Southern university agricultural research and extension center utilizes the section 1445 funding to advance its agenda associated with food and agricultural projects benefitting the state of…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center $6.052 million under the Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University program (CFDA 10.205) on October 1, 2025, to support agricultural research and extension activities through an approved five-year Plan of Work.

SUAREC delivers research and extension programming across five areas: family and community development, including disaster and pandemic preparedness, sustainable housing, and agri-tourism; food security and systems, encompassing animal, plant, and aquaculture profitability, food safety, farm financing, and value-added products under the SUNFOODS trademark; natural resources and environmental sustainability, focusing on grazing lands, wildlife, wetlands, water management, alternative biofuels, and biomass processing; obesity, health, and wellness initiatives promoting clean food consumption and obesity reduction; and youth and workforce development. The integrated Plan of Work consolidates research and extension programs conducted jointly by Southern University and Louisiana State University.

Performance occurs at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana location through September 30, 2027. Section 1445 funding must be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation, though up to one hundred percent of funds may carry over for up to one year with no prior approval required. SUAREC must maintain an approved Plan of Work and submit annual accomplishments and results reports. Quarterly fund releases continue contingent on compliance with program and administrative requirements.

Southern university agricultural research and extension center utilizes the section 1445 funding to advance its agenda associated with food and agricultural projects benefitting the state of louisiana's stakeholders, as reflected in its approved 5-year plan of work (POW). The POW consists of a consolidated and integrated plan for research and extension programs at both southern and louisiana state universities. The mission of suarec is to enhance the quality of life for people in louisiana through mission-oriented basic and applied research that addresses scientific, technological, social, economic and cultural needs of its citizens. To address emerging issues of its stakeholders, emphasis is placed in five programming areas: (1) family and community development: focusing of issues affecting individuals, families, community development; disaster, epidemic and pandemic preparedness, mitigation and recovery; risk awareness; sustainable housing; agrisecurity; and agri-tourism. (2). Food security & system: focused on increasing the profitability of louisiana's animal, plant, and aquaculture systems and improved food accessibility, affordability, policy; food safety, to include seafood, produce, and processed commodities - safety, certification programs, farm financing, and value-added products using the newly trademarked 'sunfoods' designation. (3). Natural resources & environmental sustainability: focuses on conservation and preservation of natural resources and particularly the health of state's grazing lands, state's wildlife, wetland plants, water, waste management, landscapes, effects forestry, industry, feedstocks, alternative biofuels, bagasse alternatives, biomass processing and the impacts on the environment. (4) obesity, health & wellness focuses on increased consumption of 'clean' foods while reducing intakes of 'ultra-processed' foods and developing programs addressing decreasing obesity levels in all ages, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, increasing time in physical activities; complete physical, mental, and social well-being of all ages; policy, system and environmental change; and related to nutrition/health/wellness issues to include epidemic and pandemic prevention; and (5) youth development: focuses on providing louisiana youth with positive development opportunities and activities to build inspirational leaders and healthy citizens. These programs and associated outcomes are accessible to stakeholders across the entire state of louisiana and disseminated in several modalities, including research conducted on campus and experiment stations, and off-campus at different stakeholder and partner farms and work sites. Faculty, students, staff, and administrators actively participate in program design, program execution, development, delivery and assessment. To meet the ever-evolving needs of stakeholders in the agricultural and natural resources communities, frequent interactions with stakeholder groups will ensure relevance in new and emerging programming areas addressing those needs and maintain flexibility to alter plans as situations arise. Increased use of tools, such as a I, social media, television, field days, pasture walks; all will increase public awareness and market penetration of these far-reaching programs. Oher venues along with increased funding will allow more focused and current needs to be addressed at the farm, home and society level. The SU AG center will continue to ensure resources are available and appropriately allocated to address those most critical and areas of agriculture, health and nutrition of the consuming public and be flexible to alter plans as situation arise.