The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production,promotes agricultural trade and production,works to assure food safety,protects natural resources,fosters rural communities and works to end hunger in the United States and internationally. It is headed by the secretary of agriculture,who reports directly to the president of the United States and is a member of the president's Cabinet. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack,who has served since February 24,2021.
Human nutrition deals with the provision of essential nutrients in food that are necessary to support human life and good health. Poor nutrition is a chronic problem often linked to poverty,food security,or a poor understanding of nutritional requirements. Malnutrition and its consequences are large contributors to deaths,physical deformities,and disabilities worldwide. Good nutrition is necessary for children to grow physically and mentally,and for normal human biological development.
A food pyramid is a representation of the optimal number of servings to be eaten each day from each of the basic food groups. The first pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974. The 1992 pyramid introduced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was called the "Food Guide Pyramid" or "Eating Right Pyramid". It was updated in 2005 to "MyPyramid",and then it was replaced by "MyPlate" in 2011.
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research,Education and Economics mission area. ARS is charged with extending the nation's scientific knowledge and solving agricultural problems through its four national program areas:nutrition,food safety and quality;animal production and protection;natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems;and crop production and protection. ARS research focuses on solving problems affecting Americans every day. The ARS Headquarters is located in the Jamie L. Whitten Building on Independence Avenue in Washington,D.C.,and the headquarters staff is located at the George Washington Carver Center (GWCC) in Beltsville,Maryland. For 2018,its budget was $1.2 billion.
William Thomas Hawks, known as Bill Hawks,is an American politician,former civil servant,agricultural businessman,and founder and CEO of AgWorks Solutions,LLC.
Food policy is the area of public policy concerning how food is produced,processed,distributed,purchased,or provided. Food policies are designed to influence the operation of the food and agriculture system balanced with ensuring human health needs. This often includes decision-making around production and processing techniques,marketing,availability,utilization,and consumption of food,in the interest of meeting or furthering social objectives. Food policy can be promulgated on any level,from local to global,and by a government agency,business,or organization. Food policymakers engage in activities such as regulation of food-related industries,establishing eligibility standards for food assistance programs for the poor,ensuring safety of the food supply,food labeling,and even the qualifications of a product to be considered organic.
Marion Nestle is an American molecular biologist,nutritionist,and public health advocate. She is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition,Food Studies,and Public Health Emerita at New York University. Her research examines scientific and socioeconomic influences on food choice,obesity,and food safety,emphasizing the role of food marketing.
Charles Lambert was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for the United States Department of Agriculture Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area by then-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman on December 2,2002.
The Under Secretary for Food,Nutrition,and Consumer Services is a position created within the United States Department of Agriculture in 1993,and is responsible for administrating the department's fifteen nutrition and food security programs and for promoting the dietary guidelines. <7 CFR §2.19>The food assistance programs have a combined budget of $170.5 billion and include the Food Stamp Program,the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,Infants and Children,the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs,and the Commodity Distribution Programs. In addition,the Undersecretary oversees the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,which leads the development of dietary guidelines and which promotes the guidelines through the Food Guide Pyramid.
The United States deputy secretary of agriculture is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture,appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The deputy secretary becomes acting secretary of agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation,death,or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The deputy secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the secretary of agriculture. The deputy secretary of agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provide nutritional advice for Americans who are healthy or who are at risk for chronic disease but do not currently have chronic disease. The Guidelines are published every five years by the US Department of Agriculture,together with the US Department of Health and Human Services. Notably,the most recent ninth edition for 2020–25 includes dietary guidelines for children from birth to 23 months. In addition to the Dietary Guidelines per se,there are additional tools for assessing diet and nutrition,including the Healthy Eating Index (HEI),which can be used to assess the quality of a given selection of foods in the context of the Dietary Guidelines. Also provided are additional explanations regarding customization of the Guidelines to individual eating preferences,application of the Guidelines during pregnancy and infancy,the USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review,information about the Nutrition Communicators Network and the MyPlate initiative,information from the National Academies about redesigning the process by which the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are created,and information about dietary guidelines from other nations.
Dairy Council of California provides free nutrition education programs to California children and adults through teachers and health professionals. In addition,the Dairy Council of California provides a Mobile Dairy Classroom,a free outdoor assembly with a live cow. The organization also provides consumers with nutrition information through a website,HealthyEating.org.
Eric Michael Bost is the former United States Ambassador to South Africa. He was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa by President George W. Bush on July 20,2006,after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 29. Bost presented his credentials to South African President Thabo Mbeki on August 15,2006. He completed his tour as ambassador on January 20,2009.
Kathleen Ann Merrigan is an American politician who served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from April 8,2009,until her resignation from this position on March 14,2013. She was the first woman to chair the Ministerial Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2011. She was the former Executive Director of the Sustainability Collaborative at the George Washington University. At GW she also led the GW Food Institute and was a Professor of Public Policy. She was named one of the "100 most influential people in the world" by Time magazine in 2010.
Despite India's 50% increase in GDP since 2013,more than one third of the world's malnourished children live in India. Among these,half of the children under three years old are underweight.
Rayne Pegg was the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture,and was appointed on July 6,2009,by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In her position,she has the responsibility of overseeing AMS policies and programs. AMS administers programs that facilitate the efficient,fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products,including food,fiber,and specialty crops. She participated in the World Trade Organization and US-Korea FTA negotiations,and was previously appointed to USDA’s Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables.
MyPlate is the current nutrition guide published by the United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion,and serves as a recommendation based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It replaced the USDA's MyPyramid guide on June 2,2011,ending 19 years of USDA food pyramid diagrams. MyPlate is displayed on food packaging and used in nutrition education in the United States. The graphic depicts a place setting with a plate and glass divided into five food groups that are recommended parts of a healthy diet. This dietary recommendation combines an organized amount of fruits,vegetables,grains,protein,and dairy. It is designed as a guideline for Americans to base their plate around in order to make educated food choices. ChooseMyPlate.gov shows individuals the variety of these five subgroups based on their activity levels and personal characteristics.
Catherine E. O'Connor Woteki was the under secretary for United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Research,Education,and Economics (REE) mission area,as well as the department's chief scientist. Her responsibilities included oversight of the four agencies that comprise REE,the Agricultural Research Service (ARS),National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA),Economic Research Service (ERS),and National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS.) The National Agriculture Library and National Arboretum also fall under this mission area. Since 2021,she has been a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
In the United States,school meals are provided either at no cost or at a government-subsidized price,to students from low-income families. These free or subsidized meals have the potential to increase household food security,which can improve children's health and expand their educational opportunities. A study of a free school meal program in the United States found that providing free meals to elementary and middle school children in areas characterized by high food insecurity led to increased school discipline among the students.
Tambra Raye Stevenson is an African-American entrepreneur,nutrition educator,public speaker,policy advisor,inventor,and food justice activist. Stevenson founded WANDA and NativSol Kitchen. She is a Nutrition and Health Co-chair for the DC Food Policy Council,a Committee member for the National Agricultural Research,Extension,Education,and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board,and was named National Geographic Traveler of the Year in 2014. She is co-chair of Bringing It To The Table.
