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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced an investment of $70 million in sustainable agricultural projects that integrate research, education, and Extension efforts. The goal is to establish robust, resilient, and climate-smart food and agricultural systems.
This investment is made under NIFA’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems program. This innovative program focuses on a broad base of needed research, education, and Extension solutions – from addressing labor challenges and promoting land stewardship to correcting climate change impacts in agriculture and filling critical needs in food and nutrition.
Examples of the seven projects newly funded under NIFA’s AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area include the following:
- Auburn University will receive a $9.95 million grant to transform controlled environment agriculture (CEA) – a rapidly expanding segment of U.S. agriculture that includes producing food crops in greenhouses and indoor spaces, with great promise for producing the food we need while reducing carbon emissions.
- Michigan State University will receive a $10 million grant to assess the impacts of historical and projected shocks to the nation’s agri-food system and develop alternative mitigation and adaptation strategies.
- University of Missouri will receive a $10 million grant to address USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Systems goals on climate-smart agriculture along with strengthening regional bioeconomies in rural areas.
