Davis College Connects with USDA to Strengthen Relationships
By: Norman Martin
Texas Tech University's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources leaders visited with a broad swath of officials from the United States Department of Agriculture during an information-packed series of sessions late last month.
Highlighting the trip was an in-depth meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, where discussions turned toward the importance of water security and climate smart research to improve climate resilience and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture. Davis College's ‘Pursuit of Prime' strategic initiative and needs for enhanced investment in research at universities for agriculture were reviewed.
“The opportunity to engage with Secretary Vilsack and other key leaders in USDA to ensure our vision is aligned with federal priorities will aid our ability to partner and expand the success of our common goals in the future,” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel.
Davis College Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives Darren Hudson added, “Secretary Vilsack was very interested in our Pursuit of Prime strategic approach to addressing grand challenges facing agriculture and natural resources."
“The linkage to rural vitality, a topic of great passion for the Secretary, was highlighted,” he said. “Our mission moving forward is to continue to push towards leadership in our key strategic priority areas which have considerable alignment with USDA's core areas of emphasis.”
Also representing Texas Tech on the trip were Davis College Associate Dean for Research Noureddine Abidi, Texas Tech Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations Kristina Butts and Senior Director for Federal Relations Jennifer Brown.
The Davis College contingent met with Isabel Walls, Senior Public Health Advisor & Scientific Liaison within the USDA's Office of Public Health Science, to review research needs in food safety and inspection, including the recent High Pathogenic Avian Influenza and its impacts on dairy and meat food safety.
Separately, they met with Lisa Ramirez, director of the USDA's Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, for an overview of engagement between researchers and USDA, as well as programs available through USDA to enhance Davis College's public engagement with agriculture.
Next the Texas Tech leaders held discussions with a group from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, its chief scientific in-house research agency. Attending was USDA-ARS's Acting Associate Administrator Nora Lapitan, along with Acting Deputy Administrators Tim Widmer and Jack Okamuro, and National Program Leader for Nutrition Food Safety & Quality John Foulk. Conversations centered on workforce development, internships for Davis College students, and ways to expand partnerships in research/outreach.
Other sessions featured consultations with:
- Ted McKinney(Executive Director – National Association of State Departments of Agriculture) Focus: Engagement with state-level departments of agriculture to understand research/outreach support opportunities for Davis College.
- Basil Gooden(Under-Secretary – USDA Rural Development) Focus: Outreach and educational programs offered through USDA-Rural Development to better understand funding mechanisms and programs available to Davis College faculty and staff for rural development programming.
- Manjit Misra (Director – USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture) Focus: Research capabilities and strategic priorities at NIFA and Davis College and programs to enhance research opportunities for Davis College faculty.
- Oswald Crasta (USDA-ARS National Program Leader, Grain Crops) and Angie Snyder (USDA Deputy Administrator AMS, Cotton & Tobacco Program). Focus: Fostering close collaborations between USDA-ARS and Davis College to promote research on crops and grading/classification.
Looking ahead, Krehbiel said the coming years offer multiple opportunities for success. “Potential and current investments made in Davis College through the Texas University Fund and Gordon and Joyce Davis gift provide resources necessary for growing impact on securing the future of food, fiber, and resilient communities in West Texas and beyond,” he said. “These resources provide the leverage needed for us to partner with government agencies and industry to expand our impact.”
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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