“Tactical Science: Continuing the Commitment," is a NIFA-authored, concise, document serving to focus future dialogue around the tactical science topic. It resulted from more detailed programmatic analysis and further conversations with affected stakeholders. An abstract from the document follows:
"A well-designed agricultural biosecurity system is supported by resource management, relevant research, balanced regulations, and effective relationships among scientific experts, policy-makers, and consumers. It requires a concerted effort, sustained investment, and a coordinated strategy to face the vulnerabilities of our nation’s food and agricultural system. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to strengthening agricultural biosecurity through its tactical sciences portfolio – a complementary set of programs that offers tools to protect the integrity, reliability, sustainability, and profitability of the U.S. food and agriculture system against threats from pests, diseases, contaminants, and disasters. Given the emerging threats, trends, and forces that may influence the American food system enterprise, NIFA and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) invited a group of key stakeholders to identify critical priorities and develop a coordinated framework of tactical science capabilities. The stakeholders concluded that success of NIFA’s tactical science programs will require collaborations, continued commitment, and inclusion of stakeholder and consumer needs, along with increased investment in tactical sciences to protect the biosecurity of the agricultural sector."
"A well-designed agricultural biosecurity system is supported by resource management, relevant research, balanced regulations, and effective relationships among scientific experts, policy-makers, and consumers. It requires a concerted effort, sustained investment, and a coordinated strategy to face the vulnerabilities of our nation’s food and agricultural system. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to strengthening agricultural biosecurity through its tactical sciences portfolio – a complementary set of programs that offers tools to protect the integrity, reliability, sustainability, and profitability of the U.S. food and agriculture system against threats from pests, diseases, contaminants, and disasters. Given the emerging threats, trends, and forces that may influence the American food system enterprise, NIFA and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) invited a group of key stakeholders to identify critical priorities and develop a coordinated framework of tactical science capabilities. The stakeholders concluded that success of NIFA’s tactical science programs will require collaborations, continued commitment, and inclusion of stakeholder and consumer needs, along with increased investment in tactical sciences to protect the biosecurity of the agricultural sector."