ NSF Artificial Intelligence Research Institute review panelists needed
~ Measuring greenhouse gases starts in soil
~ Transparent wood could be the window of the future
~ W-Cycle’s SupraPulp offers plastic alternative to the industry
~ Urban agriculture combats food insecurity, builds community
~ Sorghum and pearl millet as water-saving alternative silage crops
~ Crop switching reduces agricultural losses from climate change in the United States by half under RCP 8.5
~ Alphabet’s latest X project is a crop-sniffing plant buggy

International Corner

~ Checking in on the climate as you check out

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

~ Local Food, Local Places 2020-2021
~ Vermont Capital Equipment Assistance Program
~ The Conservation Alliance Nominations for Conservation Projects
~ The Conservation Alliance Public Lands Defense Fund
~ Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund
~ 2021 Annual Environmental Grant Program
~ Minnesota Crop Research Grant
~ FY 2021 Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP)
~ North Central Region SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program
~ Minnesota AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant
~ Brighter Future Microgrant Program
~ Solid Waste Management Grant Program
~ RFP For Manure & Animal Production Waste
~ Water Conservation Services, Lower Colorado Basin Region
~ Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)

Policy News

(TOP) ~ World Food Program awarded Nobel Peace Prize for work during pandemic

The World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its efforts to combat a surge in global hunger amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has swept around the world with devastating impact. The Nobel committee said that work by the organization, a United Nations agency, to address hunger had laid the foundations for peace in nations ravaged by war. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry honors a revolution

With Crispr, two scientists turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as Crispr, it ushered in a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. The past half-century has been a digital age, based on the microchip, the computer and the internet. Now we are entering a life-science era. Children who study digital coding will be joined by those who study the code of life. It will be a revolution that will someday allow us to cure diseases, fend off virus pandemics and (if we decide it’s wise) to design babies with the genetic features we want for them. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ Major changes to student visa rules proposed

The Trump administration published a proposed rule that would set fixed terms of up to four years for student visas and establish procedures for international students to apply to extend their stay and continue studying in the United States. Applications for extensions of stay could be approved “if the additional time needed is due to a compelling academic reason, documented medical illness or medical condition, or circumstance that was beyond the student’s control,” the new rule states. Currently, student visas are good for “duration of status,” meaning students can stay in the U.S. indefinitely if they remain enrolled in school and otherwise abide by the rules relevant to their immigration status. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ ASA, CSSA, and SSSA oppose the elimination of federal diversity training

ASA, CSSA, and SSSA joined a coalition of scientific societies urging the Administration to rescind its elimination of federal employee training programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The new policy was issued to the heads of Federal departments and agencies on September 4th, but the actions run counter to current efforts by federal agencies, contractors and grantees to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment. The new policies are detrimental to efforts to address discrimination based on race or gender identity. Read the full letter.

(TOP) ~ Newsom signs order to protect 30% of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030

With a California-grown walnut in one hand and a pen in the other, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Wednesday calling for 30% of the state's land area and near-shore marine habitat to be protected in the name of conservation by 2030. The idea grows from an ambitious "30 by 30" movement that is asking states, the United States and nations around the globe to set aside nearly a third of their land and water in the next decade. At the core of the initiative is the widespread biodiversity loss spurred by human development as well as by a rapidly warming climate. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ How to Save Bt

Big changes could be coming to Bt corn and cotton management in the years ahead, according to a newly released draft of proposed Bt regulations from EPA. The agency released a document this week outlining steps it is considering taking to help the agricultural industry slow the spread of Bt resistance in lepidopteran pests such as corn earworm, fall armyworm and western bean cutworm. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ ASA, CSSA, and SSSA encourage members to vote in the November 3 election!

In 2020, U.S. citizens will not only elect the President, but also 435 representatives, 35 senators, 44 state legislatures, and 11 governors. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA encourage all U.S. members to register to vote, learn about the voting options in your state, research the candidates, and cast your vote! Find information about voting and how you can engage with candidates here. 

