Why is reorganization of USDA-REE an integral element?
U.S. food, agricultural, and natural resources research programs are currently divided among four USDA agencies: (1) the Agriculture Research Service (ARS); (2) the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES); (3) the Economic Research Service (ERS); and (4) Forest Service R&D (USFS R&D). As a result, there is frequent duplication among the agencies, no clearly identified “lead-agency” to address critical national issues (such as the relationship of food and nutrition to obesity), and a lack of integration across agencies.
