Activities to be performed will include research efforts will seek to 1) increase nutritive value, improve food safety, and reduce the risk associated with increased competition for water resources;…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Oklahoma State University $6.915 million under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025, with final completion scheduled for September 30, 2027.

The funding supports agricultural research addressing three primary objectives: increasing nutritive value and food safety while reducing risks from competition for water resources; developing economically sustainable production systems and environmentally resilient pest control and invasive species management methods targeting pests affecting agricultural production, turf, ornamentals, human health, food safety, and natural resources including forests, lakes, streams, rangeland, and wildlife; and developing new products derived from Oklahoma-grown agricultural and forestry materials. Research outcomes are intended to enhance safe food production and efficient use of Oklahoma's natural resources, with intended beneficiaries including Oklahoma citizens and those in neighboring states where resulting practice changes may apply.

Work is performed in Stillwater, Oklahoma. As a formula grant under the Hatch Act, funding is allocated to the eligible State Agricultural Experiment Station according to statutory formula. Funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation, though up to 100 percent may be carried over for up to one year after the end of the appropriation year without prior approval.

Activities to be performed will include research efforts will seek to 1) increase nutritive value, improve food safety, and reduce the risk associated with increased competition for water resources; 2) develop systems capable of maintaining economically sustainable levels of production, and identify economically and environmentally resilient methods of pest control and invasive species that threaten oklahoma's agriculture, environment, economy and population to include pests affecting agricultural production (animal and plant), turf, ornamentals, human health, food safety, conservation and natural resources (e.g. forests, lakes, streams, rangeland, wildlife); and 3) develop new products that are derived from agricultural and forestry products grown in oklahoma. Expected outcomes will include results that will enhance safe food production while positively impacting the efficient use of oklahoma's natural resources. The intended beneficiaries of the research activities will be the citizens of the state of oklahoma primarily as well as those citizens in our neighboring states where our resulting changes in practices might be relevant.