NASA/USDA Working Group
For more than 40 years, the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) has produced
significant advances in science and technology
to conduct a continuing series of near-Earth
space missions. These efforts have resulted
in a substantial base of data-collection
and delivery systems and a variety of modeling
and decision-support capabilities.
Many of these NASA products can have a direct
benefit to USDA interests (and CSREES and
its partners). A NASA/USDA working group
was formed early in 2002 to explore a closer
interagency relationship—jointly chaired
by the Deputy Under Secretary for REE (Rodney
Brown) and the Assistant Associate Administrator
for the Office of Earth Sciences (OES) in
NASA (Ron Birk). Several CSREES program staff
are members of that group.
While various memoranda of understanding
already exist between NASA and USDA, this
working group is initiating additional formal
arrangements and is developing a 10-year
roadmap to apply OES data products and models
to improve decision support systems for agricultural
management and policy (including natural
resources and forestry). To date, the partners
have identified five broad focus areas within
the mandates of USDA for which USDA-NASA
Earth Science cooperation may lead to strengthening
of decision support systems:
- Carbon management.
- Invasive species.
- Agricultural efficiency.
- Water management.
- Air quality.
Because these focus areas have high priority
to USDA, better integration of NASA capabilities
into USDA activities will enable new scientific
advancements, increase application of relevant
technologies, and further support the joint Space
Ag in the Classroom Program.
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