Science Policy Report

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27 November 2019

In This Issue:

Policy News

Science and Society News

International Corner

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

Policy News

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released in September a “request for information” soliciting input from stakeholders on a broad range of issues related to climate change and potential policy solutions. The select committee aims to submit legislative recommendations to Congress in March of 2020 informed by the input from the RFI. The ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Science Policy Office surveyed Society members, seeking their input and suggestions to help shape the comments that the Societies submitted to the Select Committee. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA also submitted comments as a part of a multi-Society climate science coalition. See the ASA, CSSA, SSSA comments here and the coalition comments here.
 

President Trump has signed a temporary spending bill to fund federal agencies, averting a possible government shutdown, according to an administration official. The Senate passed the bill earlier Thursday, hours ahead of the midnight shutdown. Lawmakers voted 74-20 to approve the measure to fund the government through Dec. 20. The legislative measure, known as a continuing resolution, will extend current funding levels at government agencies. The House had approved the continuing resolution on Tuesday in a largely party-line vote with most Democrats backing it and only a dozen Republicans joining them. This marks the second time this year that Congress has had to pass a short-term funding bill to avoid a possible shutdown. Read the full article.
 

Negotiations on a package of spending bills to fund the federal government have produced a key breakthrough, though considerably more work is needed to wrap up the long-delayed measures. Top lawmakers of the House and Senate Appropriations committees on Saturday confirmed agreement on allocations for each of the 12 spending bills, a step that allows negotiations on the $1.4 trillion budget bundle to begin in earnest to try to pass the measures by a Dec. 20 deadline. The measures would fill in the details on this summer’s hard-won budget and debt deal. Read the full article.
 

The university administrators who have long advocated for a standard grant application process across the U.S. government say it would save time and money. Today, an influential Senate panel offered another reason: to prevent the fruits of government-funded research from falling into the wrong hands. How to deal with China’s transformation into a technological superpower is a front-burner issue for national policymakers. A new report by the intelligence panel of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs says federal research agencies have been tardy in responding to China’s aggressive moves, which are exemplified by its decadelong effort to recruit world-class scientists working in U.S. labs. Read the full article.
 

White House science adviser Kelvin Droegemeier wants to know how researchers would bolster and protect science in the United States. So he’s started a listening tour that kicked off with representatives from academia, industry and government agencies at a summit in Washington DC on 5 November. Attendees at the largely closed-door event discussed issues including foreign influence in academic research, conflicts of interest and sexual harassment. The project is an attempt to harmonize policies across government science agencies so that it’s easier for federally funded researchers to follow the rules while reducing the administrative burden on individuals and academic institutions. Read the full article.
 

Science and Society News

As many of us rush to the store for last-minute ingredients in our favorite dishes, it’s easy to forget the full story behind our food. The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America have fun information to share as we gather with loved ones for our Thanksgiving meals. Read the full article.
 

For the last four years I’ve been embedded in a Swiss research group that specializes in creating genetically modified organisms, or GMOs (scientists prefer to use the terms genetic engineered organisms or transgenics rather than GMO). And no, we are not funded by Monsanto, and our GMOs are largely patent-free. Nevertheless, my time in GMO research creating virus-resistant plants has meant dealing with the overwhelming negative responses the topic evokes in so many people. These range from daily conversations halting into awkward silence when the subject of my work crops up, to hateful Twitter trolls, and even the occasional fear that public protesters might destroy our research. Little wonder then, that having finished my PhD, I’m part-excited and part-relieved to move to a new lab and work on more fundamental questions in plant biology: how plants are able to control the levels at which their genes are active. Read the full article.
 

Publishing giant Elsevier has signed its first open-access deal with a U.S. institution, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Inside Higher Ed reports. The arrangement, which CMU announced on 21 November, will allow CMU scholars to publish articles in any Elsevier journal on an immediately free-to-read basis. CMU researchers will also continue to have access to paywalled Elsevier articles, which previous contracts covered with subscription fees. Read the full article.
 

