NIFA Invests in Research to Solve Critical Water Problems
Media
contact: Kelly Sprute, 202-744-2574
WASHINGTON, D.C. September 20, 2018 – The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced
seven grants for research that will provide solutions to critical water
problems across the United States. These awards were made through the
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Water for Food Production
Systems Challenge Area. AFRI is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and
administered by USDA-NIFA.
“Water
is our most precious resource and finding solutions for dealing with water
scarcity and quality is critical for communities across the U.S. who grow and raise
the food we eat,” said Acting NIFA Director Tom Shanower. “By investing in
projects that address a critical problem for American agriculture, we aim to
find better tools and technologies for water management practices that make a
difference for our farmers, ranchers, and foresters.”
AFRI’s Water
for Food Production Systems program focuses on developing new
technologies and strategic management tools that solve water quantity and
quality, sustainable use and reuse, and farming practices to conserve water.
Among the grant participants this year, the University of Florida is developing
new smart irrigation systems and innovative software and hardware solutions for
on-farm water management tools for small farmers to emphasizing water quality
and reduce water usage. Another awardee, the Ohio State University, explores
public-private partnerships to target the best management practices to improve
water quality in agricultural runoffs.
The $34
million in Water for Food Production grants include:
- University
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, $4,342,280
- University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, $4,867,723
- Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, $4,838,263
- University
of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, $4,917,465
- North
Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, $4,990,616
- Ohio
State University, Wooster, Ohio, $4,999,930
- Washington
State University, Pullman, Washington, $4,966,223
More
information about these projects is available on the NIFA website.
The
long-term goal of the AFRI Water for Food Production Systems Challenge Area is
to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and availability of safe and
nutritious food while significantly reducing water use and preserving water
quality. NIFA’s approach will link social, economic, and behavioral sciences
with traditional biophysical sciences and engineering to address regional and local
watershed issues.
NIFA
invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and extension and
promotes transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA's
integrated research, education, and extension programs support the best and
brightest scientists and extension personnel whose work results in
user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries that combat childhood obesity,
improve and sustain rural economic growth, address water availability issues,
increase food production, find new sources of energy, mitigate climate
variability, and ensure food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on
agricultural science, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts,
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