Since 1882, the university of tennessee agresearch (formerly the tennessee agricultural experiment station) has served as the backbone of tennessee's agri-forestry economy through research,…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Tennessee UT AG Research $2,588,186 on October 1, 2025, under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act program (CFDA 10.203), a formula grant supporting agricultural research across broad disciplines including crop and livestock production, soil and water management, forestry, aquaculture, nutrition, and rural development.

UT AG Research conducts solution-oriented agricultural research and disseminates findings to farmers, allied industries, and consumers through its network of ten research and education centers spanning diverse geographies and production systems across Tennessee. The organization operates roughly 40,000 acres of field laboratories where researchers conduct trials under real-world conditions and host approximately 20 field days annually attracting tens of thousands of participants. More than 850 faculty, staff, and graduate students work across seven academic departments and one school of natural resources, with about 150 faculty holding research appointments. Strategic priorities under the AgResearch Strategic Action Plan include balanced portfolio management of integrated programs, collaborative team development, structured support for innovative concepts, and targeted investments to sustain research capacity.

The award obligates $2,588,186 with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Work is performed in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hatch funds may be carried forward up to one year beyond the fiscal year of appropriation without prior approval, with at least 25 percent directed to multistate collaborative research addressing regional or national agricultural challenges.

Since 1882, the university of tennessee agresearch (formerly the tennessee agricultural experiment station) has served as the backbone of tennessee's agri-forestry economy through research, innovation, and application. As the state's top industry, agri-forestry contributes $103 billion annually to tennessee's economy. Working in tandem with UT extension, more than 850 agresearch faculty, staff, and graduate students address challenges facing agriculture and natural resources through solution-oriented research and dissemination of knowledge to farmers, allied industries, and consumers. UT agresearch operates ten research and education centers (RECS) across tennessee, covering diverse geographies, production systems, crops, and livestock. These 40,000 acres of field laboratories allow researchers to conduct trials under real world conditions and serve as platforms for outreach through roughly 20 field days each year, attracting tens of thousands of participants from across the state, region, and beyond. The RECS also provide hands-on learning for college students and youth. Agresearch encompasses seven academic departments and one school of natural resources, with about 150 faculty holding research appointments. Guided by the UT institute of agriculture's a decade of excellence (2018-2028) and growing greatness (2025-2030) strategic plans, UT agresearch has established the agresearch strategic action plan (ASAP) as a roadmap to meet state and national needs. ASAP focuses on balancing a portfolio of integrated, interdisciplinary programs; cultivating collaborative teams; advancing innovative concepts with structured support; and sustaining research capacity through targeted investments. Four thematic integrated programs address complex, emerging challenges: UT one health initiative - a UT system-wide program housed within agresearch that advances human, animal, plant, and environmental health to promote economic growth and ecosystem resilience at local, national, and global levels. Precision and digital agriculture - a transdisciplinary effort incorporating artificial intelligence, sensing technologies (e.g., drones and robotics), and data analytics to enhance production efficiency, conserve finite natural resources, reduce labor demands, and improve profitability. Projects span plant and animal systems, enabling producers to make informed, data driven decisions. Agricultural genomics and synthetic biology - a transformational initiative advancing productivity and resilience in plants and animals through genetic innovation. Research focuses on disease and drought resistance, water-use efficiency, yield improvement, and mitigation of wildlife damage, positioning tennessee at the forefront of next-generation crop and livestock development. Bioeconomy advancement - an interdisciplinary program creating sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials from renewa BLE or stranded biomass resources. The circular bioeconomy system (CBS), a convergent research initiative between UT/utia and OAK ridge national laboratory, develops technologies that convert biomass (e.g., miscanthus grass) grown on marginal lands into materials for automotive, packaging, and construction industries-stimulating rural economic growth across tennessee and the region. Through these integrated initiatives, UT agresearch enhances the sustainability, profitability, and resilience of tennessee's agricultural and natural resource sectors, ensuring that research-based innovation continues to drive the state's economic vitality and environmental stewardship into the future