Food and agriculture innovation have sucked up remarkable amounts of investor capital in recent years and could become a $700 billion market by 2030, according to a Union Bank of Switzerland report. Millions are being invested globally in indoor urban farms because of their promise to produce more food with less impact, with two dozen large-scale projects launching in Dubai, Israel, the Netherlands and other countries. Still, the next big thing may be stymied in the United States by high start-up costs, high urban rents and lack of a safety net in a food system that is highly dependent on subsidies and bailouts for a few commodity crops. Read the full article.
 

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History developed the DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil display in 2006, and the Soil Science Society of America was its founding sponsor. Now Dig It! has a new life, in the form of “Dig It! DIY”, an online, downloadable set of infographic panels and an online guide. And, it’s free – in thanks partly to another grant from SSSA via the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF). You can even make a public display at a library, or other public space! Learn more here.
 

Every year, America throws away more than 80 million pounds of food. More than three-quarters of it ends up in landfills, where it takes up more room than any other kind of waste and produces as much greenhouse gases as 3.4 million vehicles. The food waste that doesn’t end up decomposing at the dump is most commonly diverted to compost facilities that turn organic material into nutrient-rich soil. But an increasing number of municipalities around the country are looking to do even more with this untapped resource by turning it into usable energy called biogas. Read the full article.
 

The benefits of this new approach are incredible—improved soil health, enhanced soil water holding capacity, increased plant growth and vigor, cleaner air quality, and perhaps most importantly, locals say, the ability to sequester carbon forever. The secret lies in a substance called biochar. Biochar is a modern technology that returns carbon to the soil in the form of long-lasting charcoal. It’s made by baking biomass (such as tree wood, plants, manure, and other organic materials) without the oxygen that could cause it to burn completely to ash. Read the full article.
 

Supporters of genetic engineering have long promised it will help meet the world’s growing demand for food. But despite the creation of many genetically modified (GM) pest- and herbicide-resistant crops, scientists haven’t had much success with boosting crop growth. Now, researchers have for the first time shown they can reliably increase corn yields up to 10% by changing a gene that increases plant growth—regardless of whether growing conditions are poor or optimal. Read the full article.
 

The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) jointly announced on November 19 the award of $10.3 million from FFAR to establish the research component of ESMC that supports the development of a national environmental credit marketplace. ESMC and its members will match the grant over three years to fund research and development projects in this public-private partnership for a total investment of $20.6 million. FFAR-funded research will better quantify, monitor and verify the environmental impacts of agricultural producers’ conservation efforts to recognize and pay them through an ecosystem services marketplace. The Ecosystem Services Market Research Consortium (ESMRC), the research arm of the ESMC, will develop tools and technologies to assure the validity of the credits cost-effectively, and at-scale. Read the full article.
 

Nominations are open for the 2020 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, an honor that recognizes professionals actively working in the agricultural, environmental, or food sectors who are promoting agricultural science in the public policy arena. This award has become an influential component in the efforts to keep agricultural issues and programs in the public eye and in front of national and world policymakers. Application deadline, February 3. Learn more and apply here.

Share your Science at next year’s ASA, CSSA, SSSA  Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, November 8-11. The meeting will feature over 3,500 technical presentations, along with a host of networking events and award ceremonies. It’s the premiere opportunity for professionals working in agronomic, crop, soil, and related sciences to present, meet and learn from their peers, expand their knowledge base, and take advantage of an abundance of networking opportunities to enhance their career.
Learn more here.
 

International Corner

Scientists growing crops in the Arab Gulf to test climate resilience. The region’s heat, scarce water resources, and often salt-tainted soil mirror conditions that may become the norm in many areas. Quinoa, salicornia, and date palms are some of the crops being tested. Read the full article.
 

Soon. That has long been scientists' answer when asked about the approval of Golden Rice, a genetically modified (GM) crop that could help prevent childhood blindness and deaths in the developing world. Ever since Golden Rice first made headlines nearly 20 years ago, it has been a flashpoint in debates over GM crops. Advocates touted it as an example of their potential benefit to humanity, while opponents of transgenic crops criticized it as a risky and unnecessary approach to improve health in the developing world. Now, Bangladesh appears about to become the first country to approve Golden Rice for planting. Read the full article.
 

Global emissions are expected to keep climbing despite promises from almost 200 nations to address climate change, propelling temperatures upward and threatening to shatter the threshold of 2°C that scientists say would invite dramatic changes to ecology and the economy. The 10th Emissions Gap Report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), released today, warned that there's "no sign" greenhouse gases will hit their zenith anytime soon. Read the full article.
 

