USDA makes $18 million available to educate the future ag science workforce
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $18 million in available funding to foster the next generation of agricultural science professionals.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $18 million in available funding to foster the next generation of agricultural science professionals. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.
“There is a significant shortfall in the number of qualified applicants for jobs in agriculture-related fields,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “NIFA investments are strengthening the pathways to these jobs, from engaging more primary school students in STEM education all the way to fellowships for new scientists in the agricultural research, extension, and education arena.”
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative is America’s flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for foundational and translational research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. In FY 2017, AFRI’s Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative (ELI) seeks to boost the number of qualified graduates in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences through support for:
- professional development opportunities for K-14 teachers and education professionals
- training of undergraduate students in research and extension
- fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates
The application due dates are either June 21, 2017, or June 28, 2017, depending on the opportunity. Applications may only be submitted by eligible entities. Eligibility is linked to the project type.