Collaboration between xerces society and the USDA people's garden initiative to expand pollinator and beneficial insect outreach and education to gardens nationwide

The Xerces Society Inc. will receive $524,000 through a Cooperative Agreement award from the United States Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service to expand pollinator and beneficial insect outreach and education to gardens nationwide. Funded through the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production federal grant program (CFDA 10.935), this three-year award beginning May 25, 2023 will support the Xerces Society's collaboration with the USDA People's Garden Initiative. Services will include providing technical guidance and educational resources to community gardens and other urban agriculture sites on practices that support pollinator habitats and populations of beneficial insect species. Given the Xerces Society's expertise in invertebrate conservation and prior federal grants involving pollinator research, habitat restoration, and agricultural outreach, they are well positioned to deliver programming that furthers the goals of promoting urban agriculture and innovative production methods under the CFDA.