USDA Awards Grants to Universities in 13 States to Improve Food Safety through Research, Education and Extension

Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188

EAST LANSING, Michigan, Dec. 7, 2011–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Michigan State University today to announce that USDA has awarded 17 grants to improve the safety of the food supply in the United States through research, education and extension. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants, totaling $10.4 million, to universities in 13 states to help address a broad spectrum of food safety issues. Michigan State University was awarded three grants in total.

“With millions of Americans contracting food-borne illnesses each year, USDA is committed to supporting research that improves the safety of our nation’s food supply,” said Merrigan. “Primarily, we expect that the research and education spurred by these grants will find solutions to some pressing food safety issues. Additionally, we want to help American consumers, restaurant employees, and teachers put new food safety principles into practice. Ensuring the safety of food is a top priority for USDA, and we will continue to work with our public and private sector partners on developing solutions to decrease potential risks.”

NIFA made the awards through the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative (NIFSI), which addresses a broad spectrum of food safety concerns, from on-farm production, post-harvest processing and distribution, to food selection, preparation and consumption. Focused on integrated approaches to food safety, NIFSI projects combine research at colleges and universities, education in the classroom, and outreach to a variety of groups, including consumers, foodservice workers, teachers, federal agencies, and farmers.

In fiscal year 2011, NIFA awarded $10.4 million to 17 projects in 13 states:

• Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., $100,000
• University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., $542,969
• Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga., $100,000
• University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $535,725
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., $424,878
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $542,824
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $543,000
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $1,809,934
• North Carolina State University, Raleigh., N.C., $541,621
• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $1,864,665
• Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $543,000
• Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., $542,607
• Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $542,999
• Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn., $100,000
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $542,977
• Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, $540,326
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis., $541,313

A full list of awardees can be found online at: www.nifa.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2011news/nifsi_awards.html. 

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.  More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA and Defense Department Partner to Support Military Families

Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded two grants for universities to develop programs to train U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) staff in their efforts to support military families. The awards were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as part of the Extension-Military Partnership.

“Each year, our military families face unique challenges as their loved ones serve our nation,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, acting NIFA director. “These awards will increase the military’s ability to assist families during the transitions of military life.”

The Extension-Military Partnership was established between USDA and DoD in 2010 to support military service members and their families in their communities. The partnership is focused on cultivating collaborations with educational institutions, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and other groups with expertise in early childhood education, youth development and family studies to support military members and their families.

The University of Arizona in Tucson received a grant through the Military Family Readiness System (MFRS) program, to develop high quality, effective and efficient training resources for Family Center/Family Readiness program staff. The training resources will better prepare military professionals to meet the needs of military members and their families by focusing on a social service delivery system model to be used by all services. The system will be developed as a virtual online platform, resulting in a reduction in costs associated with face-to-face training.

George Washington University in Washington, D.C., received a grant through the Second Language & Culture Exposure for Children and Youth Project, which will develop innovative language and cultural programs for military children. This project will review existing research and program materials and policies related to language and culture opportunities for children (up to age 5), and produce training and program materials that can be used by DoD Child & Youth staff.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA Supports Agricultural Extension Development in Afghanistan

Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2011–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $14 million grant to a University of California-Davis-led consortium of universities to assist Afghanistan in strengthening its agricultural extension system. Agriculture employs more than 80 percent of Afghanistan’s labor force and generates more than 40 percent of its economic output. USDA-supported efforts in the country are intended to empower the Afghan government strengthen Afghan-led development. The grant has been awarded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). 

“The Afghan people rely heavily on a sustainable and profitable agricultural industry for their livelihoods and for the stability of the country,” said Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Catherine Woteki. “Just as the Cooperative Extension System is vital to agriculture in the United States, building a strong extension system in Afghanistan will help strengthen its agriculture sector while serving the needs of the Afghan people.”

UC Davis, along with Purdue University and Washington State University, will work with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) as they attempt to deliver more effective, demand-driven extension services to producers and other rural clientele. The consortium will link MAIL with local university faculty, vocational schools, the private sector and other information providers to develop a viable and credible extension system in Afghanistan. The project will focus on professional development training for extension staff in order to increase extension’s ability to meet farmers’ needs and ultimately build public confidence in MAIL’s capacity to provide critical services.

The project is designed to spur improvements in household food security and income generation through professional training in such areas as postharvest technology for grain and fresh market produce, conservation agriculture for wheat, peri-urban horticulture and practical management of ruminant animals and poultry.

The U.S. Cooperative Extension System is a non-formal educational system that delivers practical, applied science information and educational programs to agricultural producers, land managers, consumers, youth, families, businesses and communities across the United States.  Cooperative extension offices in nearly 3,000 country or tribal administrative units are part of the U.S. land grant university system, and utilize federal, state and local resources to carry out this mission.

