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Making a Difference
Finding Solutions to Plastic Pollution
Plastic is used to produce many packaging materials. While plastics are found in all major municipal solid waste categories, the containers and packaging category had the most plastic at over 14.5 million tons in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports research and Extension efforts at Land-grant Universities (LGUs) working to find sustainable eco-friendly plastic alternatives. Read more about the work being done at three LGUs.
Mass of plastic packaging. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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NIFA Invests Additional $570K in Response to Hurricane Helene Flooding
Through the Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events Across Food and Agriculture Systems program, NIFA has funded projects at the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee to address concerns related to Hurricane Helene. 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.
The Rapid Response to Extreme Weather Events program, funded through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, is designed to rapidly deploy strategies and fill knowledge and information gaps to protect the nation’s food and agricultural supply chains — from production through consumption — during and after extreme weather and disasters.
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Formalizing Partnerships to Scale Up Value-added Local Food in Rural Ohio
A grant from the North Central Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is reducing food waste and generating more income for Ohio farmers. Glass Rooster Cannery used the funding to purchase and install a new steam jacket kettle and processing/cooling system. This investment allowed Glass Rooster Cannery to improve production efficiency, reduce waste, and provide value-added, shelf-stable products for local farmers, increasing farmers’ extended season revenues. Read more about this NIFA-supported SARE project.
Farmers are provided with Glass Rooster Cannery labels and can provide their own farm label as well. Image courtesy of Jeanine Seabrook.
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Long-running Plant Breeding Program Key to Strawberry Industry
The work of one of USDA's longest running plant breeding programs is behind our enjoyment of fresh strawberries any time of year. USDA’s Strawberry Research and Breeding Program in Beltsville, Maryland, began its work in 1910 developing shippable varieties. Hear more in this USDA radio feature.
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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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