Five-Year Goals
Increase peer-reviewed publications to 620 by 2030
Increase HERD Survey research expenditures to $130M by 2030
Submit at least four initiative-driven proposals (approx. $4-10M each)
Increase research publication citations to at least 26,000
Establish two new stakeholder convergent research initiatives
Award five endowed chairs/professor’s and one Governor’s chair
Invest $1M+ in annual research capacity
Before we chart our path to success, we must establish our starting point. Updated metrics from the previous plan highlight both areas of strength and opportunities for growth. Over the most recent three-year cycle (2022-2024), UT AgResearch averaged 455 peer-reviewed publications, 1,111 professional presentations, 13 patent applications, and $82 million in Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey research expenditures. The Survey is an annual survey of expenditures collected by the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. In 2024 alone, UT AgResearch generated over $97 million in HERD Survey research expenditures. The long-term trend reflects both positive progress and areas for improvement. The correlation with AgResearch FTE demonstrates why investing in faculty is imperative for success.
To meet the 2030 UTIA ten-year goals, our target is to increase peer-reviewed publications from 409 2020 to 620 in 2030, while also increasing HERD Survey research expenditures to $130 million. Achieving these goals requires strategic investment in faculty, the core resource that drives research and innovation. To improve our impact, we must also increase MS and especially PhD degrees from the Herbert College of Agriculture.
At the same time, emphasis will be placed on diversifying funding portfolios, expanding large-scale proposals, and preparing the next generation of graduate and postdoctoral researchers, ensuring that UT AgResearch continues to deliver high-impact science that matters for Tennessee and beyond.
Several objectives have been established to help achieve UTIA’s performance goals. UT AgResearch remains committed to providing the capacity and infrastructure needed to support research and discovery at the highest level. We will pursue emerging opportunities and advance promising new concepts through flagship programs such as Strategic Partnership Grants and AgForward Innovation Hubs.
These efforts will empower faculty to build collaborations with partners across UT Knoxville, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tennessee State University (TSU), USDA-ARS, industry, and beyond while preparing teams to compete successfully for large, multi-disciplinary proposals and novel funding sources. By embedding stakeholder engagement into research design, these programs will strengthen the connection between discovery and application at the state, national, and international levels.
UT AgResearch will continue to support faculty as they pursue a balanced portfolio of funding, including federal, state, industry, and foundation sources, while fostering interdisciplinary teams that share ideas, tools, and technologies. Together, these initiatives will advance UT AgResearch’s mission, elevate its competitiveness, and ensure that its science continues to provide meaningful solutions for agriculture, natural resources, and society.
