DECEMBER 2023 TOOLKIT

CONNECTING AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH

Land-grant universities play crucial and innovative roles in connecting agriculture, nutrition, and health through research, education, and Extension. They are also key partners in federal initiatives to improve public health through efforts such as advancing responsive agriculture and precision nutrition.

In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a pilot nutrition hub under the Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) initiative. This hub is in partnership with Southern University, a historically black 1890 land-grant university in Louisiana and host of the USDA-funded 1890 Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness and Quality of Life.

According to USDA, this new hub will be an engine for providing science-based, nutrition-related information at the community level, particularly in underserved communities disproportionately impacted by diet-related chronic diseases. Future hubs will concentrate on additional high-need communities. This regional hub network links USDA research and programs to deliver timely, tailored, and authoritative information and decision-making tools.
_{Source: USDA Launches Nutrition Hub to Combat Diet-Related Diseases in Underserved Communities | USDA}

This effort builds upon the White House Conference to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities held in September 2022, which was the first White House conference of its kind in 50 years. The federal government recognizes that they cannot end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases without crucial collaboration with universities; private sector; state, tribal, local, and territory governments; and nonprofits.
_{Source: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health | The White House}

To help accomplish these massive goals, land-grant universities are advancing responsive agriculture. This encompasses a range of practices and technologies including:

Precision agriculture that develops and uses technology (e.g., GPS-guided tractors and sensors) to help farmers optimize field-level management.
Climate-smart agriculture that advances farming practices and strategies to mitigate and adapt to changing climate conditions and develop resilient crop varieties.
Data-driven farming that utilizes data and analytics to improve decisions about crop management, resource allocation, and farm operations.

Land-grants are also on the cutting-edge of precision nutrition, which moves from a “one-size-fits-all” to a personalized approach for dietary and lifestyle recommendations to improve health outcomes. Key components of precision nutrition include:

Genetic information that analyzes an individual's genetic makeup to understand how their genes may influence responses to different nutrients and dietary patterns.
Microbiome analysis that considers the composition of an individual's gut microbiome to tailor recommendations that support a healthy gut environment, nutrient metabolism, and overall health.
Lifestyle habits that consider factors (e.g., physical activity, sleep patterns, stress levels) which significantly impact how the body processes and utilizes nutrients.

Through their vision, dedication, and expertise, professionals at land-grant universities are improving the health and lives of all Americans every day.

Examples from Land-grant Impacts

Scientists Across the Country Working to Create More Nutrient-Dense Diets
Many American diets don’t include enough basic nutrients, which can lead to health issues as we age. Low-nutrient diet lead to issues, including macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity. and diabetes. Improving the nutritional quality of basic crops through plant breeding is a cost-effective, sustainable way to address these nutritional needs. Researchers at land-grant universities across the country are seeking ways to make the foods we eat each day more nutrient-dense, for life-long health and wellness.

Community Nutrition Programs Improve Healthful Outcomes
Community Nutrition Education Programs, a service of the Land-grant University System, use Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) funding to educate and empower low-income individuals, families, school-age youth and pregnant teens. Extension educators across the country deliver research-based, hands-on learning experiences on diet quality, food safety, physical activity, food security and food resource management through various virtual platforms and in-person classes.

Diabetes Prevention and Patient Empowerment
One in three adults in the United States has prediabetes, and 10.5% of the population has diabetes. Both increase the risk for heart disease and stroke among other negative health outcomes. Extension educators teach participants to eat healthy, manage stress and increase physical activity. This all helps manage weight and prevent diabetes and other chronic diseases. A collaborative approach helps participants find solutions to common barriers for living a healthy lifestyle.

Examples from Multistate Research Fund Impacts

Researchers Across America are Advancing Nutrition
Collaborative research by land-grant universities plays an important role in advancing our understanding of human health and nutrition and improving access to and consumption of safe, high-quality, nutritious foods nationwide.

