Making a Difference

Researchers Find Environmentally Friendly Solutions to Controlling Mites in Dry-Cured Ham 

With funding from NIFA, Mississippi State University and Kansas State University researchers have developed safe and cost-effective methods and technologies over the last 15 years for the dry-cured pork (country ham) industry to control pest infestations. In particular, they have designed potential environmentally friendly replacements to the pesticide methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting gas. 

There are approximately 3 million dry-cured hams produced in the United States each year. This research contributes to the sustainability of the industry by enabling dry-cured ham producers to be able to make hams that are aged for 6, 12 and 24 months as well as boost production of these valuable commodities.

Read more about this research that is not only helping sustain the dry-cured ham industry but is also contributing to the development of the next generation of agriculturalists and researchers.

A researcher looks for mites under a microscope. Image courtesy of Mississippi State University. 

Comments Sought on USDA’s Open Science and Public Access Policies

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has announced a second public feedback period on the USDA’s updated Implementation Plan to Increase Public Access to USDA-funded Research Results. Following the 2022 White House Office of Science and Technology Policy memorandum: Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research, all government agencies have been guided to create or update existing public access policies.

This second public feedback period is to allow opportunity for feedback from interested parties not widely heard from during the first period, including but not limited to members of the public; principal investigators; research institutions, including minority-serving institutions; research libraries; data repositories; and data scientists.

If you are interested in Open Science and increasing public access to the important research funded by the USDA, please leave a comment at Regulations.gov. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. EST February 28.

Comments sign. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Webinar Slated to Highlight ASCEND for Better Health Nutrition Hub at Southern University

As part of Black History Month celebrations, USDA staff will host a webinar explaining the department’s investment in the new Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet (ASCEND) for Better Health, which is a virtual center that brings together scientists, partner organizations, and communities to deliver science-based solutions that promote and elevate food and nutrition security for everyone in this country.

NIFA’s National Science Liaison Dr. Sheila Fleischhacker will moderate the webinar set for February 27 at 1 p.m. EST. The launch of the first USDA Nutrition Hub in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in partnership with Southern University, will also be discussed. Using a structured panel discussion, USDA and Southern University panelists will share how listeners can engage in this work to combat diet-related chronic diseases in underserved communities. Attendees will be able to ask questions. Find more information including registration details here.

SNAP Recipients May Struggle to Meet Dietary Goals, Especially in Food Deserts

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation’s largest nutrition program, helping 41 million participants afford “nutritious food essential to health and well-being.”

But a new study from the University of Notre Dame found that SNAP participants in low-income households may not be able to meet the nutrition levels set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).

With funding support from NIFA, researchers examined whether SNAP participants would be able to afford a healthy diet based on DGA’s recommended nutritional values. Read more about their work.

Plate reflecting Dietary Guidelines.  Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.

NIFA Director Outlines ‘Tools’ for Success at Tuskegee University

NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra carried the audience of the 23rd George Washington Carver Convocation at Tuskegee University through an address that wrapped the legacy of Dr. Carver around the power of life revealed from a seedling to plant, to the value of food as medicine and brought the students back to a list of tools he recommends they carry through life. Read the complete story.

NIFA Director Dr. Manjit Misra speaking at Tuskegee University. Image courtesy of Tuskegee University