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Making A Difference
 Person shopping for produce. Image courtesy of NTAE.
NIFA’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program Continues to Make Impacts
In its third year, NIFA’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) continues to improve people’s lives. The Nutrition Incentive Program Training, Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Information Center (NTAE) recently released Year 3 (2021-2022) evaluation impact findings for GusNIP and the program’s importance is clear.
According to the NTAE report, GusNIP created $85 million in economic impact, increased fruit and vegetable intake and decreased food insecurity.
“Since its creation, GusNIP projects have worked to increase access to healthy foods, and these findings are proof of the program’s success,” said Dr. Suzanne Stluka, deputy director of NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition. “It is wonderful to see the impact the program has had in helping more families increase their access to locally grown fruits and vegetables.”
This competitive grant program makes healthy foods—specifically fruits and vegetables—more affordable and accessible to low-income consumers who participate by purchasing through grocery stores, farmers markets and other food retailers. Read the full Year 3 impact findings report on the Nutrition Incentive Hub website.
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News from NIFA
#BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day
Every year on June 5, the United Nations Environment Program convenes people from more than 150 countries to participate in World Environment Day, a 50-year-old international observation that celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world. In 2023, the day focused on solutions to plastic pollution. According to event organizers, more than 400 million tons of plastic is produced every year around the globe. An estimated 19 to 23 million tons of plastic find their way into lakes, rivers and seas.
Agriculture is a key player in helping the world develop the understanding — and the solutions — in addressing the problems posed by plastics. Learn how NIFA drives innovation in this area by supporting research projects across the funding portfolio.
Various plastic tableware and utensils, courtesy of Adobe Stock.
Read More:
Impacts of NIFA-funded research and Extension programs on our Blog page.
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Award Announcements
NIFA Invests $16.2 Million in Innovative Plant Breeding Research
NIFA will support 32 projects addressing breeding crops for the future with $16.2 million. The Plant Breeding for Agricultural Production program area priority in the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative supports these goals by providing funding for fundamental, innovative breeding research across a wide variety of agronomic crops, specialty crops, wild relatives and timber species relevant to U.S. agriculture.
NIFA Awards $9.5 Million to Promote Innovation in Animal Reproduction
NIFA has awarded more than $9.5 million to 17 projects to pursue innovation and improvements in animal reproduction. This program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funds projects that focus on enhancing gonadal function, evaluating transcriptomics in sperm, preventing pregnancy loss, and improving estrus response to enhance fertility in livestock and aquacultured food animals.
Awardees: Auburn University (2 awards); Penn State; Syracuse University; Texas A&M AgriLife Research (2 awards); University of California, Davis; University of Kentucky; University of Missouri; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; University of Rhode Island; University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2 awards); University of Wisconsin–Madison; USDA Agricultural Research Service; Washington State University (2 awards)
NIFA Invests $6.7 Million to Advance the Sustainable Bioeconomy through Biobased Products
NIFA has awarded more than $6.7 million for 7 projects to develop biobased products. This program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative supports integrated projects to advance biobased products, biomass systems or biomass-generated power to enable the bioeconomy in a manner which reduces adverse impacts to the environment. The sustainable bioeconomy encompasses the development of biobased products that promote economic prosperity, energy security, human health and ecosystem resources.
Awardees: Auburn University (2 awards); Iowa State University; Mississippi State University; Oregon State University; Texas A&M University; University of Wisconsin–Madison
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NIFA webinar graphic.
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Application Deadlines
NIFA has career opportunities in a variety of scientific disciplines covering engineering, food science, forestry, education, animal and crop sciences, and many other agriculture-related disciplines. NIFA job openings are listed on USAJobs.gov.
NIFA career opportunities graphic.
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Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Scientists Assemble First Complete Genetic Sequence for Blackberries
An international team of scientists, led by the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, has assembled the first complete sequence of the blackberry genome, creating a genetic tool that will help guide fruit breeders to develop new varieties with improved flavor, hardiness and other desired characteristics.
The team assembled the genome of Hillquist, a wild blackberry with a unique fruiting habit discovered in 1949. It is the only known source of primocane-fruiting genetics and is the parent of every primocane-fruiting variety developed by public and private breeding programs. Read more about this NIFA-supported research here.
The University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station led an international team
that assembled the first complete sequence of the blackberry genome.
(U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)
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The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to ensuring that its programs and services are accessible to all individuals, including individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any NIFA event, please contact the appropriate Program staff no later than 10 days prior to the event. To find Program staff by event, please visit the NIFA Calendar of Events. NIFA Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request. If you need interpretation or translation services please visit NIFA language services or contact Lois Tuttle, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Lois.Tuttle@usda.gov or (443) 386-9488 no later than 10 days prior to the event.
NIFA’s mission is to invest in and advance agricultural research, education, and Extension that solves societal challenges. NIFA’s investments in transformative science directly support the long-term prosperity and global preeminence of U.S. agriculture. Keep informed about NIFA, USDA, our Land-grant and non-Land-grant university partners, and stakeholders with the NIFA Update. Read past issues online, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @USDA_NIFA, #NIFAImpacts or LinkedIn @usda-nifa.
If you wish to submit a news item or information, send an email to NIFAUpdate.
USDA is an equal opportunity lender, provider, and employer.
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