Research Programs In the College of Research Programs In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dr. David Smith, DirectorDr. David Smith, Director

North Carolina Agricultural Research ServiceNorth Carolina Agricultural Research Service

Positioning Ourselves for the Future

“ We are here to educate students and to create new knowledgethrough our research. And, of course, in Land Grant Universities ,a third leg of that stool is to extend that information and see that it has value…..

What I found that I enjoyed the most about academic administration was helping others be successful. You cannot be fulfilled in an academic administrative role if you don’t enjoycreating an environment where other people can be successful. Because it can’t be about you. It’s got to be about the students and the faculty.”

Chancellor Randy WoodsonSpring 2010

The Knowledge PipelineThe Knowledge Pipeline

CALS ResearchCALS Research Our research is about outcome that enriches Our research is about outcome that enriches

the lives of our citizens.the lives of our citizens.– Healthy, safe, and sustainable food.Healthy, safe, and sustainable food.– Healthy population with access to effective Healthy population with access to effective

therapies.therapies.– Diverse ecosystems and sustainable Diverse ecosystems and sustainable

environment.environment.– Renewable and affordable energy.Renewable and affordable energy.– Economic developmentEconomic development

CALS ResearchCALS Research Our programs impact every citizen in North Our programs impact every citizen in North

CarolinaCarolina– Our agricultural programs directly support the Our agricultural programs directly support the

state’s largest industry and 700,000 jobsstate’s largest industry and 700,000 jobs– Our human health, food safety, and wellness Our human health, food safety, and wellness

programs impact everyone.programs impact everyone.– Our work in ecosystem diversity, Our work in ecosystem diversity,

environmental protection, and land use impact environmental protection, and land use impact urban and rural citizens.urban and rural citizens.

NC State NC State Is the largest university in the UNC System.Is the largest university in the UNC System. NCARS has the third largest ARS budget in NCARS has the third largest ARS budget in

the USA. the USA. We have both agriculture and life science We have both agriculture and life science

faculty.faculty. We are positioned to succeed!We are positioned to succeed!

The strength of our program is The strength of our program is our people our people

NCARS is supported by over 1,000 faculty, staff and graduate students

Examples of Research DiversityExamples of Research Diversity Crop and animal production Crop and animal production

systemssystems Applied genomics in plant, Applied genomics in plant,

animal, and microbial systemsanimal, and microbial systems Structural biology, Structural biology,

metabolomics, and systems metabolomics, and systems biologybiology

Quantitative, computational Quantitative, computational biology, and bioinformacticsbiology, and bioinformactics

Plant BreedingPlant Breeding Aquaculture, fisheries, and Aquaculture, fisheries, and

livestock biologylivestock biology Integrated crop protection Integrated crop protection

systemssystems

Bioprocessing and value Bioprocessing and value enhancement of food, fiber, and enhancement of food, fiber, and bioenergy crops.bioenergy crops.

Ornamentals, turfgrasses, small Ornamentals, turfgrasses, small fruits, and vegetablesfruits, and vegetables

Food security and safetyFood security and safety Animal nutritionAnimal nutrition Animal welfare and behavioral Animal welfare and behavioral

biologybiology Ecosystem Sciences and climate Ecosystem Sciences and climate

changechange Human nutrition and healthHuman nutrition and health Market function and impact of Market function and impact of

policy on marketspolicy on markets

Balanced Portfolio of Research Balanced Portfolio of Research Agricultural programs and life sciencesAgricultural programs and life sciences Commodity support and competitive grantsCommodity support and competitive grants Hypothesis driven research and the Hypothesis driven research and the

generation of intellectual propertygeneration of intellectual property Discovery, translational research and Discovery, translational research and

serviceservice Production agriculture and human healthProduction agriculture and human health

Success Occurs Through Success Occurs Through TeamworkTeamwork

CommonGoal

Leadership

Talent

Resources

NCARS ExpendituresNCARS Expenditures$127.8 million$127.8 million

MessageMessage The ratio of appropriated to external support is The ratio of appropriated to external support is

about 1 to 1.about 1 to 1.– External funding doubles our capacity to conduct External funding doubles our capacity to conduct

research.research.

– Appropriated and external support are both important. Appropriated and external support are both important.

