This document outlines the various agencies within the USDA that have expertise in nutrition, including the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Economic Research Service, and Food and Nutrition Services. It discusses the research objectives of NIFA, focusing on areas like climate change, bioenergy, food safety, nutrition and childhood obesity, and global food security. The challenges of micronutrient deficiencies and obesity globally are also summarized. The proposed structure of NIFA includes institutes focused on international programs, youth development, food safety and nutrition, bioenergy and the environment, and food production sustainability. Specific objectives for childhood obesity prevention through 2010 are listed.

1. 1
Under Secretary for
Marketing & Regulatory Programs
Under Secretary for
Food, Nutrition,
& Consumer Services
Under Secretary for
Farm & Foreign
Agricultural Services
Deputy Under Secretary for
Rural Development
Under Secretary for
Food Safety
Under Secretary for
Natural Resources
& Conservation
Under Secretary for
Research, Education,
& Economics
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture

2. USDA Agencies with Nutrition
Expertise and Capacity:
– National Institutes of Food and Agriculture: Extramural
research programs with linkage to communities across the
country through Cooperative Extension system, EFNEP and
4-H, etc.
– Agriculture Research Service: Intramural research
including the USDA Human Nutrition Research Centers
– Economic Research Service: Intramural research linking
food choices and economics (Food Environment Atlas)
– Food and Nutrition Services – school meals and food and
nutrition assistance programs including SNAP, WIC, etc.
– Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion – MyPyramid,
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, etc. 2

3. Research Objectives for NIFA
Focusing NIFA-sponsored activities around thematic
areas:
1. Climate change
2. Bioenergy
3. Food safety
4. Nutrition and childhood obesity
5. Global food security

4. The Health Challenge - Globally
• Deficiencies in micro-
nutrients (especially
vitamin A, iodine and
iron) are widespread
– 2 billion suffered from
micronutrient
deficiencies in 2009
• Obesity prevention
• Biotechnology to:
– Improve Nutrition
– Deliver Vaccines
– Eliminate allergens

5. PROPOSED STRUCTURE
Center
for International
Programs
Director
Roger Beachy
Institute of
Youth and
Community
Development
Institute of Food
Safety and
Nutrition
Institute of
Bioenergy,
Climate, and
Environment
Institute of Food
Production and
Sustainability

6. INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY
AND NUTRITION
Ensuring a safe food supply
Improving citizens’ health through nutrition
Reducing childhood obesity
Improving food quality

7. Childhood Obesity Prevention: 2010
• Methodological Research to Assess the
Effectiveness of Obesity Prevention Strategies
• Community-based Childhood Obesity Prevention
• Extension Interventions to Prevent Childhood
Obesity
• Transdisciplinary Graduate Education and
Training in Nutrition and Family Sciences

8. 8
Under Secretary for
Marketing & Regulatory Programs
Under Secretary for
Food, Nutrition,
& Consumer Services
Under Secretary for
Farm & Foreign
Agricultural Services
Deputy Under Secretary for
Rural Development
Under Secretary for
Food Safety
Under Secretary for
Natural Resources
& Conservation
Under Secretary for
Research, Education,
& Economics
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture

9. Childhood Obesity Prevention: 2010
• Generate new knowledge re: behavioral and environ’l
factors that influence excessive weight gain by children.
• 2. Develop effective behavioral and environmental
interventions to: increase intake of fruits and vegetables;
decrease intake of foods high in solid fats and sugars;
increase physical activity and no. of children that meet
guidelies for physical activity
• 3. Bring effective interventions to scale and assess impact.
• 4. Increase the no. of educators, practitioners, and
researchers to address the problem of childhood obesity
prevention.