Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Agricultural Innovations, 18185 [2020-06825]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 18185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06825]


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 63 / Wednesday, April 1, 2020 / 
Notices

[[Page 18185]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Docket No. USDA-2020-0003]


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Agricultural 
Innovations

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Request for written stakeholder input.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 
soliciting comments and suggestions on objectives and opportunities 
leading to research goals and informed product goals to facilitate 
transformative breakthroughs to enable U.S. agriculture to meet the 
Department's goal of increasing agricultural production by 40 percent 
to meet the needs of the global population in 2050 while cutting the 
environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture in half. This effort is 
part of USDA's Agricultural Innovation Agenda, the Department's 
commitment to the continued success of American farmers, ranchers, 
producers, and foresters in the face of future challenges.

DATES: Written comments must be received by August 1, 2020, to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=USDA-2020-
0003 and click the ``Comment Now'' button.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dyer, 202-720-1542, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the Agricultural Innovation 
Agenda, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks 
written stakeholder input on objectives and opportunities leading to 
research goals and informed product goals to facilitate transformative 
breakthroughs to enable U.S. agriculture to meet the Department's goal 
to increase agricultural production by 40 percent to meet the needs of 
the global population in 2050 while cutting the environmental footprint 
of U.S. agriculture in half.
    The Department, using the 2019 National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine report Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food 
and Agricultural Research by 2030, identified four innovation clusters 
that present broad potential for transformative innovation. Innovation 
clusters represent a grouping of innovations to focus agricultural 
research and inform product development. These clusters are:
     Genome Design--Utilization of genomics and precision 
breeding to explore, control, and improve traits of agriculturally 
important organisms.
     Digital/Automation--Deployment of precise, accurate and 
field-based sensors to collect information in real time in order to 
visualize changing conditions and respond automatically with 
interventions that reduce risk of losses and maximize productivity.
     Prescriptive Intervention--Application and integration of 
data sciences, software tools, and systems models to enable advanced 
analytics for managing the food and agricultural system.
     Systems Based Farm Management--Leverage a systems approach 
in order to understand the nature of interactions among different 
elements of the food and agricultural system to increase overall 
efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of farm enterprises.
    Stakeholders are asked to respond to the following questions:
    1. What agricultural commodity, group of commodities, or customer 
base does your response pertain to or would benefit?
    2. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities to increase 
productivity and/or decrease environmental footprint that should be 
addressed in the next 10- to 30-year timeframe?
    3. For each opportunity identified, answer the following 
supplemental questions:
    a. What might be the outcome for the innovation solution (e.g., the 
physical or tangible product(s) or novel approach) from each of the 
four innovation clusters?
    b. What are the specific research gaps, regulatory barriers, or 
other hurdles that need to be addressed to enable eventual application, 
or further application, of the innovation solution proposed from each 
of the four innovation clusters?
    Stakeholder input will inform the Department as it works to develop 
a comprehensive strategy to guide public-sector research objectives and 
inform private-sector product development in order to maximize the U.S. 
Agriculture sector's continued ability to meet future demands.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of March.
Stephen Censky,
Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2020-06825 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P