Banner image of pears. Banner image of pears.

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Seeks Scientific and Stakeholder Experts to Serve on Advisory Councils

Washington, D.C.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research opened nominations today for members of its inaugural Advisory Councils.

Advisory Council members will serve three-year terms and advise the Foundation’s staff and board on program development, identify new and emerging issues of interest and comment on policies or processes that impact the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and its ability to meet its mission. The Councils will also review and make recommendations on applications pending in their respective areas of expertise.

Portrait of Sally Rockey.
To identify and pursue the innovative areas that are most ripe with scientific opportunity within the vast food and agriculture research landscape will take an enormous depth and breadth of scientific knowledge as well as practical experience. We envision these advisory councils as our ‘boots on the ground,’ connecting the  Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research staff and board to the latest science and strengthening the knowledge base that informs our decisions. Sally Rockey, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research will select Advisory Council members based on their scientific or general experience and knowledge in one or more of the Foundation’s seven research topic areas, which are:

  • Optimizing agricultural water use
  • Transforming soil health
  • Enhancing sustainable farm animal productivity, resilience and health
  • Improving plant efficiency
  • Achieving a deeper understanding of nutrition and healthy food choices
  • Managing food production systems to enhance human nutritional outcomes
  • Spurring food system innovation

Approximately ten individuals will serve on up to seven councils, whose members will conduct the majority of their business virtually. It is possible that fewer than seven councils will be constituted if FFAR determines that a single Council’s collective expertise covers more than one of the above topic areas.

The call for nominations will close January 20, 2016 and the Foundation will announce selections by February 20, 2016.

Full details and the Advisory Council member nomination form are available at foundationfar.org/about/advisory-councils.

Prime candidates for these positions will be leading representatives in the scientific disciplines relevant to agriculture and food and one or more of the Foundation’s research topic areas, as well as from commodity groups, professional organizations, industry, producers and other stakeholder groups.  Members will be chosen based on their scientific or general experience and knowledge in the topic area.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research invites universities, businesses, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies and to nominate candidates with experience and knowledge in one or more of the Foundation’s research topic areas. Each organization may nominate one individual per research area.