Land-grant universities play a critical role in advancing resilient food systems that ensure communities across the nation have reliable access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food—today and in the future.
Grounded in their integrated mission of research, education, and Cooperative Extension, these institutions bridge scientific discovery and real-world application, delivering practical solutions to serve farmers, food producers, and consumers. In a rapidly changing world, land-grant universities are vital to fortify food systems that promote public health, protect natural resources, drive economic development, and increase producers’ productivity and profitability.
LAND-GRANT IMPACTS EXAMPLES
Fort Valley State University: Improving Pecan Safety with Nonthermal Technologies
Fort Valley State University’s work provides pecan producers with practical, environmentally safe options to reduce microbial contamination while maintaining product quality. By improving safety in nut processing, this research supports consumer confidence, strengthens a major agricultural industry and helps ensure that safe, high-quality pecans remain available in the marketplace.
Primary Funding Source: USDA Capacity – Research
Iowa State University: New Pest-ID tool helps farmers make smart decisions to tailor management
Farmers and farm consultants need a real-time tool to help them identify insects and weeds, enabling them to make informed decisions on pest management. Is this insect or plant likely to cause problems or not? If yes, what are the best options for treatment and at what threshold? Inaccurate identification can result in costly mistakes that reduce productivity this year and potentially into the future.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Capacity Funds
Michigan State University: Veterans Grow Food, Community and Connection Through Gardening Initiative
Michigan State University Extension’s Seeds in Action initiative helps veterans grow healthy food and build meaningful relationships – addressing two critical public health challenges. By promoting wellness and reducing isolation, the program honors and supports those who have served while enhancing quality of life and strengthening communities across Michigan.
Primary Funding Source: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds
Mississippi State University: Billion-dollar Bacteria Breakthrough
The poultry industry has a $6 billion problem: necrotic enteritis, or NE. Mississippi State University scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) have developed a novel rapid test for C. perfringens, the bacteria responsible for necrotic enteritis in poultry. Unlike previous tests, this can be administered onsite with minimal training and is both time- and cost-effective.
Funding Sources: State Appropriations and Hatch Capacity Funds
North Carolina A&T State University: Enhancing the safety, nutrition, and sustainability of hydroponic produce
Hydroponic farming is becoming an important solution for producing safe, healthy food while conserving water, land, and energy. However, food safety risks and limited nutritional enhancement strategies remain major challenges. This project addresses these gaps by developing clean, chemical-free technologies—laser and ultrasound—to reduce harmful bacteria and improve the nutritional quality of hydroponic produce. In addition, understanding growers’ needs ensures these innovations are practical and widely adopted, strengthening local agriculture and consumer confidence.
Primary Funding Source: Evans-Allen Capacity Funds
Oklahoma State University: Integrated Beef Cattle Program: Advancing Veterinary Practice Success
OSU’s Integrated Beef Cattle Program equips veterinarians and veterinary students with advanced herd health, nutrition, reproduction, and business management skills through hybrid training and on-farm learning. This program strengthens rural veterinary practice sustainability, enhances producer collaboration, and supports the economic vitality of Oklahoma’s beef industry.
Primary Funding Source: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds
University of Alaska Fairbanks: Researcher “Speed-Breeds” Small Grain Varieties to Boost Crop Production in Alaska
A University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher is using a "speed-breeding" process to accelerate the development of suitable varieties of small grain crops, which can improve Alaska's food production, promote economic development, and strengthen Alaska’s food system.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Capacity Funds
University of California: Improving plant resilience to extremes in water availability and temperature
University of California Agricultural Experiment Station research evaluates hydrogels to improve plants' drought resilience across diverse landscapes, including small vegetable farms and city parking lots. Ultimately, the research on hydrogels will increase the resilience and sustainability of California’s diverse ecosystems through extreme weather events and changes in climate.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Capacity Funds
University of Maine: Exploring How to Support Both Fresh and Frozen Blueberry Economies
Maine's wild blueberry industry remains a significant economic driver, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually and supporting a wide range of related businesses, including processing plants, packaging companies, and tourism. The industry's resilience and implementation of climate adaptation measures, such as improved irrigation and mulching, contribute to long-term sustainability. Wild Blueberry Weekend, an annual event, attracts visitors and boosts local economies. The industry's efforts to address labor challenges, improve production methods, and enhance disease control not only benefit individual farmers but also strengthen the overall economic health of the state, providing employment opportunities and fostering community engagement.
