The Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) advises the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on issues concerning agriculture, higher education in developing countries, and food insecurity. BIFAD was established and recognized by Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act, and both the BIFAD board and Title XII recognize the critical role of U.S. land-grant institutions in food and agricultural security, domestically and abroad. BIFAD consists of seven board members appointed by the White House, four of whom must have been part of the US Academic community. The board's mission is to draw on the expertise and scientific knowledge of those in higher education to advise the US international assistance on the effect of domestic efforts to end food insecurity.
History BIFAD was created by USAID in 1975, under Title XII (Famine Prevention and Freedom from Hunger) of the Foreign Assistance Act. Title XII itself was passed in Congress to address the global issues of food insecurity and hunger. Title XII highlighted the benefits of increased involvement of US Universities in agriculture, the need for developing countries to have trained people and thriving local institutions that can adapt to local needs, and how increased focus and efforts in agriculture can benefit both the US and other countries. BIFAD was also tasked with the formulation of basic policy, procedures, and criteria for project proposal review, selection, and monitoring, as noted in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. BIFAD is the only presidentially appointed board that assists the Administrator of USAID in developing and implementing the official U.S. foreign assistance programs.
Challenges and strategies BIFAD believes that the current global challenges in terms of poverty and food insecurity are the current 800 million people suffering from chronic hunger, the 2 billion people affected by micronutrient deficiency, the 700 million people living in extreme poverty, and the growth in global population estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with growth occurring disproportionately in Africa and Asia. Challenges facing the production of foodstuffs include the threat of new strains of pathogens, dropping water tables, and a changing climate. In order to address these problems food production will need to dramatically increase with limited resources, usage of land and water will need to improve, and disease and insect-resistant crops will need to be developed.
Past and present board members
+YearChairmanBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard MemberBoard Member1976Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.1977Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.1978Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.Dr. Johnnie Watts ProthroDr. Orville G. BentleyDr. Anson R. BertrandMr. Charles KrauseMr. Peter McPhersonDr. Gerald W. Thomas1979Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.Dr. Johnnie Watts ProthroDr. Orville G. BentleyMr. David GarstDr. Rebecca Robbins PollandMr. Peter McPhersonDr. Gerald W. Thomas1980Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.Dr. Johnnie Watts ProthroDr. Orville G. Bentley*Mr. David GarstDr. Rebecca Robbins PollandMr. Peter McPherson*Dr. Gerald W. Thomas*1981Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.Dr. Johnnie Watts ProthroDr. C. Peter MagrathMr. David GarstDr. Rebecca Robbins PollandDr. E. T. YorkDr. H. F. Robinson1982Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.Dr. Johnnie Watts Prothro*Dr. C. Peter MagrathMr. David Garst*Dr. Rebecca Robbins PollandDr. E. T. YorkDr. H. F. Robinson1983Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr.*Mr. Ernest T. MarshallDr. C. Peter MagrathMr. Daryl ArnoldMr. Charles J. MarshallDr. E. T. York**Dr. H. F. Robinson1984Dr. E. T. YorkMr. Ernest T. MarshallDr. Benjamin F. PaytonDr. Duane C. AckerMr. Charles J. MarshallHon. Paul FidleyDr. Warren J. Baker1985Dr. E. T. YorkMr. Ernest T. Marshall*Dr. Benjamin F. PaytonDr. Duane C. AckerMr. Charles J. MarshallHon. Paul FidleyDr. Warren J. Baker1986Dr. E. T. York*Mr. L. William McNutt Jr.Dr. Benjamin F. PaytonDr. Duane C. AckerMr. Charles J. Marshall*Hon. Paul FidleyDr. Warren J. Baker1987Dr. William E. LaveryMr. L. William McNutt Jr.Dr. Hugh LaBountyDr. Leonard SpearmanDr. Jean Ruley KearnsHon. Paul FidleyDr. Leo Walsh1988Dr. William E. LaveryMr. L. William McNutt Jr.*Dr. Hugh LaBountyDr. Leonard Spearman*Dr. Jean Ruley KearnsHon. Paul FidleyDr. Leo Walsh1989Dr. William E. Lavery*Dr. Wendell G. RayburnDr. Hugh LaBountyMrs. Gwendolyn S. KingDr. Jean Ruley KearnsHon. Paul FidleyDr. Leo Walsh1990Mr. Wales H. Madden Jr.Dr. Wendell G. RayburnDr. Hugh LaBountyMr. Christopher HicksDr. Jean Ruley KearnsHon. Paul FidleyDr. Leo Walsh1991Mr. Wales H. Madden Jr.Dr. Wendell G. RayburnDr. Hugh LaBounty*Mr. Christopher HicksDr. Jean Ruley Kearns*Hon. Paul FidleyDr. Leo Walsh1992Mr. Wales H. Madden Jr.Dr. Wendell G. RayburnDr. John ByrneMr. Christopher HicksDr. John DiBiaggioHon. Paul Fidley1993Mr. Wales H. Madden Jr.Dr. Wendell G. Rayburn*Dr. John Byrne*Dr. John DiBiaggio*1994Mr. Wales H. Madden Jr.1995Dr. Edward Schuh1996Dr. Edward Schuh1997Dr. Edward Schuh1998Dr. Edward Schuh1999Dr. Edward Schuh2000Dr. Edward Schuh2001Dr. Edward Schuh*2002Peter McPhersonWilliam DelauderCarol Lewis Anthony G. LaosMicheal DeeganSharron Quisenberry Stewart Iverson Jr.2003Peter McPhersonWilliam DelauderCarol Lewis Anthony G. LaosMicheal DeeganSharron Quisenberry Stewart Iverson Jr.2004Peter McPhersonWilliam DelauderCarol Lewis Anthony G. LaosMicheal DeeganSharron Quisenberry Stewart Iverson Jr.2005Peter McPhersonWilliam DelauderCarol Lewis Anthony G. LaosMicheal DeeganSharron Quisenberry Stewart Iverson Jr.2006Peter McPhersonWilliam DelauderAllen ChristensenAnthony G. LaosMicheal DeeganSharron Quisenberry Stewart Iverson Jr.2007Robert EasterWilliam