Spurring Innovation in Food and Agriculture: A Review of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Program.

摘要

NIFA approached the National Research Council (NRC) in 2012 requesting an evaluation of the AFRI program in its early stages of implementation. In response to the request, the NRC appointed an ad hoc committee to conduct an independent assessment of the AFRI program, including a review of the quality and value of research funded by the program and the prospects of its success in meeting established goals and outcomes. The committee conducted its assessment of the AFRI program based on members’ expertise and on information collected from multiple sources. The extensive literature on the role of research and competitive grants for research in accelerating progress in the agricultural enterprise is cited throughout the report. To assess effectiveness of the program’s operations, the committee solicited information from NIFA staff about the grant management processes. In addition, the committee gathered information from individuals who contributed to the conceptualization and implementation of NIFA and AFRI, government agencies, professional societies, and grantees of AFRI. The committee used an online survey tool to solicit input broadly from researchers, academic and extension leaders, reviewers, and users and beneficiaries of AFRI, which was a mechanism for providing additional insight from the applicant community.