Research, Education, Extension Funding Opportunities

The year 2020 has been designated as the International Year of Plant Health by the United Nations General Assembly. To commemorate this special year, the American Phytopathological Society Public Policy Board will host a Congressional Reception at the U.S. Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2020. This event will offer a unique opportunity for policy makers and plant health stakeholders to discuss critical plant health issues. At this reception, we would like to showcase 5 high-quality poster presentations on diverse and impactful research projects in the broad area of plant health. Deadline, December 16. Read the full announcement.
 

The intent of the 1890 COEs Program is to provide support for Centers of Excellence that were originally established in 2015 in conjunction with the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. The 1890 COEs are hosted by 1890 Land-Grant Institutions with the goals of: 1) increasing profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities; 2) addressing critical needs for enhanced international training and development; and 3) increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline. Letter of Intent deadline December 6. Read the full announcement here.
 

The Department of Energy-Office of Science program in Biological and Environmental Research (BER) hereby announces its interest in receiving applications for research in Environmental Systems Science (ESS), including Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) and Subsurface Biogeochemical Research (SBR). The goal of the Environmental System Science (ESS) activity in BER is to advance a robust, predictive understanding of the set of interdependent physical, biogeochemical, ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological processes for use in Earth system, ecosystem and reactive transport models. Using an iterative approach to model-driven experimentation and observation, and interdisciplinary teams, ESS-supported scientists work to unravel the coupled physical, chemical and biological processes that control the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and integrated watersheds across critical spatial and temporal scales. This FOA will consider applications that focus on improving the understanding and representation of terrestrial and subsurface environments in ways that advance the sophistication and capabilities of local, regional, and larger scale models. Using new measurements, field experiments, more sophisticated modeling and/or synthesis studies, this FOA will encompass two topic areas: 1) Terrestrial Ecology, specifically linking above and belowground processes, as well as methane biogeochemistry; and 2) Subsurface and Watershed Hydro-biogeochemistry, specifically studying the function and dynamics of hydro-biogeochemical processes within watersheds. All applications are required to clearly delineate an integrative, hypothesis-driven approach and describe the existing needs/gaps in state-of-the-art models. Applicants should provide details on how the results of the proposed research will be used to improve the predictability and sophistication of integrated watershed systems and/or terrestrial ecosystem models. Preapplication deadline, December 5. Read the full announcement.
 

The Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) contributes to the IUSE initiative through the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Pathways into the Geosciences - Earth, Ocean, Polar and Atmospheric Sciences (IUSE:GEOPAths) funding opportunity. IUSE:GEOPAths invites proposals that specifically address the current needs and opportunities related to education within the geosciences community through the formation of STEM Learning Ecosystems that engage students in the study of the Earth, its oceans, polar regions and atmosphere. While maintaining elements from the legacy tracks of GEOPATHS, this solicitation features three new funding tracks that focus on Geoscience Learning Ecosystems (GLEs): 1) GEOPAths: Informal Networks (IN). Collaborative projects in this track will support geoscience learning and experiences in informal settings for teachers, pre-college (e.g., upper level high school) students, and early undergraduates in the geosciences. 2) GEOPAths: Undergraduate Preparation (UP). Projects in this track will engage pre-college and undergraduate students in extra-curricular experiences and training in the geosciences with a focus on service learning [Reference 3 in the Program Description section] and workplace skill building. 3) GEOPAths: Graduate Opportunities (GO). Projects in this track will improve research and career-related pathways into the geosciences for undergraduate and graduate students through institutional collaborations with a focus on service learning and workplace skill building. Letter of Intent deadline, December 20. Read the full announcement.
 

The purpose of the Understanding the Rules of Life: Epigenetics (URoL:Epigenetics) program is to enable innovative research and to promote multidisciplinary education and workforce training in the broad area of epigenetics. Successful projects of the URoL:Epigenetics Program are expected to use complementary, interdisciplinary approaches to investigate how epigenetic phenomena lead to emergent properties that explain the fundamental behavior of living systems. Ultimately, successful projects should identify general principles ("rules") that underlie biological phenomena within or across scales of size, complexity (e.g., molecular, cellular, organismal, population) and time (from sub-second to geologic) in taxa from anywhere within the tree of life, including humans. URoL:Epigenetics projects must integrate perspectives and research approaches from more than one research discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, physics, social and behavioral sciences). The interdisciplinary scope of URoL:Epigenetics projects also provides unique training and outreach possibilities to train the next generation of scientists in a diversity of approaches and to engage society more generally. Letter of Intent deadline, December 20. Read the full announcement.
 

