Utah state university will use hatch act regular research capacity funds, together with matching funds from the state of utah, to support basic, applied, and developmental research addressing seven…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Utah State University $2,801,946 under the Hatch Act Regular Research Capacity program on October 1, 2025, to support basic, applied, and developmental research addressing seven critical issues: global food security and hunger, management of natural resources, nutrition and health, food safety, healthy and financially secure families, youth development, and community resilience.

Research deliverables include peer-reviewed and lay publications, presentations, outreach through extension events and fact sheets, and practical tools or devices. Work on global food security will focus on more efficient crops and livestock through breeding and genomic improvements, and greater tolerance to stresses including heat, drought, and salinity. Natural resource management research addresses changing patterns of water availability and quality, soil and environmental conditions across rangelands, forests, and agricultural systems, and approaches for sustaining both working lands and natural ecosystems on Utah's extensive public lands. Nutrition and health research will improve dietary outcomes for vulnerable populations facing food scarcity and diet-related illness. Research impacts will benefit agricultural producers, food processors, Utah citizens, communities across the western U.S. and beyond, governmental agencies, and the broader scientific community through improved knowledge, behavioral changes, and strengthened conditions.

Utah State University will combine Hatch Act funds with matching funds from the State of Utah. Performance occurs in Logan, Utah, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027.

Utah state university will use hatch act regular research capacity funds, together with matching funds from the state of utah, to support basic, applied, and developmental research addressing seven critical issues identified in the our plan of work. Those issues are global food security and hunger; management of natural resources; nutrition and health; food safety; healthy, financially secure families; youth development; and community resilience. Each aligns with the U.S. Department of agricultures strategic objectives. The funded research will yield presentations, peer-reviewed and lay publications, outreach through extension events and fact sheets, and practical tools or devices. Impacts will include improved knowledge, behavioral changes, and strengthened conditions that benefit agricultural producers, food processors, utah citizens, communities across the western U.S. And beyond, governmental agencies, and the broader scientific community. (1) global food security and hunger feeding a growing population requires resilient, productive agricultural systems. Research will focus on more efficient crops and livestock, breeding and genomic improvements, and greater tolerance to stresses such as heat, drought, and salinity. These innovations will help farmers remain competitive while protecting long -term productivity. (2) management of natural resources rangelands, forests, and agricultural systems depend on soil, water, and environmental conditions. Changing patterns of water availability and quality are among the most urgent challenges, as water shifts from agricultural to municipal and industrial uses. Utahs extensive public lands create unique management conditions, requiring new approaches for sustaining both working lands and natural ecosystems. (3) nutrition and health nutrition remains a serious concern even within the U.S., where vulnerable populations face food scarcity and diet-related illness. Research will address ways to improve dietary outcomes, particularly for children, to support healthier and more productive lives. (4) food safety pathogens in food systems impose large economic and health costs nationwide. This program will develop faster diagnostic tools and improved practices to detect and reduce contamination, protecting both consumers and markets. (5) healthy, financially secure families utah has one of the highest bankruptcy rates in the nation. Research and outreach will focus on family financial management and strategies to help households achieve greater security and resilience. (6) youth development utahs higher-than-average birth rate results in a rapidly G rowing youth population. Research will explore the factors influencing education, growth, and well being, and identify pathways to support youth as they transition into healthy, contributing adults. (7) community resilience tensions between private and public landowners, and between urban and rural populations, are increasing. Strong communities depend on thoughtful planning and investment in critical infrastructure such as education, health care, childcare, recreation, and family support. Research in this area will provide evidence to guide communities in adapting to current and future challenges.