The Department of Agriculture Monday announced the appointment of Manjit K. Misra as the new Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “Dr. Misra is an esteemed scientist and educator whose devotion to studying and sharing his knowledge of seeds with the world will benefit society and inspire generations to come.”
Before joining USDA, Dr. Misra served as a Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University.
For more than 30 years, he was Director of the university’s Seed Science Center. The center has administered the National Seed Health System, authorized by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, since 2001.
Dr. Misra also was founding Director of the Iowa State’s Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products. The NIFA Director leads the agency’s work in advancing agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal challenges. Dr. Misra will start his new role on Monday, May 8, 2023.