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<p class="m-6543809066879520702gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%">
<b>USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Needs Stakeholder Input on Food, Agriculture Priorities</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="m-6543809066879520702gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%;text-align:start">
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture wants to hear from you about top priorities and opportunities in agricultural sciences. This stakeholder input will help NIFA prioritize science emphasis areas, may influence requests for proposals, and identify
gaps in programming. NIFA is accepting input from stakeholders regarding research, extension, and education priorities in food and agriculture. Four in-person listening sessions and an open public comment period offers two ways to share your thoughts and ideas
with NIFA. This effort called “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives” is interested in stakeholder responses to the following questions:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1">What is your top priority in food and agricultural research, extension, or education that NIFA should address?<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1">What are the most promising science opportunities for advancement of food and agricultural sciences?<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="m-6543809066879520702gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%;text-align:start">
To contribute your ideas online and to register for in-person listening sessions, fill out our <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE4Ljc4Mjk0MDUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxOC43ODI5NDA1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5NjMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9cm9iQGFwcGxpZWRlY28ub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1yb2JAYXBwbGllZGVjby5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q6HDGC3?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000EE">input
form</span></a>. You have the option to give a five minute oral presentation and submit written content; however, it is not required to do both.<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;text-align:start" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">Individuals wishing to attend in-person listening sessions must complete the RSVP in the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE4Ljc4Mjk0MDUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxOC43ODI5NDA1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5NjMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9cm9iQGFwcGxpZWRlY28ub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1yb2JAYXBwbGllZGVjby5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&102&&&https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q6HDGC3?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000EE">input
form</span></a> no later than Thursday, October 12, 2017. If you are making a five minute oral presentation, you must submit a short 250 word abstract describing your topic.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2">Submissions of written comments will be accepted through Friday, December 1, 2017. The <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE4Ljc4Mjk0MDUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxOC43ODI5NDA1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5NjMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9cm9iQGFwcGxpZWRlY28ub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1yb2JAYXBwbGllZGVjby5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&103&&&https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q6HDGC3?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000EE">input
form</span></a> is one opportunity to share written comments. Please take time to consider and clearly form your answers to the questions above before filling out the form. You will be allowed 600 words for each question. You may also submit written comments
via <a href="mailto:NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov?subject=Written%20Comments%20for%20NIFA%20Listens&body=Provide%20input%20on%20the%20following%20questions%3A%0AWhat%20is%20your%20top%20priority%20in%20food%20and%20agricultural%20research%2C%20extension%2C%20or%20education%20that%20NIFA%20should%20address%3F%0AWhat%20are%20the%20most%20promising%20science%20opportunities%20for%20advancement%20of%20food%20and%20agricultural%20sciences%3F%0A%0A" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000EE">NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="m-6543809066879520702gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%;text-align:start">
Four regional in-person listening sessions will be held:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;text-align:start" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Thursday, Oct. 19, Kansas City, Missouri<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Thursday, Oct. 26, Atlanta, Georgia<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Thursday, Nov. 2, Sacramento, California<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:140%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">Wednesday, Nov. 8, Greenbelt, Maryland<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="m-6543809066879520702gdp" style="mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:140%;text-align:start">
Each session is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. The sessions will be webcast live, transcribed, and made available for playback. All submissions, regardless of the mode, are processed in the same manner. Additional details, including
livestream information, will be added as they become available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:start">To stay informed on
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE4Ljc4Mjk0MDUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxOC43ODI5NDA1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5NjMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9cm9iQGFwcGxpZWRlY28ub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1yb2JAYXBwbGllZGVjby5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&104&&&https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#0000EE">“NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,”</span></a> sign up for the
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwOTE4Ljc4Mjk0MDUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDkxOC43ODI5NDA1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3ODk5NjMyJmVtYWlsaWQ9cm9iQGFwcGxpZWRlY28ub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1yb2JAYXBwbGllZGVjby5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&105&&&https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDANIFA/subscriber/new?qsp=USDANIFA_2" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#0000EE">NIFA Update</span></a>, a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to land-grant and non-land-grant universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers. <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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