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Making a Difference
Managing Antimicrobial Resistance
In animal agriculture, antimicrobial drugs are used to protect animal health and welfare, but over the past several decades, microbial resistance to these drugs has escalated. Resistant microbes and resistant genes can spread through the environment and the food web. As antimicrobial resistance spreads, drugs may become ineffective, leaving animals and humans vulnerable to infections.
Supported by funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, scientists at Land-grant Universities have teamed up to tackle the complex problem of antimicrobial resistance in agriculture. This interdisciplinary, multistate team is uniquely positioned to develop and implement comprehensive solutions as well as targeted strategies for different types of animals, environmental conditions and management styles. Learn more about their work.
Scientists at work in lab. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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News from NIFA
USDA Announces Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics
The USDA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have released a Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. The strategy was shared at the NIFA Community Nutrition Project Directors Meeting in New Orleans on December 4.
“The strategy highlights opportunities, especially where there are environmental justice concerns, to build community-scale organics recycling infrastructure, reduce pollution, and create jobs,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in pre-recorded remarks at the event. “And it supports the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, which identified food waste prevention and organic waste diversion as the top two methane emissions reduction strategies for municipal solid waste.”
The draft National Strategy is a step toward meeting our national goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. The actions outlined by the USDA, EPA, and FDA in this strategy will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including methane), save households and businesses money, and build cleaner communities by reducing food loss and waste.
The four main objectives in the draft National Strategy are:
- Prevent the loss of food where possible.
- Prevent the waste of food where possible.
- Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste.
- Support policies that incentivize and encourage food loss and waste prevention and organics recycling.
“We are thankful to our USDA leadership for prioritizing these vital efforts,” Dr. Suzanne Stluka, deputy director of NIFA’s Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, said during the announcement event. Stluka and Dr. Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison with the Office of the Chief Economist, led the session. “This new national strategy is just the latest example of investments into programs like yours that are working to secure America’s future and reduce food loss and waste.”
A 30-day open comment period on the draft National Strategy, available at Regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415, began on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
As food loss and waste impacts all citizens and stakeholders across the food system, the USDA, EPA and FDA are seeking input and comments from a wide range of parties, including consumers, community groups, businesses, retail grocers, farmers, institutions of higher learning, restaurants, industry groups, agricultural distributors, caters and wholesalers. Learn more at the USDA Food Loss and Waste website.
Dr. Jean Buzby (left) with the Office of the Chief Economist and Dr. Suzanne Stluka (right), NIFA Deputy Director for the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition
APLU and USDA Announce National Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) honored four public university faculty with national teaching awards recognizing excellence in agricultural sciences teaching and student engagement.
Michael Gonda of South Dakota State University and De’Etra Young of Tennessee State University were named recipients of the national-level Excellence in College and University Teaching Awards for Food and Agricultural Sciences. Dan Stein of Oklahoma State University and Jennifer Weeks of the University of Florida were named recipients in the national Teaching and Student Engagement category. The awards, which celebrate university faculty for their quality of teaching, service to students, the teaching profession and scholarship of teaching and learning, were presented as part of the 136th APLU Annual Meeting.
Read more about these winners as well as the recipients of the regional teaching awards.
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In Case You Missed It
NIFA Funding Opportunities for Climate Change Research
Climate change projects are funded through many programs across NIFA ‘s 70+ program portfolio — not just those housed in the Division of Global Climate Change. In this webinar, learn about those “unusual suspects” programs that contribute to the formidable work we’re funding in climate change resilience, adaptation and mitigation. Watch now.
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Award Announcements
NIFA Invests $10 Million to Reduce Methane Emission from Ruminants
NIFA announced an investment of $10 million in two visionary and transdisciplinary projects that will advance the science of reducing methane — a potent greenhouse gas — produced naturally by ruminant animals. The projects — one at the University of Florida and another at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — are part of a special priority in the FY23 Sustainable Agricultural Systems program area of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the nation’s flagship competitive grants program in the food and agricultural sciences. The program area priority — titled “Reducing Enteric Methane Emission from Ruminants” — was funded as part of the U.S. government’s response in alignment with the Global Methane Pledge, which President Biden made in September 2021.
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Impact of NIFA-Funded Research and Outreach
Georgia Extension Project Focuses on Education, Outreach to Address Opioid Crisis
More than 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid, with higher rates of poverty and a lack of resources in rural areas being a significant factor in the alarming trend.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working with rural communities to address the issue. The three-year project builds on previously funded efforts to address opioid misuse in rural communities and centers on community-based outreach, education and support.
The effort targets six Georgia counties – Chattooga, Elbert, Mitchell, Tattnall, Telfair and Washington – and focuses largely on educating youths around decision-making and mental health, in addition to general education about opioids. Learn more about this NIFA-supported Extension program.
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USDA Introduces a Multi-Year Plan to Strengthen U.S. Genebank Management of Plant Germplasm
USDA released recently the National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan in support of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. National Plant Germplasm System’s (NPGS) mission.
The USDA-ARS NPGS is confident that implementing this plan will address current operational and research challenges. The collection is vital for maintaining the nation’s food supply by providing breeders and researchers the germplasm they need to furnish U. S. consumers with abundant, safe and affordable agricultural products.
The NPGS, a network of 22 genebanks primarily operated by USDA-ARS, often in strong partnership with Land-grant Universities, evaluates, characterizes and preserves unique germplasm collections, including seeds, tissues, tubers and buds. These collections offer researchers and breeders access to genetic diversity, which is crucial to developing pest-resistant and environmentally resilient crops in response to emerging diseases and pests, fast-changing climates and market demands. Read more about the plan.
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Facebook Post of the Week
NIFA's Associate Director for Programs Dr. Dionne Toombs delivered the keynote speech at the National 4-H Congress Gala this year. Check out a few photos from the event!
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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 X (formerly 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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