{"id":11788,"date":"2016-11-07T09:24:21","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T16:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/wordpress\/?p=11788"},"modified":"2016-11-07T09:24:21","modified_gmt":"2016-11-07T16:24:21","slug":"the-wonderful-world-of-ag-research-from-usda-secretary-tom-vilsack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/wordpress\/index.php\/2016\/11\/07\/the-wonderful-world-of-ag-research-from-usda-secretary-tom-vilsack\/","title":{"rendered":"The wonderful world of Ag research – from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vilsack\"<\/a>

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack<\/p><\/div>\n

What if I told you a scientist had recently discovered a way to remove up to 98% of the allergens in peanuts without affecting the flavor, thereby diminishing a severe health threat to some 2.8 million Americans who suffer from peanut allergies?<\/p>\n

Or that a small family business is working on a project that could quench the thirst of billions of people around the world with technology that\u2019s capable of taking water from any source and making it safe to drink?<\/p>\n

If that sounds a little like science fiction to you, you wouldn\u2019t be alone. But both examples exist today as part of the hundreds of scientific breakthroughs made by USDA<\/a> and USDA-supported scientists since the start of the Obama Administration.<\/p>\n

When people think of USDA, they may not immediately think of cutting-edge science or discovery. But USDA is the world\u2019s largest agricultural research force. USDA employs around 3,000 scientists, economists, statisticians and others, and funds thousands more at land-grant universities and other institutions across the country. Together, their work has helped to shape the lives of billions of people around the world.<\/p>\n

Under the Obama<\/a> Administration, USDA has made a powerful statement about the importance of scientific discovery by strengthening our institutions, building our capacity and leveraging the strengths of our outside partners to do the same. From the farm to the lab to the boardroom, we\u2019ve increased our investment in delivering problem-driven and solutions-based science that empowers farmers, foresters, ranchers, landowners, resource managers, professors and policymakers to help manage the risks we face.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research now returns over $20 to our economy. For our part, since 2009, USDA has invested $19 billion in research both intramural and extramural. As a result of that investment, research conducted by USDA scientists has resulted in 883 patent applications filed, 405 patents issued and 1,151 new inventions disclosures covering a wide range of topics and discoveries since 2009.<\/p>\n

\"Science<\/a><\/p>\n

USDA also continues to aggressively partner with private companies, universities and others to transfer technology to the marketplace to benefit consumers and businesses alike. Over the years, USDA innovations have created all manner of products Americans use every day, from cosmetics, to insect controls, leathers, shampoos and of course food products. Here is a sample of USDA\u2019s work:<\/p>\n