MISSISSIPPI RANKS AMONG THE TOP TEN FORESTED STATES IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 65% OF ITS LAND COVERED BY FORESTS, AND OVER 70% OF THAT LAND OWNED BY NON-INDUSTRIAL PRIVATE LANDOWNERS. DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF HARDWOOD FOREST RESOURCES, SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND WOODLAND OWNERS IN MISSISSIPPI SELDOM CONSIDER MUSHROOM CULTIVATION AS A SOURCE OF FRESH FOOD OR AS AN INCOME-GENERATING VENTURE WHILE TIMBER MATURES. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ENGAGE MISSISSIPPI'S SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND WOODLAND OWNERS (SSFWOS) IN FOREST FARMING BY PROMOTING THE CULTIVATION OF SPECIALTY MUSHROOMS, SUCH AS SHIITAKE (LENTINULA EDODES) AND OYSTER (PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS), WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAIN FARM INCOME. THESE MUSHROOMS ARE RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY AS LOW-CALORIE FOODS RICH IN VITAMINS, MINERALS, FIBER, AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES BENEFICIAL FOR MANAGING CHRONIC DISEASES. FURTHERMORE, MUSHROOMS CONVERT FOREST AND AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES AND BYPRODUCTS INTO NUTRITIOUS, FUNCTIONAL FOODS, MAKING THEM ESPECIALLY VALUABLE IN REGIONS AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS FEDERAL AWARD IS TO ENHANCE FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO SMALL-SCALE FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS BY TRAINING THEM IN AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES THAT INTEGRATE MUSHROOM CULTIVATION. WITH PROJECT FUNDING, WE WILL CONDUCT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO DEMONSTRATE THE CULTIVATION OF SEVERAL OUTDOOR EDIBLE MUSHROOMS USING LIGNOCELLULOSIC WASTE MATERIALS SUCH AS DOWNED LOGS AND AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES. TARGETED MUSHROOM SPECIES INCLUDE LENTINULA EDODES, PHOLIOTA NAMEKO, STROPHARIA RUGOSO-ANNULATA, AGARICUS SUBRUFESCENS, CLITOCYBE NUDA, AND VARIOUS OYSTER SPECIES, ALL OF WHICH POSSESS ECONOMIC AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE HANDS-ON FIELD DAYS, TECHNICAL TRAINING, AND IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS ON FOREST FARMING, EMPHASIZING USDA GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP), HARMONIZED FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS, AND POSTHARVEST HANDLING TECHNIQUES. TRAINING SESSIONS WILL ALSO COVER THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS SUCH AS ALLEY CROPPING, SILVOPASTURE, RIPARIAN BUFFERS, WINDBREAKS, AND OTHER PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY AND FOREST HEALTH. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE GUIDED ON HOW TO OBTAIN GAP AND POSTHARVEST AUDIT CERTIFICATIONS, ENHANCING THEIR ACCESS TO RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL MARKETS. DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE A SERIES OF TRAINING WORKSHOPS, FACT SHEETS, DEMONSTRATION PLOTS, AND FOLLOW-UP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENCOURAGE PRACTICAL ADOPTION. THE INTENDED OUTCOMES ARE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE, ADOPTION, AND CERTIFICATION RATES AMONG PARTICIPANTS. BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE FARMERS, FOREST LANDOWNERS, EXTENSION AND OUTREACH PERSONNEL, USDA AGENCY STAFF, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AND PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS, ALL OF WHOM WILL BENEFIT FROM INCREASED AWARENESS, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE AGROFORESTRY AND FOREST FARMING SYSTEMS. EXPECTED RESULTS INCLUDE INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN AGROFORESTRY TRAINING ACTIVITIES, HIGHER ADOPTION OF MUSHROOM CULTIVATION USING WASTE WOOD AND AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES, AND MORE SSFWOS OBTAINING FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS, THEREBY STRENGTHENING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND CREATING NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES.