CAST is governed by its organizational members through elected boards, scientific work groups, and strategic advisory bodies.
CAST is guided by a collaborative, transparent, and science-driven governance model designed to ensure credibility, balance, and long-term impact.
Our work is informed and overseen through three complementary governance bodies, each with a distinct role in advancing CAST’s mission and public trust:
Together, these bodies ensure that CAST remains independent, nonpartisan, and grounded in sound science, while also evolving to meet the future needs of agriculture, food systems, and public policy.
The Board of Directors is CAST’s policy-making and governing body. It is responsible for the organization’s strategic direction, financial oversight, leadership appointments, and institutional accountability.
The Board establishes membership dues, approves the annual budget, employs the CEO, votes on new members, and determines which projects CAST undertakes, suspends, or terminates. Board members serve staggered three-year terms to ensure continuity and stability.
CAST’s Scientific Work Groups are composed of appointed representatives from CAST member organizations. They provide scientific leadership by identifying emerging issues, developing project proposals, and assembling expert teams to produce CAST publications and initiatives.
Work Groups ensure that CAST’s work reflects diverse disciplinary expertise, balanced perspectives, and scientific rigor across animal, plant, food, and environmental systems.
The Strategic Advisory Council is a high-level advisory body formed to guide CAST’s long-term evolution and national leadership role. The SAC is currently charged with assessing and recommending the steps necessary for CAST to potentially serve as the National Academy of Agriculture.
Composed of distinguished leaders from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations, the SAC provides strategic foresight on governance, partnerships, capabilities, and positioning within the U.S. agricultural science landscape. The Council’s recommendations will be delivered to the CAST Board of Directors by mid-2026.
