The specific purpose of hatch multistate funding is to conduct research by institutions within a state and by institutions in multiple states to solve problems that concern more than one state

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Nebraska Board of Regents $3.002984 million under the Hatch Act Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations program (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025, for integrated research, education, and extension activities addressing agriculture, natural resources, climate, and human health challenges across Nebraska and multistate collaborative projects.

The University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) conducts research, teaching, and extension programming focused on food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. IANR integrates its faculty across departments and academic centers to develop solutions relevant to food supply, climate adaptation, natural resource management, waste reduction, workforce diversity, and economic development in Nebraska, where one in four jobs ties directly to agriculture or agribusiness. The institution operates under a 5-year strategic direction launched in 2024 to ensure Nebraska's competitiveness by contributing to global food security, addressing environmental conditions, managing dwindling natural resources, and building an inclusive workforce to tackle emerging agricultural and health challenges.

Award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, with place of performance in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Hatch Act formula grant requires that at least 25 percent of awarded funds support multistate research projects where institutions in multiple states collaborate to solve problems affecting more than one state. Hatch funds are expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; up to 100 percent may carry over for up to one year after the end of the appropriation year without prior approval.

Activities

The university of nebraska- lincoln (UNL) institute of agriculture and natural resources (ianr) is committed to people and the food, water and natural resources that sustain them. Ianr innovation in research, teaching, and extension places nebraska on the leading edge of food production, environmental stewardship, human nutrition, business development, and youth engagement. Ianr strives to integrate research, education and extension and partner with stakeholders to develop a diverse next generation workforce ready to tackle current and emerging challenges related to agriculture, natural resources, climate, and human health while ensuring an inclusive environment that encourages innov ation and entrepreneurship. Faculty from across ianr's departments and academic centers focus on areas of relevance and strengths that the institution as a whole can build upon. A 5-year strategic direction was launched in 2024 to ensure nebraska's competitiveness in a world of change and challenge. This visioning process determined how ianr would contribute to the critical need of doubling the world's food supply to feed over 9 billion people; address the shifting climate and environmental conditions; respond to the increasing need for fiber, feed and energy sources under dwindling natural resources; reduce waste; create a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment; and consider how to help increase economic income opportunities for communities and thus the long-term economic growth for nebraska. In nebraska, one in four jobs is directly tied to agriculture or agribusiness, and the state strives to increase job opportunities in this field of expertise. Ianr is positioned squarely at the nexus of food, energy, water, health, and community. In nebraska, these sectors are inseparably linked and they are vital to nebraska's ability to thrive. True to our land-grant miss ION, ianr works with nebraskans to increase access to a powerful combination of learning, research, and extension. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the capacity funding ianr receives is allocated within two key, critical issues to address the above focus areas. Resilient food production and ecological systems: this program focuses on using basic and applied research in the life/agricultural sciences to generate knowledge critical to maximizing productivity in animal/plant agriculture, engineering, natural resources, climate, and sustainable energy. Research efforts span the basic/fundamental to the applied, relating to crop/animal systems, bioenergy feedstocks, and the natural landscapes in which those systems exist. Fostering healthy and productive people: this program focuses on using basic and applied research in the life/agricultural sciences to generate knowledge critical to maximizing productivity in food sciences; business/community vitality; entrepreneurship; healthy living; and development and success of young children, youth, and families. Research efforts span the basic/fundamental to the applied/translational, relating to nutrition/health, food safety, early childhood, youth development, family strengthening, and community capacity building. For a comprehensive list of all outcomes, we welcome the review of ianr's annual report of accomplishments and results. Beneficiaries: as nebraska's residents are the primary beneficiaries and stakeholders, there is an ongoing, two-way dialogue to ensure that ianr's priorities reflect the needs of the state.