NIFA’s Center for International Programs (CIP) will collaborate with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in overseeing the implementation of this three-year project. Funding for this project originated with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which transferred funds to capitalize on the unique resources of USDA and its land-grant institution partners to strengthen Afghanistan’s MAIL extension system.

NIFA’s CIP assists U.S. universities and other institutions as they seek to strengthen the global dimension of their research, education and extension programs. Recognizing the domestic benefits derived from international collaboration, CIP has facilitated university involvement in several development projects around the world and provided grants for U.S. universities to internationalize their programs. 

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.  More information is at: www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA Announces the First Class of NIFA Fellows

Media Contact: Jennifer Martin, (202) 720-8188

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded 54 fellowships to pre- and post-doctoral students in the first class of NIFA Fellows, to train and develop the next generation of agricultural, forestry and food scientists.

“We need to train the next generation of agricultural scientists today so they can provide the leadership and innovation to solve the challenges of the future,” said Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. “These grants are USDA’s down payment on our nation’s continued agricultural success, sustainability and well-being. We wish these recipients all the best as they continue their studies.”

NIFA funds the NIFA Fellows program through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The goal of the program is to support the intellectual talent needed to meet the challenges facing the nation’s agriculture, natural resource, and food systems, which requires innovative approaches in research, education and extension. In this first year of funding, $6 million was awarded to 54 students from 32 universities. The awards will help pre- and post-doctoral students develop their careers as researchers and educators. Projects span the five AFRI challenge areas (global food security, climate change, food safety, childhood obesity prevention and sustainable energy)

Fellowships were awarded to students in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Fiscal year 2010 highlights include:

• A pre-doctoral fellowship at Pennsylvania State University to study implications of developing regional and sustainable food systems.
• A post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University to identify the routes of microbial contamination on imported fresh fruits and vegetables.
• A post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Texas to research potential adaptive traits in the bioenergy crop switchgrass.
• A post-doctoral fellowship at Northern Arizona University to develop a model simulating future fire behavior in forests on Hualapai tribal lands.

A full list of awardees can be found online at www.nifa.usda.gov
/newsroom/news/2011news/nifa_fellowships.html.   

AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grant program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. AFRI supports work in six priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.  More information is at www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

USDA Invests in America�s Specialty Crops with Research and Extension Activities in 19 States

Media Contact: Scott Elliott, (202) 720-7185

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2011–Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced 29 grants across 19 states to develop and share science-based tools to address the needs of America’s specialty crop industry. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is awarding the grants, totaling $46 million, through its Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).

“Over the last 60 years, agriculture, including horticulture, has become increasingly reliant on science and technology to maintain profitable production,” Merrigan said. “Specialty crop producers in the United States—as with all of American agriculture—are seeing sales surge both domestically and abroad as consumers search for high quality, ‘Grown in America’ fruits, vegetables and tree nuts. These projects will help provide specialty crop producers with the information and tools they need to successfully grow, process and market safe and high quality products, supporting jobs and opportunities for Americans working in specialty crops. From herbs to apples, from walnuts to grapes, specialty crops are central to the richness of American agriculture.”

SCRI supports the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address the needs of specific crops. Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Funded projects address five focus areas: 1) improve crop characteristics through plant breeding, genetics and genomics; 2) address threats from pests and diseases; 3) improve production efficiency, productivity and profitability; 4) develop new innovations and technologies and 5) develop methods to improve food safety.

SCRI gives priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Each of the focus areas received at least 10 percent of the available funds. The majority of funded projects addresses two or more focus areas, and includes many collaborating institutions in addition to the awardee.

The projects funded address research and extension needs for crops that span the entire spectrum of specialty crops production, from researching plant genetics to improving crop characteristics; identifying and addressing threats from pests and diseases; improving production and profitability; developing new production innovations and technologies; and developing methods to respond to food safety hazards.

Projects were funded in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Most of the grant recipients are universities and colleges. Grant highlights include:

• The University of Massachusetts Amherst will study pollination security for fruit and vegetable crops;
• Michigan State University will develop a system to deliver resource-efficient, ecologically sustainable fruit production systems for apple and cherry producers
• The University of Wisconsin system will study improved breeding and variety evaluation methods to increase quality in processed potato products
• The University of Georgia Research Foundation will help to improve the long-term competitiveness of U.S. pecans based on their nutritional and health-promoting components
• Washington State University will help U.S. raspberry producers find new tools for breeding and reaching markets

A full list of awardees can be found online at:www.nifa.usda.gov
/newsroom/news/2011news/scri_awards.html.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).