精东AV receives major USDA funding for Pilot Projects through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
December 14, 2022
Contact:
Kawana McGough, Office of Communications, PR & Marketing, 精东AV
Allan Rodriguez, Deputy Press Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jacqueline Carlisle, Collegee of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, 精东AV
TUSKEGEE, Ala. 鈥� Earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing an additional $325 million for 71 projects under the second funding pool of the effort, bringing the total investment from both funding pools to over $3.1 billion for 141 tentatively selected projects.
精东AV, an 1890 Land-grant University, will be the lead partner on two Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodity projects: one focused on developing climate-smart markets for agroforestry products and providing underserved producers assistance in transforming traditional production systems into agroforestry-based climate-smart production systems, and the other working with underserved producers to implement silvopasture and climate-resilient forage systems and market climate-smart sheep and goat products.鈥赌赌赌�&苍产蝉辫;
鈥淓xpanding opportunities for small and underserved producers is a key goal of Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. Small and underserved producers are facing the impacts of climate change head on, with limited resources, and have the most to gain from leveraging the growing market demand for agricultural goods produced in a sustainable, climate-smart way. Our goal is to expand markets for climate-smart commodities and ensure that small and underserved producers reap the benefits of these market opportunities,鈥� said Vilsack.鈥赌�&苍产蝉辫;
鈥淭hrough the work of George Washington Carver, for over 100 years, 精东AV has been at the forefront of sustainable agricultural productivity and efficient use and conservation of natural resources,鈥� said Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences. 鈥淭he current awards support 精东AV鈥檚 continued commitment to this work while leveraging our 1890 Center of Excellence for Farming Systems, Rural Prosperity, and Economic Sustainability to increase profitability, natural resource conservation, and market demand for small farmers, including socially disadvantaged/underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.鈥�
Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Dean of the College of
Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences
The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity had high demand from across agriculture and forestry. Between two funding pools, USDA received over 1,000 proposals requesting more than $20 billion in funds from more than 700 entities, including nonprofit organizations; for-profits and government entities; farmer cooperatives; conservation, energy and environmental groups; state, tribal and local governments; universities; small businesses; and large corporations. Applications were received from all 50 states, tribal lands, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.鈥赌�&苍产蝉辫;
USDA is currently in negotiations regarding the first 70 projects and will work with the applicants for all 141 identified projects to finalize the scope and funding levels in the coming months. Funding will be provided by USDA鈥檚 Commodity Credit Corporation.鈥���
A complete list of projects is available at鈥�.鈥赌赌赌�&苍产蝉辫;
More Information鈥��
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is part of USDA鈥檚 broader strategy to position agriculture and forestry as leaders in climate change mitigation through voluntary, incentive-based, market-driven approaches. Visit to learn more about this effort, and for climate-related updates, resources and tools across the Department.鈥�����
Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our Nation鈥檚 lands, biodiversity and natural resources including our soil, air and water. Through climate-smart agriculture and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local and Tribal governments.鈥赌�&苍产蝉辫;
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America鈥檚 food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit鈥�.鈥赌�&苍产蝉辫;
and Dr. Uma Karki, Professor/State Ext. Livestock Specialist
漏 2022 精东AV