On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 10 members to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. The appointees include seven new members and three re-appointments, representing a diverse mix of university, non-profit, and industry representatives.
The NAREEE Advisory Board plays a crucial role in advising the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, as well as Land-grant colleges and universities on food and agricultural research, education, extension and economics priorities and policies. Additionally, it offers recommendations on high-priority science needs to agricultural committees of the U.S. Congress.
“The NAREEE Advisory Board is an integral component of USDA’s scientific enterprise,” stated Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. “USDA relies on these scientific experts to provide evidence-based insight and recommendations as we develop innovative, sustainable, strategic and inclusive science priorities that serve all Americans.”
Members of the NAREEE Board are selected by the Secretary of Agriculture. Each member represents a specific category of U.S. agricultural stakeholder as outlined in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. These areas encompass farming, ranching, food production processing forestry research crop animal science Land-grant Institutions other colleges or universities with a historic commitment to research in food agricultural sciences food retailing marketing rural economic development natural resources consumer interest groups.
The board's activities are carried out by four committees focused on specific agricultural science areas considered by the full committee: National Genetic Resources Advisory Council; Specialty Crop Committee; Citrus Disease Subcommittee; Pollinator Subcommittee.
The list of newly appointed or reappointed NAREEE Advisory Board members includes distinguished individuals from various sectors such as academia, agriculture policy advocacy groups and industry leaders. Each member will serve a 2- to 3-year term.
The National Genetic Resources Advisory Council, Specialty Crop Committee, and Citrus Disease Subcommittee also saw new appointments and reappointments. Each member will serve a 2- to 3-year term.
More details on the NAREEE Advisory Board can be found on their official website: https://nareeeab.ree.usda.gov/.
The USDA continues to touch the lives of all Americans each day in numerous positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more about USDA's work visit www.usda.gov.
