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Making A Difference
 GusNIP participant purchasing fresh vegetables. Courtesy of GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Hub.
GusNIP Program Improves Fruit and Vegetable Intake
The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), one of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (USDA-NIFA's) five primary nutrition programs, is increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by income-eligible consumers. GusNIP funded projects make healthy foods — specifically fruits and vegetables — more affordable and accessible to consumers who participate through healthcare clinics or by leveraging USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s food assistance programs at grocery stores, farmers markets and other food retailers.
GusNIP funding supports Nutrition Incentive (NI) projects and Produce Prescription (PPR) projects. Nutrition Incentive projects provide support for individuals using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables. Produce Prescription projects provide incentives via prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables among people experiencing low income and with heightened risk for diet-related chronic disease.
Read more about how these projects are improving the health and nutrition of participating households.
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News from NIFA
Understanding Bioactive Dietary Chemicals
The foods and drinks we consume contain natural chemicals (vitamins, minerals, fat, sugar, protein, flavonoids, toxicants, hormones and more) that can positively or negatively impact human health.
Since 1971, a multistate project has brought together researchers at 22 Land-grant Universities to conduct cutting-edge research on the effects of dietary bioactive chemicals on human health, chronic diseases and food safety.
Learn more about the work of researchers who are investigating exposure levels, doses, factors influencing absorption and metabolism, synergistic effects with other compounds, and transgenerational effects.
Fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and salmon. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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Award Announcements
USDA Invests in Research, Extension and Education at 1890 Land-grant Universities
USDA has announced an investment of more than $33 million to support capacity-building efforts at 1890 Land-grant Universities. This investment, administered through USDA-NIFA will support 82 research, Extension and education projects across the nation’s 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities designated as 1890 Land-grant Universities.
NIFA Invests $23 Million to Improve Human Health Through Food
NIFA is supporting 48 projects with a total of $23 million to improve human health through the Food and Human Health program within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). These projects will investigate the interrelationships of foods, or components of foods, and their impact on the gut microbiota to improve human health.
NIFA Invests $13.7 Million to Develop New Food and Ag Scientists
NIFA has awarded more than 90 AFRI Predoctoral Fellowships. These fellowships help develop new scientists and professionals in the food and agricultural sciences so that they enter research, education and/or Extension fields within the private sector, government or academia. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who can solve the emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st Century.
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Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
University of Illinois Study Finds Turning Food Waste into Bioenergy Can Become a Profitable Industry
Food waste is a major problem around the world. In the United States, an estimated 30 to 40% of edible food is lost or wasted, costing billions of dollars each year. One potential solution is to divert food waste from landfills to renewable energy production, but this isn’t done on a large scale anywhere. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign investigates the feasibility of implementing energy production from food waste in the state of Illinois. Learn more about this NIFA-supported research.
Food waste. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock
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USDA News
USDA Announces Investments in Urban Agriculture, Food and Market Access
USDA has announced a series of investments that will increase market access and revenue streams for producers while strengthening the food system and giving consumers better access to locally grown foods and healthier choices.
USDA announced 17 new Urban Service Centers and ten new urban county committees, as well as approximately $10.7 million in investments for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program and an expansion of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, including approximately $30 million in funding availability for the new Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Initiative. Read more.
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Tweet of the Week
That's a wrap! Thank you to @SBAgov, our daily hosts and the small business entrepreneurs who met with our USDA #SBIR and #STTR reps this week for America's Seed Fund Road tour.
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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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