ASPB has joined a broad coalition of agricultural, scientific, and farmer organizations in calling on Congress to strengthen oversight of recent changes within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The letter emphasizes that federal agricultural research is “the backbone of American agricultural innovation” and plays a critical role in … Read more
ASPB has joined a coalition of scientific societies in expressing concern over proposed closures, consolidations, and reorganizations of US Forest Service (USFS) research facilities. The letter warns that these actions could “degrade and damage the Forest Service’s scientific capacity and its ability to collect and deliver critical information” that supports ecosystem health, forest management, and … Read more
ASPB has joined more than 40 scientific organizations in urging Congress to fully support the National Science Foundation (NSF) and reject the proposed elimination of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). In the letter, the organizations describe SBE as “an indispensable and essential part of the nation’s overall research enterprise” and emphasize … Read more
Federal agencies are prioritizing the development and adoption of Non-Animal Models (NAMs). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a $150 million investment in research to reduce reliance on animal models, and other agencies may follow this lead. This shift in policy represents a distinct opportunity to leverage plant systems as powerful, ethical, and … Read more
Strengthening U.S. Leadership in Plant Science The NSF Plant Biology Act (H.R.7949), introduced by Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY-19) and Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN-4), is bipartisan legislation to strengthen the National Science Foundation’s investments in plant and microbial research. The bill would amend the NSF Authorization Act of 2002 to establish a dedicated funding initiative … Read more