The purdue university college of agriculture's 2021-2026 strategic plan outlines a vision and mission that embodies a contemporary land-grant approach by preparing tomorrow's leaders to meet society's…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Purdue University $10.932 million under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025.

The award funds a diverse portfolio of field- and laboratory-based agricultural research conducted across three academic units on Purdue's West Lafayette campus: the College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and selected departments within the College of Health and Human Sciences. Faculty members receiving 20 percent or more of their research funding through formula funds submit five-year research plans aligned with Purdue's strategic priorities and NIFA's critical issues: natural resources, workforce development, positive youth development and 4-H opportunities, agricultural and digital technology and innovations, and human and family development. The research portfolio encompasses both applied and fundamental investigations that connect with issues aligned to priorities of the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and Extension Committee on Organization and Policy.

The period of performance runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. Place of performance is West Lafayette, Indiana. This is a formula grant under the Hatch Act, allocated to eligible state agricultural experiment stations according to statutory formula; Hatch funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation, though up to 100 percent may carry over for up to one year after the end of the year for which they were appropriated without prior approval.

The purdue university college of agriculture's 2021-2026 strategic plan outlines a vision and mission that embodies a contemporary land-grant approach by preparing tomorrow's leaders to meet society's needs. We strive to lead globally by cultivating innovation and solutions that will shape america's future in the vital areas of food, life, and natural resource sciences. Efforts are already underway to develop the next iteration of the strategic plan, building on these guiding principles and accomplishments. Hatch funding from the USDA national institute for food and agriculture (NIFA) enables purdue's college of agriculture (COA) to accomplish its strategic plan through a broad portfolio of research across three units on the west lafayette campus. Support from hatch funding, provided by the USDA national institute for food and agriculture (NIFA), plays a vital role in enabling the college of agriculture to fulfill its strategic objectives. This funding supports a diverse portfolio of research conducted across three academic units on purdue's west lafayette campus. Faculty members in the college of agriculture, the college of veterinary medicine, and selected departments within the college of health and human sciences-who receive 20% or more of their research funding through formula funds-are required to submit a five-year research plan aligned with the strategic priorities. These hatch projects, which are then reviewed, include both field- and laboratory-based research (applied and fundamental) that directly connect with critical issues created to incorporate COA initiatives, and to align with priorities of NIFA, research, education & economic goals of USDA, agriculture & food research initiative, foundation for food & agriculture research, and extension committee on organization & policy. Critical issues are natural resources; workforce development; positive youth development and 4-H opportunities; agricultural and digital technology and innovations; human, family, and community health; profitable farm operations, food production, agro-security, specialty crops, and small-scale farming. The portfolio of projects includes economic research, plant and animal genetic improvement and breeding, management practices to optimize farming and productivity, molecular biochemical approaches to understand and manage plant traits and improve human nutrition, social science of rural communities, and technological advances to quickly detect the presence of pathogens, to name just a few. Purdue's agricultural centers (PACS) and agronomy center for research and education (ACRE) are V aluable resources for agricultural researchers from various disciplines. Located strategically across indiana, the PACS offer varying land and soil types and microclimates, allowing scientists to conduct research in real-world conditions. ACRE is located near the main campus. Both the PACS and ACRE offer unique advantages to scientists: the PACS provide large plot research for field-scale trials using precision equipment to collect and analyze data, while ACRE offers small plot research for more complex protocols. Further, the PACS have plots designed for animal/livestock research, adoption of organic farming practices, and woodlands and ponds. The breadth of hatch projects leads to a range of deliverables and outputs, including the development of new knowledge and technologies, enhanced management systems, and best practices and technology adoption. These efforts aim to increase agricultural production and profitability, improve food safety, influence economic policy, promote healthy eating habits, and conserve natural resources. Stakeholders that directly benefit from purdue's hatch funding are commodity groups; farmers of small and large-scale agriculture, and veterans; community residents; agencies/organizations; industry (seed companies, animal feed companies, herbicide and pesticide companies); and the research community.