Annual/Termination Reports:

[02/12/2024] [02/20/2025] [02/17/2026]

Report Information

Participants

Haub, Mark Yes Kansas - Kansas State University: AES
haub@ksu.edu
Horsley, Richard Yes North Dakota - North Dakota State University: AES Richard.Horsley@ndsu.edu
Weller, Curt Nebraska - University of Nebraska: AES
cweller1@unl.edu
Ubbink, Job Yes Minnesota - University of Minnesota: AES
jubbink@umn.edu
Bourquin, Leslie Yes Michigan - Michigan State University: AES
bourqui1@msu.edu
Engeseth, Nicki J Yes Illinois - University of Illinois: AES
engeseth@uiuc.edu
Lanningham-Foster, Lorraine Yes Iowa - Iowa State University: AES lmlf@iastate.edu
Belury, Martha A Yes Ohio - Ohio State University: AES
belury.1@osu.edu
Thurston, Jeanette Yes North Central Regional Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors: AES
jthurston@ksu.edu
Vukovich, Matt South Dakota - South Dakota State University: AES matt.vukovich@sdstate.edu
Simsek, Senay Yes Indiana - Purdue University: AES
ssimsek@purdue.edu
Ryu, Dojin Yes Missouri - University of Missouri: AES
dryu@missouri.edu

Brief Summary of Minutes

See attached slides. NCAC22 met for the first time. Introductiona and discussion of the purpose and goals of the NCAC were covered by the AA. See below 's agenda.  Below the agenda are the reviews provided by NCAC22.

 

DRAFT AGENDA

 

8:30 — Review process for the day

        — Introductions/Meet Members

 

8:50 — Update from Dr. Jeanette Thurston

 

9:10 — Questions

 

9:15 - 9;30

              Review of NC1193 (Drs. Haub/Weller)

              Comments from others about project progress

             

9:30 - 9:45

              Review of NC1194 (member)

              Comments from others about project progress

 

9:45 - 9:50

              Questions and suggestions about Committee's process of reviewing projects going forward

 

10:00 - Start next session (we can adjust this time during our meeting)

 

10:00 - 10:30 

              — Process for determining leadership of NCAC-22

              — Type of meeting and/or location

                           Dates are limited: mid-December 2024 - end of Jan 2025

                           Virtual, in-person on a campus or at a conference, or other agreed upon location. 

 

10:30-10:40 — Break

 

10:40 - 11:15  — Round robin of campus activities/outcomes to share with group

              - Research initiatives / outcomes

              - Academic programs (new and/or changes)

                           - Delivery concepts and innovation?

              - Extension programs (new/changes)

              - Ideas to collaborate, improve academic disciplines, successes for fund acquisitions, etc. 

              - Other information pertaining to our fields

              - Leadership opportunities and ideas

              - What is shared does NOT need be all of these items — these are examples of what could be shared.

 

11:15-11:30 — Summary of meeting, review next meeting information (leadership, site, type, etc.).

 

 

 

 

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Dojin Ryu
Mark Haub
Jeanette Thurston
Lydia Kaume
Scott Rankin
Nicki Engeseth
Silvana Martini
Lorraine Lanningham-Foster
Joseph Awika
Les Bourquin

Brief Summary of Minutes

Agenda for the Annual meeting of NCAC-22 is attached.

Seven North Central region states represented for discussion of two multistate research proposals.

Group approved both the midterm and renewal proposals and reviews to be submitted by Friday Feb 21st. 

Group agreed upon NCAC22 governance going forward:

• 2 co-chairs to be elected, one representing nutrition and the other food science


• co-chair term is 1 year, term ending after annual multistate reviews entered into NIMSS


• Every year, NCAC22 members will nominate and vote on incoming chair-elects during the annual meeting.


• Chair responsibilities:
  
  
  
  • co-chairs, working with chair-elects and Administrative Advisor and with input from NCAC22 membership, will determine the location (in-person or virutal) of the annual meeting, to be held mid-late December, January or early Februrary. 
    
    
    
    • recommendation was made on Feb 20, 2025 to alternate between virtual and in-person meetings each year.
    
    
    • Preference from members is for an in-person meeting in 2026.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Chair elect responsibilities
  
  
  
  • take notes during annual meeting and upload the annual report into NIMSS
  
  
  • assist co-chairs if needed in the planning of the annual meeting.
  
  
  
  

Nominations for 2026 co-chairs and chair elects (latter to serve as co-chairs in 2027)

• Food Science
  
  
  
  • Chair, Les Bourquin (MI-State)
  
  
  • Chair-elect, nominated Senay Simsek (Purdue)--Jeanette Thurston will reach out to Senay to seek her approval.
  
  
  
  


• Nutrition
  
  
  
  • Chair, Mark Haub (KS-State)
  
  
  • Chair-elect, Lorraine Lanningham-Foster (IA State)
  
  
  
  

Members shared institution/departmental updates and conversation centered around challenges wtih actions of the new Administration.

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Co-Chairs: Les Bourquin (Michigan State University); Mark Haub (Kansas State University)
Participants: Jeanette Thurston (North Central AgInnovation), Lydia Kaume (USDA-NIFA), Silvana Martini (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Ruth MacDonald (Iowa State University), Dojin Ryu (University of Missouri), Senay Simsek (Purdue University), Martha Belury (The Ohio State University), Nicki Engeseth (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Scott Rankin (University of Wisconsin), Job Ubbink (University of Minnesota), Joseph Awika (Kansas State University)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Agenda:

• Welcome and introductions


• NIFA Update (Lydia Kaume)


• Administrative Advisor Update (Jeanette Thurston)


• Project Reviews


• Governance - identify replacement Nutrition Co-Chair


• Membership - do we wish to expand membership beyond administrators in the NC Region?


