The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) was established in accordance with the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to provide strategic coordination of the science that informs the Department's and the Federal government's decisions, policies and regulations that impact all aspects of U.S. food and agriculture and related landscapes and communities.
OCS advises USDA's Chief Scientist and the Secretary of Agriculture in the following areas of science:
- Agricultural Systems and Technology
- Animal Health and Production, and Animal Products
- Plant Health and Production, and Plant Products
- Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities
Our work supports larger goals of scientific prioritization and coordination across the entire Department through which federal agencies provide Senior Advisors to serve in a detail capacity within OCS. We identify, prioritize and evaluate Department-wide agricultural research, education, and extension needs. In addition, the Office of the Chief Scientist regularly convenes a USDA Science Council to further facilitate cross-Departmental scientific coordination and collaboration.
We provide scientific leadership by ensuring that research supported by and scientific advice provided to the Department and its stakeholders is held to the highest standards of intellectual rigor and scientific integrity. OCS supports the Department's international scientific engagements and has provided coordination and leadership on the following important documents related to agricultural science and research.
Language Access
As an equal opportunity employer and provider, the Office of the Chief Scientist offers interpretation and translation services of its program information and web content free of charge. Please email requests to OCSPolicy@usda.gov or contact Rena Bannister at (202) 720-3444 if you need interpretation or translation services.
AGARDA: A Vision for Disruptive Science to Confront Audacious Challenges
Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) Implementation Strategy (PDF, 1.8 MB) is a framework outlining a new approach for delivering disruptive breakthrough discoveries for agriculture.
USDA Science and Research Strategy
The “USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023-2026: Cultivating Scientific Innovation (PDF, 21.4 MB)” presents a near-term vision for transforming U.S. agriculture through science and innovation, and outlines USDA’s highest scientific priorities. The S&RS is a call to action for USDA partners, stakeholders, and customers to join the conversation and help identify innovative research strategies that lead to real-world, practical solutions that help farmers, producers, and communities thrive.
Adoption of USDA Innovations
The FY 2020 Annual Technology Transfer Report (PDF, 17 MB) covers technology-transfer activities and metrics for USDA.
Behavioral Factors in the Adoption and Diffusion of USDA Innovations (PDF, 1.2 MB) provides information on how behavioral factors can support adoption and diffusion of USDA innovations drawing on published literature and highlights from multiple USDA agency programs.
Strategic Planning, Performance & Program Evaluation
- REE Action Plan (2014) (PDF, 303 KB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2017) (PDF, 5.0 MB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2016) (PDF, 708 KB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2016) Accompanying Infographic (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2015) (PDF, 1.8 MB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2014) (PDF, 671 KB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2013) (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- REE Action Plan Progress Report (2012) (PDF, 339 KB)
Research Rigor and Reproducibility
- The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension and economics.
- USDA Teleconference with Journal Editors and Scientific Societies on Enhancing Rigor & Reproducibility in the Reporting of Agricultural, Forestry, and Nutrition Research (January 11, 2017)
- Agenda (PDF, 85.3 KB)
- Participating Journals and Societies (PDF, 123 KB)
- Teleconference Recording (MP3, 39.9 MB)
Listening Session on Visioning of U.S. Agriculture Systems for Sustainable Production
- Compilation of Stakeholder Input for the March 2, 2017 Public Listening Session (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Stakeholder Presentations for the USDA‐OCS March 2, 2017 Public Listening Session Slides 1 - 65 (PDF, 3.2 MB)
- Stakeholder Presentations for the USDA‐OCS March 2, 2017 Public Listening Session Slides 66 - 107 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Stakeholder Presentations for the USDA‐OCS March 2, 2017 Public Listening Session Slides 108 - 147 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Stakeholder Presentations for the USDA‐OCS March 2, 2017 Public Listening Session Slides 148 - 178 (PDF, 1.6 MB)
Sustainable Intensification of Agricultural Production: Plant and Animal Production, Health, Genetics and Outreach
- Economic Analyses of Scientific Collections: Methods for Documenting Costs and Benefits
- Webinar: What’s on your bucket list for horticulture?
Dr. Mary Meyer, Professor, Extension Horticulture Program Leader, Director of the Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture Program University of Minnesota, March 31, 2020 - Indoor Agriculture Workshop Report (PDF, 651 KB)
- Pollinator Research Action Plan (2015) (PDF, 685 KB)
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems (PDF, 104 KB)
- USDA Roadmap for Plant Breeding
Antimicrobial Resistance
- National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Progress Report: Year 5
- National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (2020-2025)
- Blog/Proactive Efforts by U.S. Federal Agencies Enable Early Detection of New Antibiotic Resistance (2016)
- Blog/What's the Alternative? (2016)
- Blog/White House Antibiotic Stewardship Week (2015)
- Blog/World Antibiotic Awareness Week (2015)
- Plan/Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria National Action Plan (2015) (PDF, 442 KB)
- Plan/USDA Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (2014) (PDF, 322 KB)
- Report/Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Presidential Advisory Council Report 1: Initial Assessments of the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (2016) (PDF, 1.7 MB)
- Report/National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria First 180 Days Report (2015) (PDF, 310 KB)
- Strategy/Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria National Strategy (2014) (PDF, 481 KB)
- USDA One World Infographic on AMR (2015)
Climate and Energy Needs
Climate Variability
- Climate Change (PDF, 115 KB)
- The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment (PDF, 94 MB)
-
Carbon Report Website (PDF, 16.21 KB)
Energy
- Bioenergy (PDF, 202 KB)
- Biogas Opportunities Roadmap (PDF, 1.0 MB)
- Forest Service Research and Development; BioEnergy and Biobased Products Strategic Plan 2009-2014 (PDF, 3.8 MB)
- The Bioeconomy-Bioenergy-Bioproducts Portfolio Strategic Plan (PDF, 878 KB)
- The Biorefining National Program Five Year Action Plan 2014-2019 (PDF, 256 KB)
- The Central-East Regional Biomass Research Center (CERBRC) accomplishment report, 2015 (DOCX, 33 KB)
- The Northwest Regional Bioenergy Center (NWRBRC) accomplishment report 2015 (PDF, 279 KB)
- The Southeast Regional Bioenergy Center (SERBC) accomplishment report 2014-2015 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- The Western Regional Bioenergy Research Center (WRBC) (PDF, 147 KB)
Natural Resources: Water, Landscape Conservation
Water Availability: Quality and Quantity
- Long-Term Drought Resilience Federal Action Plan of the Nationals Drought Resilience Partnership (2016) (PDF, 2.7 MB)
- Presidential Memorandum: Building National Capabilities for Long-Term Drought Resilience (2016)
Nutrition & Childhood Obesity
- 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- National Nutrition Research Roadmap
- Nutrition and Childhood Obesity (PDF, 81.9 KB)
- The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program National Reports
- USDA Intra-Departmental Nutrition Workshop Series Summary Report, November 2017 (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Food Safety
- Food Safety (PDF, 114 KB)
Education & Literacy
- Education Listening Session Report (PDF, 2.7 MB)
Seed Competition Framework
USDA’s Seed Competition Framework promotes researcher access to seed germplasm and enables greater choice and ultimately fairer prices for farmers. This framework includes a multi-tiered, whole-of-government strategy to promote transparency and support reasonable access to seed germplasm for researchers.
Guidance from USDA on observational research for USDA researchers (PDF, 201 KB)
Transparency of intellectual property sharing for federally-funded research (PDF, 194 KB)