Plan overview vaes is committed to developing and implementing research that addresses societal needs, expectations, and future pressures and opportunities

Vaes is focused on creating knowledge, integrating advanced technological and scientific innovations to create efficiencies and economic growth, and translating knowledge into practice to enhance agricultural and food systems, including agriculture and food, natural and environmental resources, and life sciences. Research encompasses near- and long-term issues and opportunities pertaining to invasive pests and organisms, infectious disease, health and wellness, quality, social interactions, and economics in animal, plant, human, natural resources, environment and climate, advanced technology and computer-human interactions. The agricultural viability, profitability, and sustainability critical issue will develop low input and profitable indoor agricultural production systems; improve the sustainability and profitability of small ruminant production; assess labor and economic efficiencies associated with advanced technological and scientific innovations. The biotechnology, biomaterials, and bioenergy critical issue will identify novel genes that can be used to improve crop tolerances to environmental stresses, especially drought, heat and metal toxicity; use genetic and genome approaches for breeding new crops to address global climate change; design sustainable value-added alternatives for agricultural, food, and material waste; and create cellular-based alternatives for addressing environmental challe nges, increased agricultural production, and expanding food resources. The food, nutrition and health critical issue will develop and design innovative approaches and processes for maintaining and improving quality, nutritional value, and shelf-life of food; and I dentify, develop, and evaluate novel biological and chemical resources for enhancing health and wellness for plants, animals, and humans. The natural resources, environment, and climate change critical issue will develop a resilient farming system that can cope with the adverse impacts of climate change; minimize the effects of climate change on low-income communities; and evaluate carbon sequestration and methane emissions related to natural resources, agricultural practices, and food processing.