• Future meeting discussion - format, timing, etc.


• Round table discussions - time permitting
  
  
  
  • Impacts of executive orders (RFAs, funding, program cancellations, etc.)
  
  
  • Enrollment trends and strategies to address declining enrollments
  
  
  • Faculty hires in era of budgetary challenges
  
  
  • Potential research area cooperation/synergies across institutions.
  
  
  
  

1. Welcome and Introductions

• Les Bourquin opened the meeting and facilitated introductions.

2. USDA–NIFA Update (Lydia Kaume)

• USDA has published their research & development priorities; NIFA priorities will follow and align with these.
  Link: Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-020 (December 30, 2025)


• Two AFRI NOFOs recently released:




• Education & Workforce Development (EWD)


• Strengthening Agricultural Systems




• Travel limitations continue for NIFA staff; virtual options encouraged.


• Some programs have resumed in‑person review panels, others remain virtual.

3. AgInnovation North Central Update (Jeanette Thurston)

National-Level Updates

• Research Facilities Act listening session held by NIFA.




• $125M per year for 5 years available.


• Seeking input on match requirements, eligibility, types of projects.




• AFRI Strengthening Ag Systems Program




• Includes a major priority on food & diet‑related chronic disease.


• Requires integrated (research, education, extension) proposals.


• Institutions encouraged to schedule Q&A sessions with Bill Goldner.

USDA Science Priorities (Secretary’s Memorandum)

• Priorities include:




• Farmer/rancher profitability


• Circular bioeconomy


• Invasive species protection


• Soil health


• Precision nutrition & food quality

REE (Research, Education & Economics) Mission Area

• Strong shift toward outcome‑driven, goal-oriented research with measurable impact.


• Increased emphasis on:




• Economic viability


• Scalability


• Digital agriculture


• Nutrition & food systems




• New REE Director: Kate Sixt (biotechnology background).

AgARDA

• High‑risk, high‑reward ag research program seeking increased funding.


• REE preparing a business case to justify long-term investment.

Regional Updates

• Expanding communications with USDA, Farm Journal Foundation, Midwest Governors Association.


• Seeking impact stories, especially research‑driven business creation.


• NSF is emphasizing food security and AI; encouraging connections to NSF centers.


• Expect an increase in federal NOFOs due to delays related to recent federal shutdown.


• Ongoing confusion around USDA’s research security training requirements.

4. Project Reviews

4.1 Midterm Review – NC3169 (Lead: Mark Haub)

• Multi-state project on EFNEP (nutrition education).


• Strong activity in data collection and interviews; early stages for some objectives.


• Publication output high in Year 1, lower in Years 2–3 due to IRB and data collection.


• Good evidence of team collaboration.


• Concern: Limited documentation of external funding pursuit.


• Overall: Satisfactory progress; no major red flags.

4.2 Renewal Review – NC1193 (Lead: Leslie Bourquin)

• Topic: Nutrition, health, and quality of life in emerging/young adults.


• Two major objectives:




1. Benchmarking and tracking health/nutrition factors.


2. Developing food‑as‑medicine interventions using biomarkers.




• Well-established, productive team with large student involvement.


• Major concern: Roles and responsibilities for states/participants not clearly articulated.


• Overall: Strong history and scientific rationale; roles and responsibilities of members requires clarification.

5. Committee Leadership

• Incoming Co‑Chair (Food Science): Senay Simsek (Purdue)


• Incoming Co‑Chair (Nutrition): Martha Belury (Ohio State)

6. Committee Membership Discussion

• Some regions lack an equivalent advisory committee; NCAC‑22 may consider openness to members from those regions.


• Also consider potential inclusion of institute/center leaders.


• Jeanette will confirm which regions lack analogous committees.

7. Future Meeting Format Discussion

• Committee has met only virtually since pandemic.


• Options discussed:




• Meeting adjacent to the CFSA/ANDP joint meeting in October.


• Keeping grant review meeting virtual later in the year.




• No decision finalized; co-chairs will explore options.

8. Roundtable Updates & Concerns

State and University Issues

• Many states experiencing budget cuts or political pressure on universities.


• Example: Michigan faced a proposed 26% cut but ultimately received a 2% increase after strong ag‑research advocacy.

Federal Financial Aid Concerns

• Possible new federal requirement tying undergraduate program ROI to aid eligibility raised alarms.


• Especially concerning for dietetics and nutritional sciences, where salaries are low or data is sparse.

Visa and Immigration Challenges

• Multiple universities facing H‑1B sponsorship freezes or cost barriers.


• Shifting toward O‑visas or EB1 for faculty hires.


• Collaboration restrictions with China increasing due to export control rules.

Public Perception & Media

• University of Illinois highlighted a new YouTube video promoting harmful narratives about Chinese students.


• Concerns about public misunderstanding and political ramifications.

9. Action Items

• Mark & Les: Prepare written project reviews by Feb 17.


• Jeanette:




• Provide links to USDA priority documents.


• Confirm which regions lack analogous committees.


• Follow up with APLU on federal aid ROI questions.




• Senay & Martha:




• Explore 2026 meeting date options (virtual + possible October add-on to ANDP/CFSA meeting).




• All members:




• Share impact/business creation stories with Jeanette.


• Provide feedback on project review drafts when circulated.

10. Next Meeting

Tentative Date/Time: Friday, January 22 (2:30-4:30 PM Eastern; 1:30–3:30 PM Central)
(To be confirmed by new co-chairs.)

Accomplishments

Publications

Impact Statements

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