Science and Society News

(TOP) ~ Rattan Lal, past president of SSSA, honored with World Food Prize

On 15 October during Borlaug Dialogue, held virtually this year, Rattan Lal, Past President of SSSA and Fellow of both SSSA and ASA, will be formally awarded the 2020 World Food Prize for developing and mainstreaming a soil‐centric approach to increasing food production that restores and conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ 2020 ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting is Virtual | 2500+ Presentations, 1 Customized Experience

The Virtual 2020 Annual Meeting will be held November 9-13. The Societies have invested in a virtual events platform that will help attendees navigate 2,500+ presentations, exhibitors and sponsors, and potential connections. We chose Social27 because of its artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees will simply indicate which of the 35 Areas of Interest below that interest them or they want to learn more about, and the AI will recommend sessions, exhibitors, and connections to you. Questions about the 2020 Annual Meeting? Visit our FAQ page.

(TOP) ~ Save 20% on Job Postings | Reach qualified applicants with ASA, CSSA, SSSA!

The ASA, CSSA, SSSA Career Center is offering 20% savings on all job postings now through the Annual Meeting, where we will be promoting the our Search Jobs link to attendees! Use promotional code: VIRTUALSAVE20. The Career Center promotes and encourages opportunities in the agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental sciences and serves as a clearinghouse for resumes and job listings. Employers and recruiters will find the most qualified talent pool with relevant work experience to fulfill their staffing needs. Visit our careers page to browse and post positions. Support your sciences and reach qualified applicants!

(TOP) ~ Join the Discussion! Login to the Discussion Boards for ASA Communities, CSSA/SSSA Division, and Specialty Groups

Using Discussion Boards for communication allows us to better connect and give all members ability to join the conversation, find resources, and start topics. Be sure to read the Daily Digest recaps of the days posts that are sent direct to your member email. Join the ASA, CSSA, or SSSA conversations!

(TOP) ~ SoAR report finds international agricultural research investment generates 10 to 1 return

The Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation released "The Payoff to Investing in CGIAR Research" report, to examine the benefit-cost ratio of CGIAR investments. CGIAR is the world’s largest global agricultural research network. The report found that CGIAR investments of roughly $60 billion in present value terms has generated a benefit-cost ratio of 10 to 1 over the past five decades. This report provides a strong economic investment case for funding partners as they consider future investments in international agriculture research and development. Read the full article.

(TOP) ~ NSF Artificial Intelligence Research Institute review panelists needed

USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award two new AI Institutes focused on agriculture. Now reviewers are needed to evaluate the submitted proposal. If you are interested, please complete this short survey, and note that you may still serve as a panelist even if you are submitting a proposal to the competition as the panels will be organized into themes to minimize potential conflicts of interest. Please see the program information page, which has links to the solicitation, FAQ, and more. Complete the survey here.

(TOP) ~ Measuring greenhouse gases starts in soil

Carbon dioxide dominates the greenhouse gas (GHG) story planet-wide. But did you know there is a more potent GHG you probably haven’t heard about? It’s nitrous oxide (N2O), agriculture’s quiet but formidable contribution to climate concerns. N2O represents only seven percent of all GHG emissions, rendering it a minor player compared to CO2 and methane. But N2O has significant, lesser-known, implications. In the atmosphere, N2O absorbs (and radiates) more energy than other gases and can linger for decades, according to the EPA. It’s not just an atmospheric sweater, but an electric blanket above us. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ Transparent wood could be the window of the future

While glass is the most common material used in window construction it comes with a costly economic and ecological price. Heat easily transfers through glass, especially single pane, and amounts to higher energy bills when it escapes during cold weather and pours in when it’s warm. Glass production in construction also comes with a heavy carbon footprint. Manufacturing emissions are approximately 25,000 metric tons per year. Could looking through trees be the view to a greener future? Trees replacing the clear pane glass in your windows is not a work of science fiction. It’s happening now. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ W-Cycle’s SupraPulp offers plastic alternative to the industry

Israeli startup W-Cycle has developed a plastic-free packaging from sugarcane waste, SupraPulp, that can be used with fruit and vegetables and other food. The patented packaging is compostable yet durable, and can replace plastic, aluminum and foam containers, according to a news release. The sugarcane fibers, called bagasse, are left when sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ Urban agriculture combats food insecurity, builds community

