The kentucky agricultural experiment station, a unit of the martin-gatton college of agriculture, food and environment, oversees and facilitates a variety of research programs that provide…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Kentucky $10.801 million on October 1, 2025, under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act (CFDA 10.203), a formula grant supporting peer-reviewed agricultural research through the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.

The award funds research addressing critical issues in the FY2026 Kentucky Plan of Work: agriculture, environment and natural resources; economic and financial well-being; food safety and security; leadership and community engagement; and nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Research projects integrate both basic and applied sciences with extension programs delivering solutions to stakeholders in Kentucky, the region, and the nation. Agriculture and natural resources research targets plant and animal production systems that improve efficiencies while reducing environmental impacts, pest and disease management, and new products and market opportunities. Economic and financial well-being research addresses agricultural product value, supply chains, sustainability, consumer access, rural economic development, and community vitality. Food safety and security research, along with nutrition and healthy lifestyle initiatives, aims to strengthen food systems and public health outcomes.

The Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, a unit of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky, oversees and facilitates the research programs. Work is performed in Lexington, Kentucky, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The Hatch Act formula grant permits carryover of unobligated funds up to one year beyond the fiscal year of appropriation with no prior approval required.

The kentucky agricultural experiment station, a unit of the martin-gatton college of agriculture, food and environment, oversees and facilitates a variety of research programs that provide science-based solutions to producers, communities, food and agricultural businesses and the citizens of kentucky. The purpose of this award is to support a variety of peer-reviewed research projects that help address several critical issues identified in the FY2026 kentucky plan of work: agriculture, environment and natural resources, economic and financial well-being, food safety and security, leadership and community engagement, and nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Research projects represent both basic and applied sciences and many research projects are integrated with extension programs that help deliver solutions to our stakeholders in the state, region, and nation. Research in support of agriculture, environment and natural resources will address a wide array of issues related to plant and animal production systems and the protection of natural resources. Expected outcomes include cropping, horticultural, and animal production systems that improve production efficiencies while reducing negative environmental impacts, new understanding and treatments for protecting plants and animals from pests and diseases and expanded economic opportunities through the creation of new products and market opportunities. Research in support of economic and financial well-being will address issues related to agricultural product value and supply chains and their impact on sustainability, consumer access and economic opportunities for producers. Rural economic development is also a focus of this critical issue. Expected outcomes include higher profit margins and expanded economic opportunities and markets for producers. Rural communities are also expected to benefit from better understanding of factors that contribute to economic development and community vitality. Food safety and security projects consider biological and chemical safety vulnerabilities and protection in food production and processing, as well as how food safety incidents and policies impact supply chains and consumer prices and behavior. Outcomes will include better methods for detecting and preventing health risks in foods as well as improved market resiliency against disruptions caused by contamination events. Research contributing to leadership in community engagement strives to develop effective models for community engagement for land-grant programs. This work will develop tools and resources that support community interaction across research, outreach and teaching. Nutrition and healthy lifestyle research strives to better understand how nutrition can mitigate health risks and develop effective nutrition health interventions. Research in public health entomology also contributes to healthy lifestyles by seeking ways to control insect disease vectors. The work is expected to lead to improved health outcomes for citizens in the state and beyond. Deliverables include new data, scientific publications and presentations, technologies, plant varieties and the next generation of scientists trained through participation in projects. Translation of research results to stakeholders will be through new decision support tools, lay publications and educational programming developed and delivered in collaboration with 2 extension. Beneficiaries will include other scientists, agricultural producers, agribusinesses, rural communities, and the general public.