Summer 2026 Southern AHS/CARET Meeting

Joint Southern AHS/CARET Meeting
July 24 – 26, Athens, GA

MINUTES

Participants –

Administration

CARET

Joint Southern AHS/CARET Business Meeting – Keith Carver

1. Welcome and Introductions – Keith Carver
   • The AHS introduced their CARET Delegates
2. NIFA Update – Rubella Goswami, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, NIFA (The following are notes from Rubella)
   • USDA R&D Priorities:
     • Increasing the profitability of farmers and ranchers
     • Expanding markets and creating new uses for U.S. agricultural products
     • Protecting the integrity of American agriculture from invasive species
     • Promoting soil health to regenerate long-term land productivity
     • Improving human health through precision nutrition and improved food quality
   • The focus here is on practical, results-oriented research that directly benefits farmers, ranchers, and consumers.
   • All five USDA R&D priority areas directly map to NIFA funding streams, particularly the AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems program, and thematic tracks within the AFRI Foundational & Applied Science NOFO.
   • USDA R&D Priorities:
     • Increasing the Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers: NIFA supports research and Extension that help producers improve efficiency, reduce costs, manage risk, and respond to production and market volatility. Eg. automation, AI, precision ag, mechanization, and decision-support tools.
     • Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses for U.S. Agricultural Products: NIFA-funded work helps address trade barriers, develop new uses for agricultural and forestry products, and move innovations toward the marketplace. Eg. biobased products, renewable materials, bioenergy, and new commercialization pathways for U.S. agricultural commodities.
     • Protecting American Agriculture from Invasive Species: NIFA supports early detection, prevention, diagnostics, mitigation, and control of invasive pests and diseases, including HPAI, citrus greening, spotted lanternfly, and New World screwworm.
     • Promoting Soil Health: NIFA supports practical, voluntary approaches that improve soil function, water efficiency, nutrient cycling, and long-term productivity. Eg.research on soil biology, regenerative production systems, and reduced-input practices.
     • Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality: NIFA supports research on nutrient-dense foods, precision nutrition, food quality, and prevention of diet-related chronic disease, along with Extension-led nutrition education that helps families apply this knowledge.
   • Research Facilities Act Program:
     • Launched in FY 2026, supports the construction, modernization, renovation, or acquisition of agricultural research facilities. Eligible projects can include laboratories, controlled-environment spaces, and integrated research, Extension, and teaching facilities.
     • Eligible applicants include 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; State Agricultural Experiment Stations; Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities; non-Land-Grant colleges of agriculture; veterinary schools; and other entities eligible under the applicable federal capacity statutes.
     • Each institution may submit one application as the lead institution and may have only one active RFAP award at a time.
     • In FY 2026 RFAP uses a Standard Grant mechanism with four funding levels:
       • Level I: planning activities, from $100,000 to $200,000
       • Level II: small facility upgrades, from $250,000 to $2 million
       • Level III: mid-scale expansions, from $2 million to $10 million
       • Level IV: major facilities or new complexes, from $10 million to $30 million.
     • Project periods range from 12 to 48 months. The fiscal year 2026 program totals $121 million, with a maximum award of $30 million.
     • A key statutory requirement is the one-to-one cash match. NIFA cannot waive that requirement, and in-kind contributions cannot be counted toward the match. Matching funds must be documented and incurred during the award period in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306.
     • The NOFO was released on June 15. After the webinar, we heard concerns about the compressed application schedule and extended the application deadline to July 24.
     • We also provided additional clarification on the one-application-per-institution rule.
     • NIFA’s responsibility is to apply the statute and the NOFO consistently to every applicant. Based on mandatory funding levels, approximately $125 million is anticipated for the next funding cycle. Institutions that cannot apply this year should begin planning now for fiscal year 2027.
   • National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech:
     • USDA launched the National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech on April 7 to evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world conditions. The effort, led by ARS with Grand Farm as the National Program Manager and Land-Grant University partners, provides independent data on performance, costs, and potential producer benefits. Year one focuses on weed detection and control technologies.
     • USDA Announcement: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/04/07/usda-announces-creation-usda-national-proving-grounds-network-strengthen-us-farm-and-ranch
   • Building a Domestic Scientific Pipeline:
     • There is an emphasis on the need to strengthen the domestic agricultural workforce. NIFA is supporting this priority through graduate education and workforce development grants that help expand the number of U.S. students pursuing advanced agricultural degrees.
3. Federal Budget, Farm Bill, & Legislative Update – Bridget Krieger, Lewis-Burke (Zoom)
   • PowerPoint slides
4. APLU and FANR Update – Doug Steele
   • We’re in the fourth year of a 4 year contract with Lewis-Burke
     • Currently negotiating to extend the contract and add responsibility for leadership in the Food is Health initiative
   • There’s still concern about the match required for RFA, but the advantage is that it adds to the investment in infrastructure
   • 2027 federal budget ask will be the same as last year, which is 11% higher than what was appropriated
   • Every CARET delegate and AHS member should be receiving the new CARET newsletter, if not, contact Flannery Bethel
   • 2027 CARET/BAA meeting and Hill visits will be Monday, March 1 – Thursday, March 4, at the Washington Hilton
   • The Food is Health initiative is being expanded by forming new partnerships with various agencies and the private sector