Primary Funding Source: Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds
University of Maryland: Grower Education for Production of Broiler Chickens
As part of the Delmarva Poultry Team, University of Maryland Extension (UME) supported the poultry industry by helping growers understand the management practices that should be implemented to demonstrate compliance with regulations. Most growers (95%) found programing beneficial to their farming operation, estimating an income increase of $2,450 to $5,200, with the average increase of $3,600 per flock as a result of UME programs.
Funding Sources: Fee-Based Funding and USDA Capacity - Extension
University of Missouri: Drones, AI Found to More Efficiently Measure the Health of Corn Plants
A digital agriculture research team at the University of Missouri has combined drone imagery with machine learning to inform farmers about the health of corn crops. An innovative use of emerging technology at the University of Missouri will ultimately improve the efficiency of agricultural systems.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Multistate Capacity Funds
University of Nevada, Reno: Advancing precision agriculture: Experiment Station researchers develop highly nutritious, water-efficient sorghum varieties
By promoting sorghum as a viable crop option, the program aims to strengthen Nevada's agricultural stability and support sustainable food production in the face of ongoing water constraints.
The commercialization of the developed sorghum varieties is also likely to drive economic development, particularly in rural areas, by attracting industries that process, transport and market these crops. Furthermore, cultivating nutrient-rich sorghum will likely contribute to healthier food systems, providing versatile options for human consumption and livestock feed.
Primary Funding Source: USDA Capacity - Research
Virginia Tech: Advanced seafood safety and quality techniques give producers valuable assessments in seconds – not days
The Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center is developing a non-destructive seafood analysis tool to detect critical safety and quality information. These strategies can significantly reduce processing delays and spoilage risk, improving the competitiveness of Virginia's seafood economy in national markets.
Reducing testing time from days to seconds would give seafood processors access to real-time product safety and quality information about their supply chain. There is a potential to transform subjective quality assessments and delayed safety testing into automated, objective measurements in a fraction of the time.
Primary Funding Source: Hatch Capacity Funds
West Virginia State University: WVSU Researchers Advancing Microgreens Safety
WVSU researchers are studying the effectiveness of biocontrol agents in reducing Salmonella levels during the cultivation of microgreens. Using bacteriophages as a biocontrol can reduce the risk of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella while maintaining the quality of these crops. This initiative aligns with the growing demand for chemical-free produce and helps protect public health by improving food safety without compromising quality.
Primary Funding Source: USDA Capacity – Research
Together, the land-grant universities form a powerful network that transforms discovery into progress throughout the nation. By anticipating and responding to the evolving needs of producers and consumers, land-grant institutions ensure a strong food system that sustains productivity, protects public health, and supports economic vitality. This collective work strengthens resilience throughout the food system to secure a safe, nutritious, affordable, and dependable food supply now and into the future.
SOCIAL MEDIA
SAMPLE POSTS
RESEARCH
Land-grant university research strengthens food systems in a rapidly changing world. Here’s how @SCHOOL is helping increase producers’ productivity and profitability to ensure American food security: PROJECT
EDUCATION
Through hands-on, experiential learning, #LandGrantUniversities bridge the gap between theory and practice in agriculture education. @SCHOOL students are prepared to tackle the world’s evolving challenges in food production and resilient agriculture.
EXTENSION
.@SCHOOL Extension educators work in partnership with STATE ranchers and farmers, empowering producers with practical solutions rooted in research: PROJECT
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- Land-grant Impacts
Scroll down to "View by Institution" and click your university's name. Only institutions who submitted impacts to the National Impacts Database in 2024 are listed. This page features research and Extension impacts. - Multistate Research Funds Impacts
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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.
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CALENDAR
FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS
MONTHS
American Heart Month, #AmericanHeartMonth
Black History Month, #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM
National Cancer Prevention Month, #CancerPreventionMonth
National Canned Food Month, #CannedFoodMonth
National Cherry Month, #NationalCherryMonth
National Grapefruit Month, #NationalGrapefruitMonth
WEEKS
February 21-28: National FFA Week, #FFAweek (Resources)
February 23-27: National Invasive Species Awareness Week, #NISAW, #InvasiveSpecies (NISAW Toolkit)
DAYS
February 2: World Wetlands Day, #WorldWetlandsDay
February 9: National Pizza Day, #NationalPizzaDay
February 14: Valentine’s Day, #ValentinesDay
February 16: National Almond Day, #AlmondDay
February 17: National Cabbage Day, #NationalCabbageDay
February 26: National Pistachio Day, #NationalPistachioDay
February 27: National Strawberry Day, #NationalStrawberryDay
