Ladisch, who also is director of Purdue's Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering and holds a joint appointment in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is one of 15 board members appointed by U.S. agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on July 23. The foundation will leverage public and private resources to increase the scientific and technological research, innovation, and partnerships critical to boosting America's agricultural economy. The foundation will operate as a nonprofit corporation seeking and accepting private donations to fund research focusing on problems of national and international significance. Congress provided the foundation with $200 million, which must be matched by nonfederal funds as the foundation identifies and approves projects. The research funded by the foundation will address issues including plant and animal health; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agricultural and food security; and agriculture systems and technology.