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world — the Great Lakes. As one of the initiative’s 16 task force members, the U.S. Forest Service uses GLRI resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and accelerate progress toward long-term restoration goals for this important ecosystem. The goal of this program area is to detect, prevent, eradicate, and/or control invasive plant species to promote resiliency, watershed stability, and biological diversity on Federal, State, or other public or private land. Deadline January 10. Read the full announcement here.
 

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) is seeking to fund environmental research and development in the Resource Conservation and Resiliency program area. The Resource Conservation and Resiliency program area supports the development of the science, technologies, and methods needed to manage DoD’s installation infrastructure in a sustainable way. SERDP is also seeking to fund environmental research and development in the Environmental Restoration program area. The Environmental Restoration program area focuses on remediating and managing contaminated lands on current and former military installations. It supports the development of innovative technologies to characterize, remediate, and scientifically manage contaminants in soil, sediments, and ground, surface and wastewater. Preproposal deadline is January 7. Read the full announcement. 
 

The U.S. Forest Service requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. This Request for Proposals focuses on the following priorities to: 1) Reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on National Forest System and other forest lands; 2) Reduce costs of forest management on all land types; and 3) Promote economic and environmental health of communities. The intent of the Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity is to stimulate, expand, and support wood products markets and wood energy markets. Deadline January 15. Read the full announcement here.
 

Department of Energy-Office of Science hereby invites grant applications for support under the Early Career Research Program in the following program areas: Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP), and Nuclear Physics (NP). The purpose of this program is to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas supported by SC. Preapplication deadline January 7. Read the full announcement.
 

The objective of Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms (URoL:MTM) is to understand and establish the theory and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of microbiomes, a collection of microbes in a specific habitat/environment. The URoL:MTM program invites integrated, interdisciplinary proposals that develop theoretical predictive frameworks with well-designed experimental and/or computational approaches to generate and test hypotheses about the causal relationships within the microbiome, and among the microbiome, host, and environment. How these relationships affect robustness, resilience, and adaptability of individual organisms, populations, and communities are also of interest. Projects may apply existing ecological and evolutionary theory or develop new experimental, computational, or mathematical tools, models, and theory to: i) explain function and interactions in natural, experimental, and model microbiomes; ii) elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie communication between the host and the microbiome and among the members of the microbiome; and/or iii) comparatively analyze microbiomes to discover emergent properties that provide insight into the behavior of living systems. Letter of Intent deadline, January 17. Read the full announcement.
 

The purpose of this program is strengthen the capacity of Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology. The Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) is a NIFA-administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, postsecondary agricultural sciences education. Deadline, January 23. Read the full announcement.
 

This competitive grants program is intended to promote and strengthen the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Programs aim to attract outstanding students and produce graduates capable of enhancing the Nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional work force. Deadline, January 30. Read the full announcement.
 

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Deadline, January 30. Read the full announcement.
 

The Food System Vision Prize is an invitation for organizations, companies, governments, and other entities around the world to develop inspirational, concrete Visions for the food system of the future. The Prize, launched by The Rockefeller Foundation in partnership with SecondMuse and OpenIDEO, is driven by a central question: “How might we envision regenerative and nourishing food futures for 2050?” To find answers, the Prize seeks systems-focused proposals that encourage people worldwide to take action and think collaboratively about the future. Submitted Visions should also reflect the Prize’s core beliefs that include diversity, resilience, equity, and the power of food to connect people. Deadline, January 31. Read the full announcement.
 

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between the USDA and the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor's degree in the listed universities. Deadline, January 31. Read the full announcement.
 

Sources: NRP; CNBC; ScienceInsider; Nature; MassiveSci; Washington Post; Politico; NRCS; ESMC; Reuters; USDA; DOE; USFS; NSF; DOD

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.