Southern AHS Business Meeting – Keith Carver

1. AHS Executive Committee Report from BAA Leadership Meeting, July 13 – 15 in Portland OR – Olga Bolden-Tiller and Doug Steele
   • Discussed how to gain more membership participation in the Executive Committee and national AHS group
     • Barriers include frequent turnover of AHS members
     • Need some administrative support from FANR office for national AHS group
     • Improved communication between AHS and CARET
     • Deacue Fields (UArk) will become the national AHS Chair in November and Olga Bolton-Tiller will be the Chair-elect
     • Need to clarify the definition of an AHS members so there’s no confusion about who the AHS member(s) are from each institution, and also work on revising the national guidelines
   • APLU will be taking over the Natural Resources administrative account, probably January 1, as part of the new Lewis-burke contract
2. Southern Plant Breeding Programs Assessment Report – Gary Thompson
   • Gary discussed results from the Southern region plant breeding assessment survey
   • Biggest concern is germplasm preservation when programs transition or phase out, particularly intermediate lines that have improved traits but are not ready for release
   • Below are links to information related to Gary’s presentation:
     • PowerPoint slides
     • Executive Summary
     • Full Report
     • Matrix of individual institutions’ responses
3. Nominations were chosen for the following positions: – Keith Carver
   • Nick Place (UGA) agreed to be nominated for the Policy Board Chair-elect, which is a 1-yr term followed by 2-yrs as Chair
   • Jayson Lusk agreed to be nominated as Southern AHS Secretary, the election will be held at winter meeting
4. Future Southern AHS Meetings – Eric Young
   • 2027 S-AHS Winter Meeting, Mon, Feb 8, Oklahoma City, during SAAS Conference
   • 2027 Joint CARET/AHS Summer Meeting, Late July, LSU and Southern will host
   • Next Southern Mini Land-grant – Spring/Summer 2028, hosted by VT and VA State
     • Planning Committee Chair will be Rich Bonanno and will start in early 2027
5. Institution Updates – All
   • Institutional updates compilation

Programmatic Session

1. Synthetic Biology – Scott Jackson, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Synthetic Biology
   • PowerPoint slides
2. Opportunities at the Intersection of Agriculture, Food, Nutrition and Health: Positioning the 1890 Land-Grant Universities – Anisa Zvonkovic, Dean of Family and Consumer Sciences, UGA
   • PowerPoint slides

Joint AHS/CARET Meeting – Keith Carver

1. Separate Business Meeting Reports
   • S-CARET
     • Elected representatives to national CARET Executive Committee
     • Discussed CARET governance and organization, both regional and national
     • Best practices to prepare for advocacy
     • Would like AHS to use CARET more in state and national advocacy
     • Need help from more partners in the private sector
     • Need to educate new congressional members about LGU’s and their budget lines
   • S-AHS
     • See meeting minutes above

Adjourned at 10:30 AM