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Making a Difference
Children’s Healthy Living Project Growing Nutrition Professionals Across the Pacific
Prioritizing nutrition security and growing a diverse agricultural workforce are two NIFA goals.
In 2010, the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association declared a regional state of health emergency due to the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. This declaration led to eight Land-grant Colleges and Universities across the region joining forces to prevent childhood obesity and promote better health.
That’s how the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) project came to life, led by the University of Hawaii at Manoa. With funding from NIFA’s Agricultural and Food Research Initiative program, the CHL Center of Excellence was born. The Center reaches an underserved rural population that is among the highest risk in the world for obesity. The region includes Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Kosrae State, Yap State, Pohnpei State, Chuuk State), the Republics of the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Read more about how the CHL team is combating childhood obesity by enhancing the region’s professional capacity through training and education.
Monica Esquivel, former CHL Trainee, now University of Hawaii (UH) associate professor; Lenora Matanane, former CHL Trainee, now dietitian in Guam; and Marie Kainoa Fialkowski Revilla, currently UH Cancer Center associate professor and CHL Food System Training Program lead. Image courtesy of University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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 Alert: Stakeholders Affected by California Wildfires Encouraged to Contact NIFA Staff
NIFA asks any stakeholders affected by the wildfires in California to reach out to our 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.
USDA Announces Grants and Technical Assistance Funding for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
USDA is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020. In addition, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which oversees OUAIP, is providing $11.9 million in funding through an interagency agreement with NIFA to promote the hiring of urban agriculture conservation Extension educators through Land-grant Universities’ Cooperative Extension programs.
“NIFA is excited to partner with NRCS and Land-grant Universities to increase the footprint of Cooperative Extension in dedicated Urban Service Center sites across the country,” said USDA NIFA Director Dr. Manjit K. Misra. “Utilizing the expertise of Cooperative Extension to increase awareness of and access to NRCS programs for those living and working in urban spaces will help meet a growing need to feed more densely populated areas.”
Read more about these programs and how to apply for UAIP competitive grants. USDA will accept applications on Grants.gov until March 10.
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New Treatment for Dairy Cows Could Help Fight Antibiotic Resistance, Study Finds
A concentrated sugar solution could be just as effective as antibiotics at treating a common infection in dairy cows, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The discovery has the potential to reduce reliance on antibiotics and ultimately help combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals.
The findings are particularly significant for the organic dairy industry where antibiotic use is restricted and may also pave the way for future studies in humans on the use of sugar-based formulations for uterine infections such as endometritis. Read more about this NIFA-supported research.
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 USDA Now Accepting Applications for the 1890 National Scholars Program
USDA is accepting applications for its 1890 National Scholars Program. The program is a partnership between USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement and the 19 Land-grant Universities to provide scholarship recipients with tuition, fees, books and room and board. Scholarship recipients must attend an 1890 Land-grant University and pursue a degree in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or a related discipline. The scholarship also provides work experience at USDA through summer internships. Application deadline is March 1.
Young people are invited to complete and submit their applications online. The program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors. Read more about the program.
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 New Grants Training/Technical Assistance Resources
NIFA has developed a number of new resources for applicants and grantees, especially to assist new and underrepresented applicants to NIFA programs. Visit this one-stop page for most Grants Training/Technical Assistance information.
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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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