Conduct transformational basic and applied research, which blends cutting-edge science and policy and impacts the future of our state, the nation and the world

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the University of Missouri System $2.466 million on October 1, 2025, under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act (CFDA 10.203), a formula grant program supporting state agricultural experiment station research.

The award funds transformational basic and applied research conducted across laboratories, plant growth facilities, farms, and ranches in Columbia, Missouri, spanning four priority areas: sustainable and regenerative agricultural production systems that improve soil health and water use efficiency, support diverse crops, and promote biodiversity and resiliency; natural resources and environmental research including climate change, ecosystem health and restoration, soil health, water quality and quantity, habitat evaluation, and green technology; ecosystem health addressing biophysical and socioecological dimensions such as climate, air, water, energy, wildlife, food, soil health, and human and animal welfare; and workforce development and economic opportunity. Research activities include basic and applied work on plant and animal genetics, grazing systems, environmental chemistry, nature-based recreation, ecosystem services valuation, and sustainable landscapes.

The award obligates $2.466 million for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Hatch Act formula funds may be carried over for up to one year after the appropriation year without prior approval, provided they are fully expended by that deadline.

Our research is focused on (1) sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, (2) natural resources and the environment, (3) health & healthy futures, and (4) workforce development and economic opportunity. Activities: (1) agricultural production systems are challenged by changing climate and other threats. We seek to conduct basic and applied research in laboratories, plant growth facilities and farms and ranches that advances sustainable and regenerative agricultural production practices that will improve soil health and water use efficiency, support diverse crops, promote biodiversity and resiliency, improve plant and animal genetics, and promote diverse grazing systems and approaches. (2) missouri enjoys the unique distinction as a conservation leader in the country and are blessed with a diversity of natural resources like few other states. However, these resources are experiencing increased pressure because of several biotic and abiotic stressors. We seek to initiate cutting edge interdisciplinary research related to climate change, ecosystem health and restoration, soil health, water quality and quantity, environmental chemistry, habitat evaluation, nature-based recreation, valuing ecosystem services, green technology including alternative and sustainable energy, sustainable landscapes, environmental informatics among others. (3) the health of earth's ecosystems has deteriorated so much that the public is concerned about a loss of life support for all organisms. Ecosystem health includes both the biophysical and socioecological dimensions. The biophysical realm includes climate, air, the environment, water, energy, wildlife, food, soil health among others. The socioeconomic aspects include economic sustainability, social services, recreation and human and animal health and welfare. We seek to revitalize and expand our environmental and natural resources and animal, and human health related programs, strengthen partnerships with the scientific community and stakeholders, and provide a translational platform with focus on environmental sustainability, animal and human welfare and health, economic development, and policy reforms. (4) missouri is an agrarian state supporting a $93.7 billion agriculture industry. Over the next decade, the agriculture, food and forestry industries in missouri are projected to generate 13,000 job openings annually. Technological advances, including smart farms and big data and data analytics, have created several new job opportunities. However, finding skilled labor continues to be a challenge. We seek to provide hands-on training through basic and applied research related to agriculture production and processing, food and nutrition, natural resources management, and agribusiness and agricultural policy that will produce a well-trained workforce for the agriculture industry of the present and future and further the economic impact of agriculture. Deliverables and outcomes: this project will generate scientific knowledge that will advance agriculture, food and natural resources for a healthy future; better crops and cropping syst EMS that will be resilient to changing climate and extreme weather events; better understanding and quantification of environmental benefits and ecosystem services of sustainable and regenerative cropping; and, economic and policy analysis that can help farmers/r anchers/policy makers make appropriate decisions. All the above outcomes will also generate peer reviewed publications, graduate theses and dissertations, professional presentations, demonstration trials, new varieties, invention disclosures and patents and data and materials. Beneficiaries: the direct intended beneficiaries are farmers and ranchers in missouri primarily, but overall, IT benefits the citizens of the state. Subrecipients: n/a