“In times of crisis people become really passionate about their food supply,” says Rachel Surls, Sustainable Food Systems Adviser for Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension. “We saw a boom in urban agriculture during the recession in 2008, and we’re seeing it now.” This observation by Surls, who is a member of ASA and CSSA, isn’t confined to sunny California: across the country, consumers are getting creative when it comes to their produce. Outlets like Forbes, CBS, and the BBC have likened the uptick of interest in gardening to a modern renaissance of wartime “Victory Gardens.” When you’re not sure grocery store shelves will have the produce you’re looking for, what better assurance that growing it yourself? Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ Sorghum and pearl millet as water-saving alternative silage crops

In the semi‐arid Texas High Plains, growers and producers are concerned about the sustainability of beef and dairy industries, which rely heavily on irrigated corn for feed grain and silage. A main source of irrigation—the Ogallala Aquifer—is declining rapidly, which emphasizes the need for producers to find alternative, water‐efficient forage crops for sustainable beef and dairy production in the region. A new two‐year study in Crop Science investigates the potential of forage sorghum and pearl millet as alternatives to corn for forage production, evaluating the physiological responses of multiple varieties of all three crops under various irrigation regimes, including dryland. Data were collected on leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, and canopy temperature, and the influence of these responses on biomass production and nutritive values was studied. Read the full story.

(TOP) ~ Crop switching reduces agricultural losses from climate change in the United States by half under RCP 8.5

A key strategy for agriculture to adapt to climate change is by switching crops and relocating crop production. We develop an approach to estimate the economic potential of crop reallocation using a Bayesian hierarchical model of yields. We apply the model to six crops in the United States and show that it outperforms traditional empirical models under cross-validation. The fitted model parameters provide evidence of considerable existing climate adaptation across counties. If crop locations are held constant in the future, total agriculture profits for the six crops will drop by 31% for the temperature patterns of 2070 under RCP 8.5. When crop lands are reallocated to avoid yield decreases and take advantage of yield increases, half of these losses are avoided (16% loss), but 57% of counties are allocated crops different from those currently planted. Our results provide a framework for identifying crop adaptation opportunities but suggest limits to their potential. Read the full article.

(TOP) ~ Alphabet’s latest X project is a crop-sniffing plant buggy

Alphabet’s X lab, the former Google division that launched the Waymo self-driving car unit and other ambitious projects, has taken the wraps off its latest “moonshot”: a computational agriculture project the company is calling Mineral. The project is focused on sustainable food production and farming at large scales, with a focus on “developing and testing a range of software and hardware prototypes based on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, simulation, sensors, robotics and more,” according to project lead Elliott Grant. Read the full story.

International Corner

(TOP) ~ Checking in on the climate as you check out

A major supermarket chain in Denmark is offering shoppers something extra at checkout: an estimated amount of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from their groceries. Read the full story.

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

(TOP) ~ Local Food, Local Places 2020-2021

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture invite communities to apply for technical assistance to help revitalize their economy, promote local foods, improve health, and protect the environment. Local Foods, Local Places helps communities revitalize neighborhoods through development of local food systems. To date, 108 communities have benefitted from assistance with support from EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with participation from several federal and state partners. Deadline: October 30. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Vermont Capital Equipment Assistance Program

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is accepting applications for up to $1 million in funding through the Capital Equipment Assistance Program. Financial assistance is available for new or innovative equipment that will aid in the reduction of surface runoff of agricultural wastes to state waters, improve water quality of state waters, reduce odors from manure application, separate phosphorus from manure, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce costs to farmers when they apply manure or implement a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Eligible recipients include farms, custom applicators, non-profit organizations, and other related businesses. Deadline: November 1. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ The Conservation Alliance Nominations for Conservation Projects

The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses that seek to protect threatened wild places in North America for their habitat and recreational values. As a group of outdoor industry companies, the alliance recognizes its responsibility to help protect the wildlands and waterways on which its customers recreate and wildlife thrives. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded in support of projects that seek to secure permanent and quantifiable protection of a specific wildland or waterway. Priority will be given to landscape-scale projects that have a clear benefit for habitat. In addition, campaigns should engage grassroots citizen action in support of the conservation effort and must have a clear recreational benefit. Deadline: November 1. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ The Conservation Alliance Public Lands Defense Fund

