The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today an investment of over $21.8 million to 1890 Landgrant Institutions to support research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities at our nation’s Land-grant University System.

“Our 1890 Land-grant universities are an integral part of our nation’s fabric,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As USDA continues to work tirelessly to advance equity and provide greater access to nutritious and safe food for all Americans, especially to historically disadvantaged groups, this investment will strengthen the ability of our Land-grant Institutions to deliver innovative solutions that address emerging agricultural challenges impacting diverse communities. We are pleased to be able to build the research and training capacity of these critical institutions as they develop the next generation of leaders in agriculture.”

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded over $21.8 million to 1890 Land-grant Institutions to support 58 projects at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation’s Land-grant University System and organizations as part of its Capacity Building Grants program. This is designed to build capacity for teaching, research and extension activities at eligible institutions including curriculum design, materials development, faculty development, student recruitment and retention, and extension program development support. This research investment will strengthen the quality and diversity of our nation’s higher-education workforce, bolster our research and knowledge delivery systems, and equip 1890 Institutions with resources needed to better address emerging challenges and create new opportunities.

Examples of the 58 funded projects to the 1890 Landgrant Institutions include:

Tuskegee University will examine the impact of region and race on heir’s property and community well-being by assessing three regions in Alabama—the Black Belt, the Tennessee Valley, and the Wire Grass—to identify key focal points for Extension and outreach programming and policy engagement ($300,000).

Kentucky State University will address training needs of small-scale, minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers to develop strategies for handling produce and developing value-added products that are compliant with federal regulations and standards ($249,583).