DelauderAllen ChristensenTimothy RabonCatherine BertiniH. H. Barlow IIIJohn Thomas 2008Robert EasterWilliam DelauderAllen ChristensenTimothy RabonCatherine BertiniH. H. Barlow IIIKeith W. Eckel2009Robert EasterWilliam DelauderAllen ChristensenTimothy RabonCatherine BertiniH. H. Barlow IIIKeith W. Eckel2010Robert EasterWilliam DelauderGebisa EjetaTimothy RabonCatherine BertiniH. H. Barlow IIIElsa Murano2011Brady DeatonWilliam DelauderGebisa EjetaMarty McVeyCatherine BertiniJo LuckElsa Murano2012Brady DeatonWilliam DelauderGebisa EjetaMarty McVeyCatherine BertiniJo LuckElsa Murano2013Brady DeatonHarold Martin Sr.Gebisa EjetaMarty McVeyCatherine BertiniWaded Cruzado*Vacant*2014Brady DeatonHarold Martin Sr.Gebisa EjetaMarty McVeyCatherine BertiniWaded Cruzado*Vacant*2015Brady DeatonHarold Martin Sr.Gebisa EjetaMarty McVeyCatherine BertiniWaded CruzadoCary Fowler2016Brady DeatonHarold Martin Sr.Gebisa EjetaJames AshPamela AndersonWaded CruzadoCary Fowler2017Brady DeatonHarold Martin Sr.Gebisa EjetaJames AshPamela AndersonWaded CruzadoCary Fowler2018Mark E. KeenumBrady DeatonGebisa EjetaJames AshPamela AndersonWaded CruzadoRichard Lackey *Member left partway through the year
**Member became Chairman
Events and meetings Haiti taskforce
One of BIFAD's goals, after its creation, was to determine the role higher education Institutions could have in agricultural development. As such, after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, BIFAD organised a task force to see what role Title XII agricultural Universities and other public land-grant institutions could have in the reconstruction of Haiti. Approved in January 2010, the task force was organised through several conference calls during the month of February, and developed the goal "to develop recommendations for BIFAD to deliver to the USAID Administrator regarding long-term Haiti reconstruction and regional development; and the role of land-grant universities in this." One idea for Universities to help with Haiti's reconstruction was to host students whose institution had been destroyed by the earthquake, so that they could continue or finish their studies without disturbances. The task force met in person in March to set realistic expectations with a focus on long-term thinking of a vision for Haiti.
Afghanistan agricultural strategy BIFAD, in coordination with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) held a meeting on the US agricultural strategy in Afghanistan. Attending were representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department, the U.S. Central Command, the National Guard Bureau and the U.S. Marine Corp, and 21 representatives of Title XII institutions. The discussion concerned the institutional development of the Ministry of Agriculture in Afghanistan. With 80% of Afghanistan's population depending on agriculture, BIFAD and its US partners saw this development as essential to prevent insurgencies, create employment opportunities, and develop of the country. After the meeting, a working group with representatives form the USDA, USAID, and Universities was created to continue meeting regularly to discuss what could be done for Agricultural "research, learning and extension competencies in Afghanistan to develop strategies and opportunities to expand long-term training."
Board meetings The BIFAD Board meets several times per year with the representatives from key institutions (USAID, APLU), ecetera and land grant universities to discuss the ongoing projects and most important topics concerning agriculture and education. As of July 2014, there have been 166 BIFAD meetings. The topics since 1975 have included humanitarian relief, agriculture and nutrition, global food prices, sustainability, the Feed the Future Initiative, African higher education, human and institutional capacity development, and many other subjects that revolove around education, agriculture, and domestic or international concerns.
Past projects
Borlaug Higher Education Research and Development Program In June 2011, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new set of programs called the Borlaug 21st Century Leadership Program honouring the legacy of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borlaug. This initiative is a major new effort to train individuals and strengthening the public and private institutions of developing countries, enabling them to take advantage of scientific and technological breakthroughs to promote innovation across the agricultural sector. BIFAD was asked to help establish one of the programs within the broader Borlaug 21st Century Leadership Program, called the Feed the Future Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural Research and Development Program (BHEARD).
Feed the Future Research Forum In May 2011, Feed the Future (FtF) held a forum that placed a major emphasis on research, technological development, policies, and a "whole government" approach to ending world hunger. The forum would help Feed the Future identify research opportunities combat global hunger. USAID and USDA partnered with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Board on International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) to consult on a process for engaging the US and international research communities to respond to the strategy and to identify research opportunities that support Feed the Future's research goals. An initial workshop was held at Purdue University in January 2011 to set the context for the discussion and outline a process. In May 2011 an e-consultation was held, followed by a stakeholder forum, convened in Washington DC in June 2011. This consultative process was designed to allow research stakeholders to further refine research priorities and identify opportunities for new ways of working in order to inform Feed the Future's research implementation efforts.
Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative