Activities to be performed will include research efforts will seek to 1) increase nutritive value, improve food safety, and reduce the risk associated with increased competition for water resources;…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Oklahoma State University $1,817,767 under the Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act (CFDA 10.203) on October 1, 2025.

The award funds agricultural research activities designed to increase nutritive value and improve food safety while reducing risks associated with competition for water resources. The research will develop systems to maintain economically sustainable production levels and identify economically and environmentally resilient methods of pest control and invasive species management affecting Oklahoma's agriculture, environment, economy, and population. Pest targets include those affecting animal and plant agricultural production, turf, ornamentals, human health, food safety, conservation, and natural resources including forests, lakes, streams, rangeland, and wildlife. The award also supports development of new products derived from agricultural and forestry products grown in Oklahoma. Expected outcomes include results that enhance safe food production while improving efficient use of Oklahoma's natural resources, with intended beneficiaries including Oklahoma citizens and those in neighboring states where resulting practice changes prove relevant.

The award period extends from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Work is performed in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Under the Hatch Act formula grant structure, funds are allocated to eligible state agricultural experiment stations and may be carried over up to one year beyond the fiscal year of appropriation without prior approval.

Activities to be performed will include research efforts will seek to 1) increase nutritive value, improve food safety, and reduce the risk associated with increased competition for water resources; 2) develop systems capable of maintaining economically sustainable levels of production, and identify economically and environmentally resilient methods of pest control and invasive species that threaten oklahoma's agriculture, environment, economy and population to include pests affecting agricultural production (animal and plant), turf, ornamentals, human health, food safety, conservation and natural resources (e.g. forests, lakes, streams, rangeland, wildlife); and 3) develop new products that are derived from agricultural and forestry products grown in oklahoma. Expected outcomes will include results that will enhance safe food production while positively impacting the efficient use of oklahoma's natural resources. The intended beneficiaries of the research activities will be the citizens of the state of oklahoma primarily as well as those citizens in our neighboring states where our resulting changes in practices might be relevant.