In 2024, SC state university advanced its mission of teaching, research, and outreach by delivering impactful programs across 32 south carolina counties

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded South Carolina State University $6.818 million under the Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University program (CFDA 10.205) on October 1, 2025, for a period of performance through September 30, 2027.

The award funds extension and outreach programming across 32 South Carolina counties addressing five priority areas: agribusiness and community development, agrisystems productivity and profitability, environmental and natural resources conservation, family and youth development, and food safety, security, and nutrition. Under agribusiness and community development, the university facilitated 20 workshops (7 in-person, 7 hybrid, 6 virtual) reaching 9,269 direct contacts over 1,948 hours and 37,727 indirect contacts, with 90 percent of participants reporting knowledge gains and six jobs created through a rural business enterprise grant. The agrisystems team conducted 58 workshops with over 577 small farmers, logging 3,969 direct contact hours with 16,269 individuals covering animal production, sustainable agriculture, and risk management; 117 farmers reported profit gains and 650 producers adopted recommended practices. Family and youth development programming included 400 workshops on civic engagement, healthy lifestyles, financial literacy, and S.T.R.E.A.M. education, making 43,896 direct contacts over 4,360 hours.

As a formula grant to an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, South Carolina State University must submit a plan of work to NIFA and comply with annual reporting requirements on accomplishments and results. Performance occurs in South Carolina.

The university focused on five critical issues: agribusiness and community development, agrisystems productivity and profitability, environmental and natural resources conservation, family and youth development, and food safety, security, and nutrition. These initiatives aimed to improve the quality of life for citizens through education, innovation, and community engagement. Under agribusiness and community development, SC state addressed challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and environmental hazards. Staff facilitated 20 workshops, 7 in-person, 7 hybrid, and 6 virtual, reaching 9,269 direct contacts over 1,948 hours and 37,727 indirect contacts over 1,402 hours. Ninety percent of participants reported knowledge gains, and six jobs were created through a rural business enterprise grant. In agrisystems productivity and profitability, the small farms team conducted 58 workshops and worked with over 577 small farmers. They logged 3,969 direct contact hours with 16,269 individuals and 1,516 indirect hours with 9,678 contacts. Programming covered animal production, sustainable agriculture, and risk management. Topics included beef cattle herd HEA LTH, collaborative marketing, agricultural taxes, and nrcs services. Ninety percent of participants had acres impacted by integrated crop management, reflecting a 56% increase from the previous year. A total of 117 farmers reported profit gains, and 650 producers adopted recommended practices. Family and youth development efforts included 400 workshops focused on civic engagement, healthy lifestyles, financial literacy, S.T.R.E.A.M. (science, technology, reading, engineering, agriculture/arts, and mathematics), and the agriculture innovation scholarship program. Staff made 43,896 direct contacts over 4 ,360 hours and reached 1,484,408 individuals indirectly over 2,004 hours. Youth participated in hands-on learning such as coding, drone exploration, and robotics, fostering lifelong skills and civic responsibility. Food safety, security, and nutrition initiatives were delivered through 1,181 workshops promoting healthy behaviors and disease prevention. Staff collaborated with advisory councils and stakeholders to design evidence-based nutrition education programs. They made 22,720 direct contacts over 2,969 hours and 332,595 indirect contacts over 1,289 hours. Sixty-eight percent of participants gained nutrition knowledge. Eighteen memorandums of understanding were signed with external agencies. Staff earned servsafe and utah state nutrition certifications. The efnep explorers camp graduated 636 youth, all of whom reported intentions to drink more water and eat more fruits. SC state's research portfolio included six projects: AI and data analysis, phytochemicals from sweet potatoes, food hub networks, aienabled smart farming IOT systems, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil, and atmo spheric water generation from recycled plastics. Three projects concluded in july 2025 and prepared bulletins for publication; three remain active. These research efforts have broad implications for sustainability, innovation, and agricultural advancement. Collectively, SC state university's programs and research initiatives demonstrate a strong commitment to community empowerment, scientific progress, and inclusive education, serving as a catalyst for positive change across south carolina.