[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18877-18878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07574]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 2014 /
Notices
[[Page 18877]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Solicitation of Nominations for Members of the
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
AGENCY: Research, Education, Economics, USDA.
ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for membership.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec. 7601 of Pub. L. 113-79, the United
States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for nominations
to fill 15 vacancies on the Foundation for Food and Agricultural
Research. Seven (7) representatives are to be selected from lists of
candidates provided by industry, and eight (8) representatives are to
be selected from a list of candidates provided by the National Academy
of Sciences. The National Academy of Sciences will be soliciting
nominations through a separate process. The Agricultural Act of 2014
can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr2642enr/pdf/BILLS-113hr2642enr.pdf.
DATES: Deadline for Foundation board member nominations is April 28,
2014 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: Congressional Affairs, Research, Education, and Economics,
Room 214-W, Whitten Building, United States Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0321, fax number 202-
260-8786, email [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ven Neralla; Director of Congressional
Affairs; Research, Education, and Economics; United States. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.; Room 214-W, Whitten
Building; Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: 202-260-8208, email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Pub. L. 113-79) created a new Foundation for Food and Agriculture
Research:
(1) To advance the research mission of the Department by supporting
agricultural research activities focused on addressing key problems of
national and international significance including--(A) plant health,
production, and plant products; (B) animal health, production, and
products; (C) food safety, nutrition, and health; (D) renewable energy,
natural resources, and the environment; (E) agricultural and food
security; (F) agriculture systems and technology; and (G) agriculture
economics and rural communities; and (2) to foster collaboration with
agricultural researchers from the Federal Government, State (as defined
in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) governments, institutions
of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C, 1001)), industry, and nonprofit organizations.
In general, the Foundation shall: (A) Award grants to, or enter into
contracts, memoranda of understanding, or cooperative agreements with,
scientists and entities, which may include agricultural research
agencies in the Department, university consortia, public-private
partnerships, institutions of higher education, nonprofit
organizations, and industry, to efficiently and effectively advance the
goals and priorities of the Foundation; (B) in consultation with the
Secretary--(i) identify existing and proposed Federal intramural and
extramural research and development programs relating to the purposes
of the Foundation described in subsection (c); and (ii) coordinate
Foundation activities with those programs so as to minimize duplication
of existing efforts and to avoid conflicts; (C) identify unmet and
emerging agricultural research needs after reviewing the roadmap for
agricultural research, education, and extension authorized by section
7504 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
7614a); (D) facilitate technology transfer and release of information
and data gathered from the activities of the Foundation to the
agricultural research community; (E) promote and encourage the
development of the next generation of agricultural research scientists;
and (F) carry out such other activities as the Board determines to be
consistent with the purposes of the Foundation.
Nominations are being solicited from organizations, associations,
societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies that represent
a wide variety of food and agricultural interests throughout the
country, and that can fulfill the requirement of industry provided
lists of candidates. The nominees are not required to be in industry,
but must be nominated by someone in industry.
Criteria for Board Membership
The Board of Directors will be composed of the following:
8 representatives selected from a list of candidates
provided by the National Academy of Sciences.
7 representatives selected from lists of candidates
provided by industry.
The Foundation's Board will be responsible for governing the
organization and ensuring it succeeds in its mission. To that end the
Board members will oversee the mission and operation of the Foundation,
including: Approving programs and monitoring their effectiveness,
coordinating Foundation activities with federal research programs,
awarding grants, and ensuring financial solvency and raising resources.
The initial Board is to be appointed by the ex-officio board
members designated in the statute. 3 The ex-officio members are: The
Secretary of Agriculture, the Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Research, Education, and Economics, the Administrator of the
Agricultural Research Service, the Director of the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture, and the Director of the National Science
Foundation.
Process and Criteria for Nominations
The nominator should submit a name and contact information for each
nominee. All nominees will be vetted before selection. Nominations are
open to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, age, mental or physical handicap, marital status, or
sexual orientation.
[[Page 18878]]
Done at Washington, DC, this 31st day of March 2014.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2014-07574 Filed 4-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P