National Alliance for Food Safety and Security

The Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the OC, establishes the national centers of excellence. Center structure is periodically reviewed and may be revised by the Board to better meet the needs of the Alliance. The centers serve as focal points for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research. Faculty from member institutions may identify themselves with one or more of the centers and participate in the activities of the center, including the election of its chair.

The centers' principle function is conducting research, education and outreach activities usually funded through competitive grants. Centers also provide a coherent nexus of expertise that can be exercised by NAFSS to meet specific needs/opportunities of federal or private sector sponsors. Center directors provide leadership and mentoring for the marketing, solicitation, organization, and preparation of grant proposals and for providing overall management of inter-institutional grants. Centers are the fundamental performing unit of NAFSS. Centers may receive funding through competitively awarded grants for inter-institutional research and development in response to RFPs emanating from ARS for this purpose.