|
Making A Difference
 Dr. Sandra Guzman (center) and her engineering technician Zoë Stroobosscher (right) providing training on sensor installation to a grower. Photo courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS.
Smart Water Management
Machines are central to agriculture, but many ag engineers now focus on machine learning and other artificial intelligence methods(AI) that will transform agriculture in the 21st century. With these and many other tools, ag engineers are helping producers adapt agricultural practice to a world confronting an ever-increasing population and its food needs in a context of climate change and environmental stewardship.
Dr. Sandra Guzmán with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences specializes in applying solutions that include artificial intelligence and machine learning to irrigation and hydrology problems in agriculture. Guzmán is an assistant professor at the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), where she leads the Smart Irrigation and Hydrology program. In addition to her research in the smart irrigation and hydrology lab at IRREC, Guzmán works directly with citrus producers to manage water more effectively, helping save a valuable resource and money while they increase productivity.
Learn more about Guzman’s work which is supported in part by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
|
|
News from NIFA
ALERT: Stakeholders in Hawaii Encouraged to Contact NIFA Staff if Unable to Meet Deadlines
NIFA asks any stakeholders affected by the recent tragic wildfires in Hawaii to reach out to NIFA staff if your ability to meet a NIFA deadline is impacted. Deadlines may include items such as program reports, award management items and RFA submissions.
Please reach out to your NIFA program contact at your earliest possible convenience to let them know so that they can provide support and guidance.
Wildfire aftermath. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
.
|
NIFA Seeks 2023 Hall of Fame and Partnership Award Nominees
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has extended the deadline to September 15 for nominations for its 2023 NIFA Partnership Award Category V—Program Improvement through Global Engagement. Visit the Partnership website for complete details, instructions and forms. Nominations for Category V only must be submitted by September 15 via email to performance@ars.usda.gov.
Two 4-H Youth Military Grant Programs Now Open
Two 4-H youth military grant programs opened recently and are posted on Grants.gov. Both funding opportunities are open for only 30 days and will close on September 5.
Read More:
Impacts of NIFA-funded research and Extension programs on our Blog page.
|
|
Award Announcements
NIFA Invests $11 Million to Improve Food Safety and Defense
NIFA has announced an $11 million investment to support 26 projects to improve food safety and defense. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Food Safety and Defense program area funds basic and applied research to reduce the risk of intentional or unintentional contamination of foods.
NIFA Invests $7 Million to Reduce Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain
NIFA is investing almost $7 million to support 9 projects to help reduce the challenges related to antimicrobial resistance. The Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Across the Food Chain program area priority in AFRI is a systems-based, integrated program that empowers interdisciplinary teams to develop, refine and disseminate science-based knowledge about food and agricultural management and production practices that can mitigate or reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) along the food chain. The goal is to ensure a safe, nutritious and abundant food supply while conserving and protecting responsible use of antimicrobials across the food and agriculture domain.
NIFA Invests $12 Million to Advance Research in Agricultural Microbiomes
Nineteen projects will be supported through more than $12 million from NIFA. Microbiome research is critical for improving agricultural productivity, sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, safety of the food supply, carbon sequestration in agricultural systems, and meeting the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing world population. Research supported by the Agricultural Microbiomes in Plant Systems and Natural Resources program area priority within AFRI will help fill major knowledge gaps in characterizing agricultural microbiomes and microbiome functions across agricultural production systems, and natural resources through crosscutting projects.
NIFA Invests $15 Million in Research and Extension Learning Experiences for Undergraduates
NIFA is investing almost $15 million to support 21 projects that will focus on developing new members of the ag workforce. The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates program area priority within AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development program area promotes research and Extension learning experiences for undergraduates so that they may enter the agricultural workforce with exceptional skills upon graduation. This program allows colleges and universities to provide opportunities for undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups, minority-serving institutions, community colleges and universities.
NIFA Invests $4.7 Million in Agricultural Workforce Training at Community Colleges
NIFA is investing $4.7 million to support 10 community college projects. The Agricultural Workforce Training at Community Colleges program area within AFRI seeks to develop a workforce ready for the field as well as industry jobs in the food and agricultural sector. This program will expand job-based, experiential learning opportunities, acquisition of industry-accepted credentials and occupational competencies for students to enable a work-ready labor force for the 21st century.
NIFA Invests $300K in Response to Extreme Weather Events Across the U.S.
NIFA has funded — through the Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program — a University of California, Santa Barbara project related to a series of atmospheric rivers. Rapid responses to extreme weather events are critical to maintaining a secure, accessible, safe, nutritious, affordable and abundant food supply. Innovative Extension and applied research efforts are needed to alleviate the impacts of extreme weather and disasters across the food and agricultural system.
|
|
NIFA webinar graphic.
|
|
|
Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Future of Food Fellowship Opens Students’ Eyes to Possibilities in Food Industry
A University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture program is opening more eyes to the possibilities of careers in food science.
The Future of Food: Opportunities and Careers for Undergraduate Students — F2OCUS Fellowship Program — recently completed its second session to increase understanding of food supply safety, quality and security for undergraduates in complementary degree programs like biology, chemistry and agricultural studies.
Read more about this program.
The 2023 F2OCUS class included eight students, seen with Andrea Myers, food science program technician and product development leader. Pictured are Alyssa Finocchiaro, back left; Myers; Gracie Howard; Kennedy Christmas; Nicholas Stall, front left; Alex Rosales; Alex Lee; Aidan Douglas; and Keith Andzrej Monsalud, front-center. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)
.
|
|
|
Facebook Post of the Week
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
