|
Making a Difference
Extension Disaster Education Network Provides Important Resources
Hurricane season has just begun, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast predicts an "above average" hurricane season this year.
People living in states impacted by hurricanes often lack all the information they need on how to deal with these storms. Extension, based at Land-grant Universities, serves as a vital conduit for resources and expertise related to preparedness, recovery and mitigation for not only hurricanes but many other types of disasters.
Extension efforts are bolstered by the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN). Supported by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, EDEN is a collaborative national effort by Extension services across the country to improve the delivery of services to people affected by disasters. Read more about EDEN and how it is working to reduce the impact of disasters through research-based Extension education.
Radar image of hurricane. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
|
|
National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics Announced
USDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the White House have announced the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics as part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to tackle climate change, feed people, address environmental justice and promote a circular economy.
Some of the priority USDA actions include:
- Investing $2.5 million from NIFA to rigorously test and measure the effectiveness of different consumer messages to encourage households to reduce food waste, in preparation for a National Wasted Food Prevention Campaign.
- Funding a new NIFA $1.5 million Center for Research, Behavioral Economics, and Extension on Food Loss and Waste to create meaningful momentum on food loss and waste prevention among Land-grant Universities, their partners and external stakeholders.
Read more about this strategy and its goals to guide government partners along with retailers and consumers to help further prevent the loss and waste of food, increase recycling of food and other organic materials.
Dumpster full of produce waste. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
SARE Leading National Community Foods Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants Program
Funded by NIFA, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is leading a national Community Foods Project Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants effort. This new SARE program supports projects that align with USDA activities aimed at reducing food loss and reducing food waste, getting surplus wholesome food to individuals and developing linkages between food producers, providers and food recovery organizations. Southern region SARE is soliciting proposals for the Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants. The application deadline is June 28. Read more about this grant opportunity.
National Academies to Release NIFA-Sponsored Report on Links Between Soil Health and Human Health
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is releasing a NIFA-sponsored report that reviews and establishes consensus on the state of knowledge on linkages between soil health, with particular respect to U.S. agricultural soils and human health. Produced through a cooperative agreement with NIFA, the "Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health" report describes key findings and knowledge gaps, identifies promising research directions, and offers recommendations for enhancing the human health benefits of the soil microbiome.
The National Academies is holding a report release webinar on June 13 at 2 p.m. EDT to share key takeaways and recommendations. Visit the National Academies website to register.
|
|
|
NIFA Invests $7.9 Million to Promote Soil Health
NIFA has announced $7.9 million for 12 projects addressing soil health, including developing tools to improve soil health and productivity. The Soil Health program area priority within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) aims to support research projects that will contribute to foundational and applied research to advance scientific understanding of soil physical and biogeochemical processes and interactions; and the development of models, decision support tools and new management/conservation practices.
NIFA Invests $5.5 Million in Agricultural Production Systems Research
NIFA has announced $5.5 million for 10 projects as part of AFRI’s Agricultural Production Systems Research program. This program supports plant research to advance knowledge for the wide range of agricultural production systems found across the rural-urban continuum, from conventional open fields to protected built environments.
|
|
Auburn University Researchers Address Alabama Veterinary Shortage
More than a dozen Alabama counties have a shortage of food animal veterinarians. Food animal veterinarians play a critical role in maintaining the health of animals in the food system by providing important disease testing and health care to the beef, swine, poultry and dairy industries.
However, encouraging new veterinarians to practice in production agriculture, particularly in rural areas, is a long-running problem throughout the country.
A team of veterinary faculty at Auburn University is working to solve the rural practice problem. Read more on how they are working to recruit veterinarians to shortage areas and support existing veterinarians already serving the areas.
Veterinarian standing in front of beef cattle. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
|
|
|
USDA and Partner Announce Innovation Challenge to Catalyze Agricultural Solutions
USDA and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research have launched a global challenge to advance scientific research that will produce major breakthroughs for nutrition security while mitigating climate change impacts and advancing equity for underserved communities. The “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” (Innovation Challenge) funding opportunity will fund transdisciplinary teams led by early-career scientists (those who have received a Ph.D. within the past 10 years) to catalyze new discoveries and mobilize transformative research that simultaneously tackle our most important societal challenges.
Read more how this challenge will spark high-risk, high-reward research through innovations at the intersection of nutrition security, equity and justice and climate-smart agriculture.
Funding Opportunity from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has announced a funding opportunity to support technical assistance to enhance the capacity of women farmers to participate in school meals value chains in one or two of the following three African countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. This opportunity is available to state cooperative institutions or other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined at 7 USC 3103. It is intended to enhance African women farmers’ capacity to participate in school meals value chains, through agricultural education following a Home Grown School Feeding program approach.
For more information on this funding opportunity including application procedures, visit the funding notice on Grants.gov. Application deadline is August 9.
|
|
NIFA Climate Change Priority Team Celebration
The NIFA Climate Change Priority team has been working to implement Administration priorities and the NIFA Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. In this recorded webinar, learn more about the accomplishments of the NIFA Climate Change Priority Team and hear discussion centered on what direction NIFA will take moving forward.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
