National Plant Data Center (Est. 1994)
The National Plant Data Center (NPDC) was established by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NPDC focuses resources on acquiring and integrating standard plant data required for field office activities and automated conservation tools.
The data support natural resources information exchange throughout the NRCS and across Federal and State agencies. The center develops and maintains the PLANTS Web site<plants.usda.gov>, which serves to disseminate much of the developed information. The center ensures efficient development of plant data and non-duplication of effort. The center maintains a staff at the University of California-Davis and the Montana Plant Materials Center-Bridger. Automation support is provided by the NRCS-Information Technology Center, Ft. Collins, Colorado. The mission of the NPDC is to provide leadership for the design, prioritization, collection, quality control, development, management, access, dissemination, interpretation, and marketing of plant information for the agency. The center also participates in national and international projects to develop, standardize, and disseminate plant information. One project is the International Organization for Plant Information’s Global Plant Checklist <iopi.csu.edu.au/iopi/>. Some agencies and organizations involved in partnering projects include the following: Alcorn State University, Biota of North America Program, Bishop Museum-Honolulu, Botanischer Garten and Botanisches Museum-Berlin, Integrated Taxonomic Information System <www.itis.usda.gov>, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Southern University, University of Guam, University of Texas, University of Wyoming, USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA- Forest Service, and Utah State University.
Small Farm Family Resource Development Center
(Est. 1986)
The mission of the Small Farm Family Resource Development Center is to improve the status of its clientele by providing educational and technical assistance aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of Louisiana’s small-scale farms and addressing related clientele needs. A major part of the Center’s thrust involves the evaluation and development of ecologically and economically sound sustainable agricultural production systems. Current and future research efforts include an array of agricultural commodities such as vegetables, small fruits, herbs, small animals and the economic potential of value-added processing. The center’s programs are multi-disciplinary with collaboration among plant and soil scientists, economists and other social scientists, nutritionists, food scientists, and animal scientists. The center works closely with the Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) in developing the outreach educational and technical assistance infrastructure for program delivery. CEP’s outreach efforts are organized and intensified to reflect the strengths of the center and the College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) and to address the needs of the identified clientele. Some of the research projects include the use of prostaglandins to improve the reproductive efficiency in rabbits; the use of the Boer goat genome to enhance the growth and carcass characteristics of goats; the evaluation of cultural practices for herb (dill, basal, etc.) production in the southeast; kenaf and crayfish waste as potential protein supplements for livestock feed; obesity in African-American women; drip irrigation and soil fertility; photoperiod effect on millions; and the development of sustainable vegetable production systems.
Southern University Institute for Air, Nutrient, Soils, Water, Ecosystem and Remote Sensing (SU “Answers” Institute)
The purpose of the SU ANSWERS Institute is to provide solutions and technical assistance to the residents and stakeholders of Louisiana. The technical services that the clienteles need range from water quality, soil quality, air quality, environmental contamination, disaster mitigation, land use planning, urban forest/forest management, and natural resource management. The Institute will utilize the results from cutting edge research to provide answers for the technical needs of the communities and deploy analytical laboratories to provide technical assistance to the clientele.
Southern Institute for Food Science, Nutrition, and Wellness (SIFSNW)
The purpose of the Southern Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Wellness is to bring together teams of faculty, staff, and students with a diverse background, have educational experience and are stakeholder oriented to work on serious but preventable health problems in our state. The institute contributes solutions to improving the health and well-being of Louisiana residents by conducting research in the areas of healthy foods, food safety, access to fresh produce at all times, health promotion and disease prevention and by providing education and outreach to families so they can make practical decisions that can improve their wellness.
Southern Institute for Medicinal Plants (SIMP)
The Southern Institute for Medicinal Plants was established to research potential source nutraceuticals, as well as to isolate and identify the medicinal value of isolated compounds using in-vitro/in-vivo studies.
Southern Institute for One Health, One Medicine (SIOHOM)
The Southern Institute for One Health, One Medicine was established to conduct research that would improve the lives of all species - animals and health. The Institute conducts biomedical and agricultural research to advance the theory and practice of disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The Institute supports research that increases understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. To assure the vitality and continued productivity of the research enterprise, the Institute provides leadership in training the next generation of scientists, in enhancing the diversity of the scientific workforce, and in developing research capacities throughout the country. The Institute advocates for research that benefits animal and human health and well-being and believes that we are uniquely qualified to lead research efforts to that purpose.