Hatch capacity grant funds are used to conduct research across disciplines in agriculture, food, animal and human health to advance production and provide an adequate and nutritious food supply and…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Iowa State University of Science and Technology $11.289 million under the Hatch Act formula grant program (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025.

The grant funds agricultural research across six long-term critical issues identified by Iowa State University. In food production and agricultural systems, ISU scientists are developing approaches to mitigate pest and weed damage to agronomic products, create disease and abiotic stress resistant crops, enhance food-animal production efficiencies, reduce bioproduct waste streams from agricultural production, and predict weather and environmental changes. The university is also studying animal health and welfare to improve animal life quality and investigating environmental influences on animal productivity to improve physiological regulation of reproductive efficiency in domestic animals. Under natural resources and environmental stewardship, ISU researchers are developing tools and strategies to conserve natural resources and protect the environment, identifying factors associated with disease to enhance management and conservation of wildlife populations and protect human health, and conducting soil fertility research to understand underlying processes influencing soil acidification, crop phosphorus and potassium needs and uptake, impacts of harvest and recycling to soil, and transport of soil components off field and efficient methods of nutrient or amendments application. In health, nutrition, and well-being, ISU researchers are studying ways to improve human health through various initiatives.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. Work is performed at Iowa State University's facilities in Ames, Iowa. The assistance type is a formula grant. Hatch funds may be carried over for up to one year after the fiscal year of appropriation without prior approval.

Hatch capacity grant funds are used to conduct research across disciplines in agriculture, food, animal and human health to advance production and provide an adequate and nutritious food supply and optimize agriculture production, valuechain and serve stakeholders. Continuing demographic changes, globalization and technological innovations create ongoing opportunities and challenges toward achieving beneficial, economically successful, and environmentally sound systems for food, feed, fiber, fuel, and other value-added products. Iowa state university (ISU) has identified six longterm critical issues that our research projects are designed to address. Food production and agricultural systems: ISU scientists are developing new approaches and improving current strategies that mitigate pest and weed damage to agronomic products, create disease and abiotic stress resistant crops, enhance food-animal production efficiencies, reduce bioproduct waste streams from agricultural production, and predict weather and environmental changes. Studying animal health and welfare will improve animal life quality, and investigating environmental influences on animal productivity will improve the physiological regulation of reproductive efficiency in domestic animals. Natural resources and environmental stewardship: ISU researchers are developing tools and strategies that conserve natural resources and protect the environment, and identifying factors associated with disease that will enhance the management and conservation of wildlife populations and protect human health. Soil fertility research is being conducted to understand underlying processes that influence soil acidification, crop phosphorus and potassium needs and uptake, impacts of harvest and recycling to the soil, and transport of soil components off field, as well as efficient methods of nutrient or amendments application. Health, nutrition, and well-being: ISU researchers are studying ways to improve human health through informing consumers about nutrition and lifestyle approaches, and development of a food system that is cost-efficient and nutrient rich. Scientists are conducting studies to identify new targets that could strengthen the immune system to prevent infectious diseases to improve well-being of animals, prevent zoonotic diseases that impact humans and reduce the chances of future disease outbreaks. Other work is identifying novel genes important for immune function to advance genetic selection of domesticated animals with desirable traits. Human potential and youth development, and community and economic development: ISU scientists are working to enhance the recruitment and retention of students into agricultural fields to ensure a sustainable workforce. Projects focus on families and community resilience and sustainability, and optimizing quality of life across the lifespan. Transformative techn ology: ISU researchers are developing machine systems to sustainably intensify agricultural production to meet global food demand. Overall, the research will improve the management and sustainability of agrarian and intensively managed landscapes and contribute to broader socially relevant outcomes that include increased economic competitiveness of the US agricultural enterprise. Target audiences and outcomes: these projects are of high value to a wide range of audiences. Information from this research is widely disseminated through many outlets. Our goal is to build the capacity of ISU's research programs to meet the demands of agriculture while ensuring quality of life for citizens, building productive AG-communities, protecting natural resources and the environment, applying technology appropriately and effectively, and generating new knowledge. ISU researchers strive to optimize the use of capacity funds through their research by addressing relevant and critical issues for our state, region and nation.