Fresh From the Field, March 21, 2019

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Fresh From the Field is a weekly album showcasing transformative impacts made by partners supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Editor: Falita Liles                                                                                                 March 21, 2019

Success Stories 

HOOHIAPO - Renewing Ancestral Education Pathways in Agroecology As an archipelago, Hawaii needs to promote localized agriculture as a means to food security. The University of Hawaii uses NIFA funding to create a comprehensive agriculture program, engaging students in multidisciplinary analysis of the food and farming system of Hawaii, the United States and beyond. There are 100 students in the agricultural program, 41 percent of whom are native Hawaiian. In addition, 70 percent of the students are women. Twenty-three disadvantaged students received $1,000 in stipends to complete the program. The program covers agroecology, political science, epidemiology, food security, ethics, traditional ecological knowledge, and indigenous resource management. Read more about this project at NIFA's Data Gateway. NIFA supports this research with the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Grants Program.

News Coverage

Computational Fluid Dynamics to Design Future Dairy Housing Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed computational fluid dynamics models that can provide a clear picture of how new dairy housing barns—designed for ventilation and cow comfort—will perform in real-life settings. These state-of-the-art modeling tools accomplish their task much more cheaply and quickly than the current trial-and-error method, because they enable engineers to evaluate a proposed ventilation system before it is installed. To validate the models’ reliability, the researchers, working in collaboration with a group of commercial dairy farmers, conducted a series of coordinated computational and experimental studies. NIFA supports this research through Hatch Act Funds. Contact: Christopher Choi, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Library

Enhanced Access to and Rigor in Agricultural Science Education There is an industry-recognized lack of agriculture professionals. To help meet that need, Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) increases access to hands-on, rigorous sequences of courses in agricultural education. In 2018, 22 teachers from around the country earned scholarships and lab resources that expanded by 120 percent the number of teachers certified in advanced CASE pathways sequence of courses. Ultimately, 1,320 students will explore authentic agriculture issues focused on biotechnology and food science and safety to become exceptionally well prepared for their futures in agriculture. NIFA supports the CASE project through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. Contact: Miranda Chaplin, National Association of Agricultural Educators.

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NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and extension that solve societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural sciences, visit www.nifa.usda.gov/Impacts, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts.

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