USDA outlays nearly $1 million to help educate multicultural food scientists

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently announced $945,400 in available funding to help foster the next generation of multicultural scholars in food and agricultural sciences. Funding is made through NIFA’s Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP).

“The Multicultural Scholars Program seeks to help young people reach their potential in the agricultural sciences,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “It is important to develop the most diverse talent pool possible and show these students the abundant opportunities in the agricultural sector.”

The Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) helps colleges and universities recruit and retain multicultural scholars who may pursue degrees in food and agricultural sciences disciplines or the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Projects may involve scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training of committed, eligible multicultural scholars.

Eligible applicants include land-grant institutions, colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments and the capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences, and other colleges and universities with the capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit undergraduate and/or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) training proposals under this RFA. Applicants should be institutions that confer an undergraduate or DVM degree in at least one of the disciplines in the food and agricultural sciences.

The deadline for applications is October 31, 2017.

Press release