- Request to approve the proposal, NE_TEMP1422: Postharvest Biology of Fruits [NE1018], 10/2008-9/2013. Submitted by Brad Hillman (NJ).
NE_temp1422 Technical Committee Reaction to MAC Comments
Action: Recommends approval of the proposal. MAC commends the technical committee for addressing the concerns expressed during the review in March and for revising the proposal
as suggested to include experts in economics, marketing, nutrition and clinical research, as well as expanding the study to include other fruits.
- Request to approve the proposal, NE_TEMP1441: Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources [NE009], 10/2008-9/2013. Submitted by Tom Burr (NYG).
NE009/NE_temp1441 5-Year Budget Narrative
NE009/NE_temp1441 5-Year Budget Proposal
NE009 Fact Sheet showing the historic-to-present level (FY06, FY07, FY08)
NE009 Fact Sheet showing historic-to-projected level (FY07, FY08, FY09)
Action: MAC recommends $200,000 for FY2009 with a 4% increase for each of the next four years until FY2013 subject to the submission, and acceptance by MAC, of impacts reported in the annual report,
and subject to the availability of federal funding for multistate activities. MAC also confirms its recommendation to approve the new proposal NE_temp1441. The technical committee will be requested to submit a revised 5-year budget projection that will start with $200,000 on the first year (2009).
The impacts to be reported should include, among others:
- number of accessions - how many go to Northeast stations, researchers and outside the region?
- new germplasm developed
- new varieties
- Request to approve the proposal, NE_TEMP1442: Commercial Greenhouse Production: Component and System Development [NE1017], 10/2008-9/2013. Submitted by Ed Ashworth (ME).
NE_temp1442 Technical Committee Reaction to MAC Comments
Action: The technical committee had addressed MAC's concerns and had revised the proposal accordingly. However, there is still some concern about the degree of interdependence, in particular how the economist will contribute to the work of the other scientists. MAC recommends approval, but would like more evidence of collaboration included in their annual reporting.
- Request to approve the proposal, NE_TEMP1501: Balancing Natural Resource Recreation Management, Human Well-Being, and Community Resilience, 10-2008 to 2013.
Submitted by Ed Ashworth (ME).
Action: MAC noted that this is an important topic. However, it was not clear in the proposal how the objectives will be achieved.
MAC recommends approval as a Coordinating Committee for the first two years on the basis of the milestones proposed for the first two years:
- Year 1: Refine project objectives and research methodologies
Identify and recruit key co-project investigators and agency partners
Identify appropriate funding sources and build relationships
- Year 2: Apply for competitive funding to support project objectives
Continue with Year 1 activities
The technical committee can return with the full proposal in the third year. MAC also agreed with the peer reviewers and noted that their recommendations should be incorporated in the proposal:
- The objectives should be more specific.
- Expand potential partners to include federal land managing agencies such as the USDA Forest Service, USDI National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service,
and the USDOD Army Corps of Engineers. Their work in the field of public land management should also be mentioned in the proposal to prove that the project is well coordinated with
existing programs and are not "duplicative" as noted by one peer reviewer.
- Give more attention to the issues of governance and organization. Demonstrate interdependence and "specify the kinds of agreements that are needed and how they will be reached" to integrate "loosely related"
independent projects within the broader themes.
- Request to approve the proposal NE_temp1481: Northeastern Corn Improvement Conference (Renew of NEC29), 10/2008-9/2013. Submitted by Bob Goodman (NJ).
Action: Recommends approval.
- Request to approve a Request to Write a Proposal entitled, "Wood Utilization Research : Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials
Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products", 07/2009-9/2014. Submitted by Barry Goodell through Ed Ashworth (ME).
Action: Recommends approval, and noted that interdependency should be clearly demonstrated in the proposal. The topics being addressed are very broad in nature, from forest management to
wood products utilization. MAC would like to see how the activities will be integrated in the proposal.
- Request to approve a Request to Write a Proposal entitled, "Changing the Health Trajectory for Older Adults through Effective Diet and
Activity Modifications", 10/2009-9/2014. Submitted by Mark Kantor through Gloria Wyche-Moore (DC).
Action: Recommends approval. MAC would like to see the midterm review of the current NE1023 project before the full proposal is submitted. Specifically, what has the current project accomplished?
Has behavior modification been successful? What will be different in the new project?
- Request to approve a Request to Write a Proposal entitled, "Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing (Renew of NEC1007)", 10/2008-9/2013. Submitted by Karen Gartley through Richard Rhodes III (RI).
Action: Recommends approval.
- Review of NRSP Recommendations:
The recommendations by the NRSP Review Committee were discussed. The directors will vote on these recommendations at the ESS Meeting on Sept. 22 in Michigan.
- Advisor Assignments:
- NE506: Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products, 8/2007-7/2009 [TBC-Fred Servello (ME)]
- NRSP3/NRSP_temp3: The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), 10/2003-9/2008 and 10/2008-9/2013
- NRSP7: A National Agricultural Program for Minor Use Animal Drugs, 10/2004-9/2009
Dr. Servello will be nominated for NE506. Dr. Ed Ashworth will be requested to remain as Advisor for NRSP3 as the project will not likely continue
after Sept. 2008. The NRSP Review Committee recommendation is not to approve the renewal of NRSP3.
- NERA Planning Grants Program
MAC supports the implementation of the grants program with some revisions:
- Increase the funding to $10,000
- Identify three regional priorities that are not yet addressed in the NE multistate portfolio [selection will be made at the NERA Meeting next week].
- Extend submission period of full proposal to nine months
- Remove the last paragraph regarding a second grant to the successful proposal
Dr. Rossi had incorporated the suggestions and revised the White Paper.
Revised Version of the White Paper [PDF]
- NIMSS Update - Dan Rossi and Rubie Mize
Judy Sun was hired on April 15 as a parttime NIMSS Programmer. The search for a fulltime programmer was unsuccessful as none of the applicants had Cold Fusion experience. Judy had since performed troubleshooting of NIMSS and is currently working on the new Appendix E participation form.
The regional system administrators continue to meet monthly. The NIMSS Oversight Committee will meet on October 16.
- Other business
MAC Membership: A suggestion will be made to the Nominations Committee that an additional NERA member be appointed to join MAC. NEED Chair Bob Schrader will be approached for recommendations for a NEED director to replace
Dr. Karyn Malinowski.
