Federal Grant Award Summary

Virginia State University received a $217,698 formula grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202, also known as McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The award funds the development and implementation of the Agroforestry Research and Innovation Center (ARIC), a collaborative initiative that integrates research, education, and extension services to advance sustainable forestry and natural resources management in Virginia.

The ARIC initiative delivers integrated research and outreach services organized around six core domains: agroforestry systems innovation and demonstration, market development and economic resilience, technology and data-driven resource management, environmental stewardship and climate resilience, education and workforce development, and policy integration for sustainable land use planning. A key deliverable is the establishment of a demonstration area at Randolph Farm serving as a living laboratory where farmers, landowners, and students can evaluate integrated land-use systems including alley cropping, silvo-pasture, forest farming, and riparian buffer restoration. The center will develop validated agroforestry practices and technologies that enhance productivity while creating market pathways for non-timber forest products, including medicinal plants, mushrooms, herbs, and specialty crops, thereby connecting forest management with economic opportunity and environmental stewardship.