USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $3.1 million in available funding to train the next generation of policymakers, researchers, and educators in the food and agricultural sciences.

There is a significant shortfall between the number of jobs being created and availability of graduates with bachelor’s or higher degrees in the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or environmental specialties.

“These investments support future science leaders,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “We are cultivating students’ skills in leadership, management, critical thinking and problem-solving, along with technical knowledge in the food and agricultural disciplines so they can address the emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century.”

The National Needs Fellowship Grants Program seeks to increase diversity in the agricultural sciences by supporting outstanding master’s and doctoral-level students in the Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences (FANH) disciplines. The program supports individuals who demonstrate their potential to complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the USDA.

Eligible applicants include:

The deadline for applications is Oct. 31, 2017. See the request for applications for details.

The request for applications also supports international study or thesis/dissertation research travel allowances for eligible master’s and doctoral USDA fellows or current applicants.

Among previous grants, Washington State University trained National Needs Fellows in food processing and packaging technologies. The University of Connecticut provided intensive training to fellows studying sustainable forest resource management.

Source: NIFA