In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced $150.2 million in funding for projects that build a foundation of knowledge in agricultural sciences to address a range of societal and global challenges such as food security, food safety, sustainable agriculture and rural entrepreneurship.
“The global population is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and agricultural output may need to increase substantially to meet the demand,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “To ensure nutritional security, it is imperative to develop innovative technologies and sustainable management strategies for livestock, crops, and critical underlying resources.”
Commodity boards are partnering with NIFA to provide matching funds that will accelerate agricultural research. The National Peanut Board will co-fund AFRI projects on innovations in disease and pest management in peanut production. The Mushroom Council will co-fund projects to enhance nutrient quality, taste, and consumer acceptance of mushroom/protein blends.