USDA Strategic Plan - Fiscal Years 2014-2018.

This fiscal years 2014-2018 Strategic Plan presents a roadmap for the modernisation of the agricultural sector and the implementation of governmental programmes for rural development and for providing the best services for the population. The Strategic Plan mission concerns: leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on the best available science, and efficient management. The vision of the Strategic Plan aims at: expanding economic opportunity through agricultural innovation, helping the rural development of America; promoting agriculture production sustainability; protecting the Nation’s natural resources through restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands. In order to define USDA priorities, the Strategic Plan specify the following five strategic goals: assisting rural communities to create prosperity; ensuring conservation of national forests and private working lands, improving resilience to climate change and enhancing water resources; promoting agricultural production and biotechnology, and increasing food security; ensuring children access to safe, nutritious and balanced meals; creation of a high performing, efficient and adaptable Department of Agriculture.
Each goal contains several objectives that include the Department’s major programmatic efforts and activities to accomplish the long-term performance targets. Particularly, the objectives concern: enhancement of rural prosperity, in order to increase Government’s investment in rural development; increasing agricultural opportunities, creating new markets and supporting a competitive agricultural system; expansion of the bioeconomy by supporting development, production, and consumption of renewable energy and bio-based products; sustainable management of natural resources, in order to improve the health of the Nation’s forests; mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change, drought and extreme weather events in agriculture and forestry; protecting and enhancing water resources on national forests and working lands; reducing risks of wildfire; ensuring the contribution of agricultural resources to enhancement of global food security; development of agricultural products derived from new and emerging technologies; promoting healthy diet and physical activity behaviours; protecting public health, by ensuring food safety; minimising major diseases and pests to ensure access to safe, plentiful, and nutritious food; building safe, secure, and efficient rural workplaces.