– Attention to state needs is important in maintaining Attention to state needs is important in maintaining state funding and thus our capacity to obtain state funding and thus our capacity to obtain extramural funding.extramural funding.

– Appropriated support will decline over time and Appropriated support will decline over time and external support must increase to maintain program.external support must increase to maintain program.

Appropriated Support for Appropriated Support for Agricultural ResearchAgricultural Research

Competitive Grant Support for Competitive Grant Support for Agricultural ResearchAgricultural Research

MessageMessage Our appropriated funding is among the Our appropriated funding is among the

highest in the USA.highest in the USA. Our competitive funding is respectable, but at Our competitive funding is respectable, but at

least some of our peer institutions are doing least some of our peer institutions are doing better than us.better than us.

The competition is high and success is The competition is high and success is variable. variable. – Graduate and technical support on grants will be Graduate and technical support on grants will be

constantly at risk.constantly at risk.

MessageMessage Our large appropriated budget and our Our large appropriated budget and our

commodity support are a strength. commodity support are a strength. But, they can become a weakness if we But, they can become a weakness if we

become complacent and are not aggressive become complacent and are not aggressive in the competitive arena. in the competitive arena.

We are diverse enough that we can do both.We are diverse enough that we can do both.

CALS Research Contracts CALS Research Contracts FY 2009 FY 2009

$50,755,662

Federal Sponsors of CALS Federal Sponsors of CALS ResearchResearch

FY 2009 $23,675,107

Research Support from Research Support from Selected SponsorsSelected Sponsors

AFRI Priority Science AreasAFRI Priority Science Areas

Global Food Security and HungerGlobal Food Security and Hunger Climate ChangeClimate Change Sustainable EnergySustainable Energy Childhood ObesityChildhood Obesity Food SafetyFood Safety

USDA Funding FY 2009USDA Funding FY 2009

13/18 Dept.165 faculty

NSF and NIH Funding NSF and NIH Funding FY 2009FY 2009

10/18 Dept.87 Faculty

MessageMessage In 2009, USDA supported 155 projects In 2009, USDA supported 155 projects

involving 165 faculty in 13 departments.involving 165 faculty in 13 departments.– Current AFRI priorities may not result in Current AFRI priorities may not result in

reduced funding but it will greatly reduce the reduced funding but it will greatly reduce the number of faculty.number of faculty.

NIH and NSF supported 84 projects NIH and NSF supported 84 projects involving 74 faculty in 9 departments.involving 74 faculty in 9 departments.– Core facility upgrades to compete in human Core facility upgrades to compete in human

health arena. health arena.

MessageMessage Competition for federal funding is very Competition for federal funding is very

high.high.– Variability among years.Variability among years.

Opportunities to increase funding in human Opportunities to increase funding in human health and environment.health and environment.

Some faculty/departments are not Some faculty/departments are not competitive in current national priorities. competitive in current national priorities.

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Increase Collaborations with Industry Increase Collaborations with Industry When There is Mutual BenefitWhen There is Mutual Benefit

Universities offer significant intellectual Universities offer significant intellectual capacity and infrastructure which result in capacity and infrastructure which result in lower development costs than in-house lower development costs than in-house R&D.R&D.

IP and scholarship issues must be IP and scholarship issues must be addressed.addressed.

Grant Support vs. IPGrant Support vs. IP In 2009: In 2009:

– CALS faculty generated $50,755,662 in contract CALS faculty generated $50,755,662 in contract income which resulted in $6,355,621 in F&A to NCSU.income which resulted in $6,355,621 in F&A to NCSU.

– The net return to CALS was $1,251,936 and $685,655 The net return to CALS was $1,251,936 and $685,655 to departments.to departments.

In 2008: In 2008: – CALS generated $2,205,920 in royalty income (61% of CALS generated $2,205,920 in royalty income (61% of

NCSU receipts). The net return to CALS was $626,771 NCSU receipts). The net return to CALS was $626,771 and $313,386 was available for return to departments.and $313,386 was available for return to departments.