Understanding Bioactive Dietary Chemicals
The foods and drinks we consume contain natural chemicals (vitamins, minerals, fat, sugar, protein, flavonoids, toxicants, hormones, and more) that can positively or negatively impact human health. Since 1971, a multistate project has brought together researchers at 22 land-grant universities to conduct cutting-edge research on the effects of dietary bioactive chemicals on human health, chronic diseases, and food safety.

SOCIAL MEDIA

SAMPLE POSTS

RESEARCH
From responsive agriculture to precision nutrition, land-grant university researchers are leading the charge to build a science-based healthier and more sustainable world. [PROJECT EXAMPLE] #AgIsAmerica

EDUCATION
Students in our [PROGRAM] major are equipped with the skills they need to become the next generation of [nutritionists/food scientists/public health professionals/other] to help build a healthier future. [MAJOR PAGE LINK] #AgIsAmerica

EXTENSION
Cooperative Extension makes healthy communities. [@SCHOOL] Extension agents like [NAME] interpret the latest science in agriculture, nutrition, and health, and bring this information directly to the [STATE/COUNTY] public. [PROJECT LINK] #AgIsAmerica @Ext100Years

Feel free to reach out to us with specific posts that you would like @AgIsAmerica to share. Please email your request to Kim Scotto at agcomms@aplu.org or use #AgIsAmerica.

HASHTAGS AND HANDLES

HASHTAGS
#LandGrantUniversities
#AgIsAmerica

HANDLES

Ag is America	@AgIsAmerica
APLU Ag	@APLU_Ag
Sec. Vilsack (Secretary of Agriculture)	@SecVilsack
USDA	@USDA
USDA National Institute of Food & Ag	@USDA_NIFA
APLU	@APLU_News
Cooperative Extension	@Ext100Years

CALENDAR

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

MONTHS
National Pear Month, #NationalPearMonth
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month, #WorldwideFoodServiceSafetyMonth, #WFSSM

DAYS
December 1 – National Pie Day, #NationalPieDay
December 4 – Wildlife Conservation Day, #WildlifeConservationDay
December 5 – International Volunteer Day, #InternationalVolunteerDay
December 5 – World Soil Day, #WorldSoilDay, #WSD
December 12 – National Poinsettia Day, #NationalPoinsettiaDay
December 17 – National Maple Syrup Day, #MapleSyrupDay
December 30 – Bacon Day, #BaconDay
December 31 – New Year’s Eve, #NewYearsEve
_{Source: December 2023 - National Day Calendar}

USDA EVENTS & DEADLINES

December 6 – Webinar: Transdisciplinary Approaches: The Science of Team Science
Presented by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the National Agricultural Library, the seminar series will examine strategies for implementing transdisciplinary approaches, team-building, and overcoming challenges to encourage the adoption of and training in transdisciplinary systems.

The second webinar in the Transdisciplinary Approaches webinar series, Transdisciplinary Approaches: The Science of Team Science, speakers will share information about the keys to the success of complex teams and highlight the role of team function in large-scale projects.

December 6 – Listening Session: Tribal Colleges Extension Program
Join NIFA for a listening session to gain feedback on the upcoming Tribal Colleges Extension Program FY24 RFA. Learn more about NIFA's Tribal programs at NIFA Tribal Programs | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov).

December 7 – Application Deadline: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD)
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences.

December 7 – Application Deadline: Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program
The purpose of the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program is to increase the knowledge of agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of children. The program’s goal is to increase the capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities, such as school cafeterias and classrooms, while fostering higher levels of community engagement between farms and school systems by bringing together stakeholders from distinct parts of the food system. The initiative is part of a broader effort to not only increase access to school meals for low-income children, but also to dramatically improve their quality.

December 8 – Application Deadline: Specialty Crop Research Initiative
The purpose of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program is to address the critical needs of the specialty crop industry by awarding grants to support research and extension that address key challenges of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture, including conventional and organic food production systems.

December 29 – Application Deadline: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. The six priority areas are: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA).
_{Source: Upcoming Events | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov)}