The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor businesses that seek to protect threatened wild places in North America for their habitat and recreational values. As a group of outdoor industry companies, the alliance recognizes its responsibility to help protect the wildlands and waterways on which its customers recreate and wildlife thrives. Organizations may now apply to the Alliance’s Public Lands Defense Fund. Launched in January 2017, the fund supports organizations working to preserve and defend the integrity of the public lands system in U.S. and Canada. The fund will award efforts to defend existing protections for landscapes and waterways on public lands and oppose the proposed transfer of federal lands to the states or to private hands. November 1. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is inviting applications to its Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund. The Fund supports small grassroots groups in Northern California that are tackling tough environmental problems, including toxic pollution, urban sprawl, sustainable agriculture, climate change, and/or environmental degradation of rivers and wild places. Though the fund, small grants (typically $5,000 or less) will be awarded to grassroots organizations that are underserved by most foundations’ funding strategies. Projects must be focused on Northern California (including the entire Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bay Area, Central Valley, Central Coast, and North Coast) and address some aspect of environmental health and justice, land management and urban sprawl, habitat and wilderness protection, sustainable forestry, water resources, agriculture, sustainability, and/or pollution. November 1. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ 2021 Annual Environmental Grant Program

The Rockfall Foundation in Middletown, Connecticut, has opened applications for its 2021 Annual Environmental Grant Program. Through the program, grants will be awarded in support of projects that support and enhance the environment in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through preservation, conservation, restoration, or education and that increase public knowledge of and respect for its natural resources. Organizations or projects must be based in one of the following focus towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, or Westbrook. Proposals that focus on the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound will be considered as long as there is a demonstrated impact in at least one of the focus towns. Grants typically range between $1,000 and $5,000, but may be requested in any amount up to $15,000. The available pool in 2021 for all grant awards is $25,000. Eligible applicants include organizations certified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, towns, religious institutions, and schools. Prospective applicants may partner with a 501(c)(3) or a municipality, as co-applicants to comply with this requirement. Deadline: November 10. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Minnesota Crop Research Grant

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications for applied crop research that improves agricultural product quality, quantity, or value in Minnesota. Minnesota-based organizations with agricultural research capabilities may apply for a total of $1 million, with a maximum award of $250,000 per project. Research projects with an outreach plan that addresses inequities and/or disparities experienced by diverse racial and ethnic communities including Native American tribal communities, and rural communities with limited economic opportunities will receive bonus points. In addition, preference will also be given to applicants researching crops that have limited access to other research funds. Deadline: November 24. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ FY 2021 Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP)

The Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) is a voluntary program through which NRCS enters into agreements with eligible partners to leverage resources to carry out high priority wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement and to improve wildlife habitat. Through WREP, state agencies, county and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and American Indian tribes are encouraged to submit proposals for priority project areas to collaborate with NRCS through program and partnership agreements. Once a proposal is accepted for funding, the partners work with tribal and private landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their properties. Easements enable landowners to adopt a variety of conservation practices with the help of funding from NRCS. Deadline: November 30. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ North Central Region SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program

North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (NCR-SARE)'s Farmer Rancher Grant Program is a competitive grants program for farmers and ranchers who want to explore sustainable solutions to problems through on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects. Farmer Rancher grants are offered as individual ($9,000 maximum), team of two ($18,000 maximum), or group ($27,000 maximum) grants for ideas initiated by farmers and ranchers in the 12-state North Central Region. Grants support producers who are protecting natural resources, enhancing communities, and boosting profitability. Deadline: December 3. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Minnesota AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant

Minnesota's AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant supports innovative on-farm research and demonstrations. It funds projects that explore sustainable agriculture practices and systems that could make farming more profitable, resource efficient, and personally satisfying. Applications from Minnesota farmers receive priority, but the program also funds Minnesota nonprofits and educational organizations that meaningfully involve Minnesota farmers in projects. Projects must last two to three years and grantees must be willing to share what they learn with others. A total of $200,000 is available in Fiscal Year 2021. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per project. For requests between $25,000 and $50,000, applicants must provide a dollar for dollar match on the amount above $25,000. Deadline: December 10. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Brighter Future Microgrant Program