MessageMessage NCSU is among the best of our peers in IP NCSU is among the best of our peers in IP

sharing with the inventor.sharing with the inventor. There is institutional and personal There is institutional and personal

recognition for patents issued.recognition for patents issued. But, the total return to the units is low But, the total return to the units is low

compared to grant income and F&A.compared to grant income and F&A. Financially, we are better off pursuing Financially, we are better off pursuing

grants and contracts and being less grants and contracts and being less concerned about total ownership of IP.concerned about total ownership of IP.

Additional OpportunitiesAdditional Opportunities Formalize and expand international Formalize and expand international

programs.programs. AFRI shift is positive for some. Build AFRI shift is positive for some. Build

multidisciplinary and institutional multidisciplinary and institutional collaborations.collaborations.

Increased NC Biotech Center interest in Ag Increased NC Biotech Center interest in Ag Biotech (30 in 10 intiative).Biotech (30 in 10 intiative).

Human Health and EnvironmentHuman Health and Environment

Agrosphere Modeling for Producing Agrosphere Modeling for Producing Large Increases in Food Yield Large Increases in Food Yield (AMPLIFY)(AMPLIFY)--An NC State University initiative for high An NC State University initiative for high intensity sustainable agriculture (led by intensity sustainable agriculture (led by Payne and Boston)Payne and Boston)

ChallengesChallenges Resource allocationResource allocation

– Commodity support vs. need to grow the life Commodity support vs. need to grow the life sciencessciences

– Startup and matching commitments.Startup and matching commitments. Investment in research capability rather than Investment in research capability rather than

direct investment in research.direct investment in research.– Core facilities vs. technical supportCore facilities vs. technical support

One size approach to funding doesn’t work.One size approach to funding doesn’t work.– Remove silo funding?Remove silo funding?– Separate admin/budget for life science vs. ag?Separate admin/budget for life science vs. ag?

Talking Points Talking Points (Internal Priorities)(Internal Priorities)

Intellectual property and revenue sharing Intellectual property and revenue sharing with units.with units.

Source of funding and eligibility for GSSP.Source of funding and eligibility for GSSP. CALS share of student growth is critical for CALS share of student growth is critical for

life science growth.life science growth. A great university depends on a great A great university depends on a great

faculty. We need to support not hinder faculty. We need to support not hinder faculty productivity.faculty productivity.– University processes, OH on TSA, gift fees.University processes, OH on TSA, gift fees.

After 10,000 Years of Agriculture, Whither Agronomy?

Previously Published in Agron. J. 100:22–34 (2008) Fred P. Miller*

Trends in U.S. demographics, farm numbers, farm size, and land in farms, 1850–2006

Comparison of Corn and Soybean Yields in the United States: Historical Trends and Future Prospects Published in Agron J 100:79-88 (2008)D. B. Egli*

Corn and Soybean Yields in the USACorn and Soybean Yields in the USA

High Yield Potential

Low Yield Potential

Trends in Irrigation, 1900-2002Trends in Irrigation, 1900-2002 America's irrigated land constitutes America's irrigated land constitutes

one sixth of the nation'sone sixth of the nation's harvested harvested cropland but accounts for one third cropland but accounts for one third of the country'sof the country's agricultural agricultural productivity and about half of the productivity and about half of the value of allvalue of all crops. crops.

But this irrigated land accounts for But this irrigated land accounts for about 40% of America'sabout 40% of America's fresh water fresh water withdrawals and more than 80% of withdrawals and more than 80% of the nation's consumptivethe nation's consumptive fresh fresh water use. water use.

In 2000, the nation's irrigated In 2000, the nation's irrigated agricultureagriculture withdrew 59% of its withdrew 59% of its water needs from surface water water needs from surface water sources.sources. Groundwater supplied the Groundwater supplied the remaining 41%, a percentage that remaining 41%, a percentage that hashas been increasing been increasing After 10,000 Years of Agriculture, Whither Agronomy?

Previously Published in Agron. J. 100:22–34 (2008) Fred P. Miller*

The Case for ResearchThe Case for Research

25,000 people die each day from chronic 25,000 people die each day from chronic malnutrition and about malnutrition and about 3/43/4 of the deaths are of the deaths are children. children.

Global population will increase 38% by Global population will increase 38% by 2050.2050.

World food demand will double by 2050; World food demand will double by 2050; 50% from population growth and 50% from 50% from population growth and 50% from economic growth.economic growth.