PLAN OF WORK

October 1999 - September 2004

INTRODUCTION AND CERTIFICATION

North Carolina State University is North Carolina’s 1862 land-grant university and the only Research I land-grant institution in the state. The North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS) within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences serves not only as the college’s agricultural, environmental and biological sciences research arm but also provides the research foundation in these areas for educational activities within academics and extension. NCARS is the principal state agency for research in agriculture, life sciences, forestry, and family and consumer sciences. Its research projects involve NC State University’s colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Forest Resources, Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine and the School of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Within the college, NCARS coordinates research in 18 departments and works in partnership with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and Academic Programs.

The mission of NCARS is to develop the knowledge and technology needed to:

• improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of industries in agriculture and life sciences;
• conserve and improve the state’s natural resources and environment;
• improve the health, well-being and quality of life of all citizens of North Carolina.

NCARS personnel include 350 research faculty accounting for approximately 180 full-time scientist equivalents, most on shared appointments with academics or extension. Working with these faculty are over 280 graduate students, researchers and research assistants; 450 laboratory and field technicians and 90 clerical staff. These faculty and support personnel conduct basic and applied research in over 550 projects to support more than 70 commodities as well as many life science industries.

The following five-year Plan of Work covers the full range of research conducted through the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service and emphasizes the high priority areas in agriculture and life sciences for North Carolina now and in the near future.
 
 
 

PLAN OF WORK CERTIFIED BY:

Johnny C. Wynne, Director NC Agricultural Research Service Campus Box 7643 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695

1. Planned Programs
1. An agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy
1. Technologically integrated and sustainable crop and livestock production systems
1. Crop production systems
2. Animal production systems
3. Biological systems
2. Plant and animal germplasm, genetic resources and conservation, and plant improvement
1. Crop improvement
2. Animal improvement
3. Plant protection strategies
1. Forest and horticultural crop protection
2. Agronomic crop protection
4. Animal diseases and animal health
5. Farm business management, economics and marketing
6. Product development
2. A safe and secure food and fiber system
1. Food and fiber processing, safety, and quality
3. A healthy, well-nourished population
1. Human nutrition and human health
4. An agricultural system which protects natural resources and the environment
1. Soil, water and air quality conservation and management
2. Forest, pasture, wildlife and fish resource conservation and management
5. Enhanced economic opportunity and quality of life for Americans
1. Improved quality of life 50
2. Individual, family and community economic development
2. Research Stakeholder Input Process
3. Research Peer and Merit Review Process
4. Multistate, Multidisciplinary Research Activities
5. Integrated Research and Extension Activities