Alabama's research and extension seek to address selected questions that lead to identification of critical issues of strategic importance

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Tuskegee University $8.205 million on October 1, 2025, under the Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee University formula grant program (CFDA 10.205).

Tuskegee University's integrative research and extension programs address national USDA food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences strategic goals, with focus on seven critical issues: global food security and hunger; natural resource conservation and management through practical approaches to water conservation, soil health, and agricultural resilience; food system and food safety; human nutrition, well-being, health, and obesity; sustainable energy; community development; and family, home, 4-H, and youth development. Programs target the Alabama Black Belt region with emphasis on small-scale, limited-resource, and rural producers.

Performance occurs in Tuskegee, Alabama, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. As a formula grant under Section 1445, funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; up to 100 percent may be carried over for up to one year after the fiscal year end without prior approval. The recipient must maintain an approved Plan of Work and comply with annual reporting requirements for accomplishments and results during the grant period. Funding releases on a quarterly basis contingent on the institution meeting all current program and administrative requirements.

These issues include, but are not limited to: (1) enhancing the sustainability, competitiveness, biosecurity, and profitability of U.S. Food and agricultural systems; (2) playing a global leadership role to ensure a safe, secure, nutritious, and abundant food supply for the U.S. And the world; (3) advancing natural resource stewardship through practical management practices for food and water systems, including adaptation to changing agricultural conditions; (4) improving human health, nutrition, and wellbeing of the US population; (5) promoting community development, rural health, prosperity and resilience; (6) building capacity of individuals and families in the context of learning, culture, and community; and (7) supporting energy security and the development of the BIO-economy from renewable natural resources in the U.S. As part of the combined alabama land grant plan of work, tuskegee university's integrative research and extension programs are planned to address the national USDA food, agriculture, natural recourses and human sciences strategic goals; nifa priority science areas and the alabama agricultural critical issues as identified by the stakeholders. Our programs are therefore focused on the following critical issues: (1) global food security and hunger; (2) natural resource conservation and management: practical approaches to water conservation, soil health, and agricultural resilience; (3) food system and food safety; (4) human nutrition, well-being, health and obesity; (5) sustainable energy; (6) community development; and (7) family, home and 4-h and youth development. Our programs are designed to particularly address the alabama black belt region and focus on small?scale, limited?resource, and rural producers. Specific research projects are therefore focused on: efficient water use and adaptation to agricultural variability to support small and limited?resource farmers: meat goat production systems to improve productivity for small?scale producers; approaches and marketing strategies to increase yields of vegetables and fruits for rural farmers in alabama; alternative poultry production: a sustainable integrative poultry production model for small scale producers; integrative approaches to obesity prevention in alabama black belt counties; strengthening programs in organic farming in alabama through research and education; and development and evaluation of farm based energy solutions that improve efficiency and support rural communities in alabama.