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Making a Difference
Cooperative Extension Serving Up Food Safety
Foodborne illness outbreaks related to fresh produce pose a threat to farm operations and profitability. Cooperative Extension at the country’s Land-grant Colleges and Universities offers vital resources to ensure that farmers have the tools they need to safely grow, harvest, process and ship their produce to market. Read more to learn about what Extension is doing across the nation to serve farmers.
Harvesting lettuce in the field. Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
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Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational and Applied Science Program RFA Posted
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational and Applied Science Program Request for Application (RFA) is now available on the NIFA website.
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The priority areas are Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities.
Each program area priority has its own deadline. Find the deadlines for specific priority program areas here.
Research-only, Extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or Extension projects are solicited in this RFA. See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific details.
Presidential AI Challenge Supports K-12 Education
Students and educators can participate in a unique opportunity to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) education for American youth.
The Trump Administration is launching a year-long challenge for K-12 students across the country to spark interest in AI, promote creative thinking using AI tools and demonstrate how AI technology can be used in beneficial ways. Early training and experience in responsible AI use can demystify the technology and support America’s youths in cultivating skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an AI-driven workforce.
Students who join the Presidential Challenge can access training and resources to help them complete a project that can either be a study or development of an AI method or tool to solve a local community problem. Educators are also invited to participate and focus on creative approaches to teaching or using AI technologies in K-12 learning. Participants can enter their projects into a competition for the chance to showcase their work at a White House event next summer.
Registration for the Presidential AI Challenge will open to students and educators in late August.
More Resources
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Michigan State Extension Working to Stop Pest Spread
Boxwoods are staples in landscapes across the United States. But a destructive pest poses a significant threat to them continuing to be a part of Michigan’s landscapes. Supported by NIFA’s Crop Protection and Pest Management Program, Michigan State University Extension is working to reduce its spread across the state through an educational campaign. Read more about its work.
The severely damaged boxwood on the left has a brown or scorched appearance due to box tree moth defoliation. Image by Caitlin Splawski, MSU Extension.
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USDA Opens Public Comment Period on Department Reorganization Plan
A 30-day public comment period has opened so stakeholders may provide feedback on USDA’s reorganization plan, as outlined in Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins’ memorandum issued July 24. All stakeholders, including USDA employees, members of Congress and agricultural and nutrition partners, are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization@usda.gov. The comment period closes Aug. 26.
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DARPA Seeking Innovative Ideas to Protect Agriculture
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office (BTO) is looking for innovative ideas to develop novel capabilities to defend agriculture against both naturally occurring and manmade threats.
BTO encourages participation by new or non-traditional submitters. Learn more about this effort and how to apply. Submission deadline is Aug. 31.
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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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