USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

It’s #WorldFisheriesDay! See how researchers at land-grant universities are improving management, trade, and marketing strategies for aquaculture and capture fisheries: https://lnkd.in/gMw_5Znz

Rural areas face many challenges, but they also have many strengths. Learn more about the multistate research team that’s finding ways to support the resilience of rural families in our interview with Dr. Lori Yancura of College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at UH-Manoa: https://lnkd.in/g75yetrc #NationalRuralHealthDay

The application deadline for NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) is quickly approaching! Deadline | Dec. 5 The EWD focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gN_4kCcc

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced $5 million in grants to support Tribal students at Land-grant colleges and universities through the New Beginning for Tribal Students Program. These programs reflect education opportunities and investments to train the next generation of agricultural professionals. “These USDA investments reinforce our commitment to empowering Tribal Nations by cultivating tomorrow’s agriculture sector professionals and building a USDA workforce more representative of America,” said Secretary Vilsack. “It is important that USDA continues to uplift Tribal communities and provides pathways of representation by working with universities and colleges to improve the lives of Native American students and communities through higher education.” ?? https://lnkd.in/e_7TS-r8

In 1994, 29 Tribal Colleges were awarded Land-grant University status, giving them access to federal government resources that would greatly improve the lives of Tribal students through higher education. Today, we celebrate this monumental 30-year milestone in our nation’s effort to achieve equity in agricultural research, education and Extension. Read more about the 1994 Land-grant Universities: https://lnkd.in/gfxswKaU

Don't forget to join NIFA for the 2025 National 4-H Conference Information Session on Thursday, Nov. 21. This information session shares details about the event, including a preliminary look at the agenda, registration process, costs and more.?

NIFA Division of Agricultural Systems National Program Leaders Dr. Steven Thomson and Dr. Gyami Shrestha recently attended the 2024 CIVIC Forum and project directors meeting in Washington. D.C., Oct. 15-16. Two NIFA proposals funded by the Cyber-Physical Systems (A7302) program under which CIVIC is a subset, “BRAIDED Food Security: Building Research Aligned with Indigenous Determination, Equity, and Decision-making" (University of Alaska) and “Community Food MOBilization in Chicago (CF-MOB)”, (Illinois Institute of Technology) were presented at the forum. The Civic Innovation Challenge is a multi-agency, federal government research and action competition that aims to fund ready-to-implement, research-based pilot projects that have the potential for scalable, sustainable, and transferable impact on community-identified priorities.

Katelyn Boyle, a Georgia native, is a doctoral student at Alabama A&M University in the Department of Food and Animal Sciences, majoring in Food Science with a Nutritional Biochemistry concentration. Supported by NIFA's 1890 Scholarship, she enrolled in AAMU in Fall 2020 at the age of 16, following her family’s footsteps. Learn more about her experience: https://lnkd.in/dsNwpqpr

The Land-grant University System was created through the First and Second Morrill Acts. With the passage of the Hatch Act of 1877 and the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, the tripartite mission of Land-grant Universities was codified. At its most basic level, their mission is to teach, to conduct research, and to provide service to communities. See how Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations are succeeding in their mission by tackling the three elements as an integrated whole rather than as separate parts. ?? https://lnkd.in/emGYauSA

NIFA Associate Director for Operations Drenda Williams recently spoke at the 3rd Annual Harvest Ball held in Raleigh, North Carolina. During her time at the Harvest Ball, Williams participated on the “Farmer’s Corporate Engagement” panel where she spoke on agency programs and youth opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in agriculture and USDA. Pictured: Drenda Williams, NIFA associate director for operations, speaking on agency programs and youth opportunities on the Farmer’s Corporate Engagement panel. Photo provided by Mr. Darrell K. Tennie, Chief Executive Officer at The Tennie Group LLC.