Indiana Ag Connection - NIFA Invests $17.2 Million for Ag Education and Workforce Development

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NIFA Invests $17.2 Million for Ag Education and Workforce Development
Indiana Ag Connection - 05/06/2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced Wednesday an investment of $17.2 million for 37 awards in Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates. This program is funded through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

"Developing the next generation of research, education and extension professionals in food and agricultural sciences is critical to the growth of the agriculture industry," said NIFA Director Dr. Carrie Castille. "NIFA programs support colleges, universities and technical education institutions to ensure a steady pipeline of talent to fuel the future workforce."

"Indiana Wesleyan University Research Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (IWU-REEU)" was one of the projects receiving funding for the Marion institution.

IWU REEU Fellows will benefit from an immersive experience in agricultural education, extension, and research. The future agricultural workforce must be prepared to understand the science that supports growing food, further the base of what we know, and share what they learn with others. IWU REEU Fellows will be gain research experience in sustainable pest and pollinator management within urban gardens, an in-demand area of interest among the scientific community. Fellows will also be equipped to communicate these scientific findings and practices to the community through education and extension opportunities, which is vital in implementing change to adopt these practices. This approach of integrating research, education, and extension is an innovative way to expose future scientists to real-world problems. IWU REEU Fellows will both be equipped as scientists and empowered to communicate effectively to their peers and the community, a skill high in demand but often not addressed in most undergraduate research experiences. Every food grower (professional or home gardener) wrestles with pest and pollinator management as they seek to find safe, sustainable, and user-friendly solutions. This project will help growers understand what lives in their gardens, their contribution to the ecosystem, and how to appropriately manage pests and encourage pollinators. These results will be shared through workshops and trainings with the Marion Community Garden Association and Purdue Extension. There are also several outlets for sharing this information with high school-aged students at IWU and Purdue University.Ultimately, this project supports a larger goal of increased access to healthy food. The REEU program gives students a deep-dive into agriculture, better preparing them for professional interaction with the community and its stakeholders. Additionally, the younger students and community members will also learn why and how to grow healthy food in their neighborhoods to better their families, communities, and the environment.Between the urban community gardens and the Alliance Gardens, there will be an increased supply of fresh fruits and vegetables available to the community. Efforts such as this will be one more step taken to address local food deserts and food insecurity within the community. We can increase the supply of healthy food in our community for better health outcomes through our collective impact.

Other project examples from the Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates priority area include: Texas A&M University-Kingsville's project, "The Drone WAVE Factor (drone use for women advancement, visibility and experiences in food and agriculture cyberinformatics and tools oriented to research)," to recruit, train, mentor, and graduate the next generation of women professionals with competitive geospatial sciences and technology skills. University of Hawaii's project, "Empowering Women and Underrepresented Undergraduates with Advanced Technology Research Training in Agriculture and Food Sciences," to develop the local agriculture and food science industry workforce in Hawaii through education and training. Clemson University's project, "Florece!: Future Leaders Obtaining Research & Extension Career Experiences," to prepare 40 undergraduate students to become globally-engaged professionals with world-class research and extension skills that allow them to identify critical factors that impact the sustainability of agricultural systems.

NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education, and Extension across the nation to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges. NIFA supports initiatives that ensure the long-term viability of agriculture and applies an integrated approach to ensure that groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture-related sciences and technologies reach the people who can put them into practice. In FY2020, NIFA's total investment was $1.95 billion.

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