The Brighter Future Microgrant Program will assist farmers in successfully launching, growing and sustaining farms in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing markets, severe weather and climate change and other forces impacting the food and agricultural system. Grants are intended to leverage other resources and make a real difference for farmers to improve farm viability, access land, improve land security, facilitate farm transfers and increase resilience to climate change. Grants can be used for farm equipment, infrastructure, and/or professional services to help participating farmers achieve program goals. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $5,000 per project. A project may involve an individual farmer OR a farm family. Only one grant can be awarded per farm entity. Eligible applicants and proposed projects must be located within counties approximately 100 miles of the following cities: Los Angeles, Portland, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Columbus, Nashville, Washington DC, New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Hartford/Springfield, Atlanta, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale/Miami and Orlando. Deadline: Ongoing until funds are exhausted. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Solid Waste Management Grant Program

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Grant Program has been established to assist communities through free technical assistance and/or training provided by the grant recipients. Qualified organizations will receive SWM grant funds to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. Funds may be used for: Evaluating current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources; provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills provide technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce the solid waste stream; provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development and implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements. Grant funds may not be used to: recruit applications for the Agency’s water and waste loan and/or any loan and/or grant program; duplicate current services, or replace or substitute support normally provided by other means, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project, including feasibility, design, and cost estimates; fund political or lobbying activities; pay for capital assets; purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property; pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities and pay costs. Deadline: December 31. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ RFP For Manure & Animal Production Waste

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is seeing Request for Proposals from eligible persons seeking a grant to partially fund the development of economically feasible animal waste technology projects in Maryland. The purpose of this request is to encourage the development and implementation of proven, innovative technologies that manage animal waste in a manner that: (1) reduces the amount of nutrients in the waste; (2) changes the product’s form or function for alternative uses; or (3) produces energy or other marketable products from the waste. New this year, innovative technology proposals treating animal waste streams—in addition to animal manure—will be accepted. Examples include dairy wastewater, poultry processing waste, and livestock mortality among others. Refer to the definition and evaluation criteria within the Request for Proposals for additional information. There are no minimum or maximum amounts for requests. Deadline: December 31. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Water Conservation Services, Lower Colorado Basin Region

Through the WaterSMART programs, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with states, tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. Reclamation makes cost-shared financial assistance available for the development of water conservation plans, the design of water management improvements, identifying needed water management improvements through System Optimization Reviews (SORs), and improving the understanding of water conservation techniques and technologies through demonstration projects. The objective of this NOFO is to invite states, Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, cities and towns, or other organizations with water or power delivery authority located within the Lower Colorado Basin Region (LCB) to leverage their money and resources by cost-sharing water conservation planning activities with Reclamation to make more efficient use of existing water supplies. Deadline: October 8, 2021. Read the full announcement.

(TOP) ~ Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)

The Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) supports genome-scale research that addresses challenging questions of biological, societal and economic importance. PGRP encourages the development of innovative tools, technologies and resources that empower a broad plant research community to answer scientific questions on a genome-wide scale. Emphasis is placed on the scale and depth of the question being addressed and the creativity of the approach. Data produced by plant genomics should be usable, accessible, integrated across scales and of high impact across biology. Training, broadening participation, and career development are essential to scientific progress and should be integrated in all PGRP-funded projects. Two funding tracks are currently available: 1. RESEARCH-PGR TRACK: Genome-scale plant research to address fundamental questions in biology, including processes of economic and/or societal importance. 2. TRTech-PGR TRACK: Tools, resources and technology breakthroughs that further enable functional plant genomics. Deadline: Proposals accepted anytime. Read the full announcement.

Sources: The New York Times, Inside Higher Ed, The Desert Sun, Progressive Farmer, North Carolina State University, USDA, The Packer, Nature, The Verge, The Washington Post,

Vision: The Societies Washington, DC Science Policy Office (SPO) will advocate the importance and value of the agronomic, crop and soil sciences in developing national science policy and ensuring the necessary public-sector investment in the continued health of the environment for the well being of humanity. The SPO will assimilate, interpret, and disseminate in a timely manner to Society members information about relevant agricultural, natural resources and environmental legislation, rules and regulations under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

This page of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA web site will highlight current news items relevant to Science Policy. It is not an endorsement of any position.