SoAR Co-hosts 3rd Annual Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition and Reception on Capitol Hill

The Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation - in partnership with the National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research (NC-FAR), AFRI Coalition, and the American Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) - hosted the 3rd Annual Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition and Reception on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2019.

The event, sponsored by the House Bipartisan Agricultural Research Caucus, spotlighted the vital work performed by researchers every day to protect the livelihoods of farmers, ensure affordable food for families, and keep our nation safe. 32 USDA-supported research exhibitors from across the country shared their work with over 200 participants, including:

Auburn University – Dr. Leanne Dillard

Cornell University – Dr. Renata Ivanek

Fort Valley State University – Dr. Somashekhar “Som” Punnuri (Sponsored by Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies)

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – Christine Hradek

Kansas State University – Dr. Megan Rolf; Dr. James Stack; Dr. Glynn Tonsor

Michigan State University – Dr. Deanna East

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources – Dr. Charles Rice, Robin Schoen, & Jenna Briscoe

New Mexico State University – Victoria Blumenberg, Ph.D. Candidate

North Carolina State University – Dr. Chris Reberg-Horton

Purdue University – Dr. Dennis Buckmaster

South Dakota State University – Dr. Heike Bucking; Dr. Yang Yen

Tufts University USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging – Dr. Kyla Shea

United Tribes Technical College – Mara Yborra, LRD

University of California, Davis – Dr. Nitin Nitin (Sponsored by Institute of Food Technologists)

University of California, Riverside – Dr. Monique Rivera

University of Florida – Dr. Wendy Graham

University of Florida – Dr. Spiro Stefanou (Sponsored by Agricultural & Applied Economics Association)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Dr. Kaiyu Guan; Dr. Keith Jarosinski; Dr. Dan Shike

University of Minnesota – Dr. Sarah Anderson (Sponsored by American Society of Plant Biologists)

University of Tennessee at Martin – Dr. Todd Winters (Sponsored by Non-Land-Grant Agricultural and Renewable Resources Universities)

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture – Dr. Timothy Rials

USDA Agricultural Research Service Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – USDA Staff

USDA Agricultural Research Service Daniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center – Dr. Sheina Sim (Sponsored by Entomological Society of America)

USDA Research, Economics, and Education –Representatives from USDA ARS, ERS, NASS, and NIFA

House Bipartisan Agricultural Research Caucus co-chairs Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) offered remarks on the importance of agricultural research for our nation.

The Agricultural Research Congressional Exhibition and Reception was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Seed Trade Association, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, BIO, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources.