The new jersey agricultural experiment station (NJAES) and rutgers cooperative extension (RCE) develop and deliver practical science-based solutions that contribute to agricultural sustainability, the…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey $5.811 million under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) on October 1, 2025.

The funding supports the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension to develop and deliver practical science-based solutions through research and community outreach across five priority areas: building sustainable and resilient communities, ensuring healthy outcomes in food, nutrition, and health, ensuring positive outcomes for youth, maintaining viable agriculture and aquaculture, and protecting and sustaining natural resources. Deliverables include educational programs and training, technology transfer, policy recommendations, public-oriented and peer-reviewed publications, and spin-off company formation. Work is performed statewide through centers, institutes, off-campus research stations, and cooperative extension offices in New Jersey.

The award addresses USDA-NIFA science priorities including combating weather variability, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources, managing pesticide-resistant pests and pathogens, and increasing food security. Extension programming delivers evidence-based nutrition education to low-income families and youth across high-poverty counties, with curriculum covering diet quality, food resource management, food safety, and physical activity. Research focuses on aquaculture breeding and disease resistance, forest ecosystem health, urban forestry management, and arthropod vector biology in response to ocean warming and acidification pressures.

Period of performance runs through September 30, 2030. Place of performance is New Jersey.

The new jersey agricultural experiment station (NJAES) and rutgers cooperative extension (RCE) develop and deliver practical science-based solutions that contribute to agricultural sustainability, the health and wellness of communities, and the environment, through research and community outreach. The critical issues that stakeholders have identified fall into five categories and form the basis of the NJAES/RCE work plan: build sustainable and resilient communities; ensure healthy outcomes: food, nutrition, and health; ensure positive outcomes for our youth; maintain viable agriculture and aquaculture; protect and sustain our resources. NJAES and RCE support research and extension projects and programs with our federal appropriations focused on combating weather variability, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources, dealing with the emergence of pesticide-resistant pests and pathogens, and increasing food security which is consistent with USDA-nifa science priority areas. NJAES and RCE are committed to making resources, expertise, and programs available to all NJ residents, businesses, and communities. This is manifested in active efforts to increase access to all NJAES programs and resources. Through our research and extension programs, we use innovative approaches to apply the land-grant model to support a sustainable agricultural and food system at the urban/suburban fringe; protect the state's natural resources; sustainably develop NJ's human and community capital; and address nutrition, health, and wellness concerns. Research development findings are delivered via educational programs and training, technology transfer, policy recommendations, public-oriented publications, peer-reviewed professional/scientific publications, and the formation of spin-off companies. This is achieved statewide through our centers, institutes, offcampus research stations, and cooperative extension offices. NJAES-supported school of environmental and biological sciences (SEBS) faculty have access to state-of-the-art research methods and technologies. These include land, sea, and air-based remote sensing robotic technologies; efficient genomic sequencing methods and equipment for use in techniques; mass spectrometry systems for natural product analysis (including gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and ION trap systems; and more to gather and analyze data. Extension specialists conduct applied research studies within NJ communities, and at agriculture and aquaculture farms and laboratories. They identify and assess relevant research findings and convey this information directly or through RCE county agents to stakeholders. This integration of research and extension delivers sound science-based information and educational programs that benefit communities, individuals, and industries. NJAES-supported researchers also actively collaborate with their peers at other land-grant institutions to address issues that are regional or national in scope. RCE county agents provide local educational leadership to deliver science-based programs in agriculture, resource management, family and community health sciences, and 4-H youth development. County agents are often involved in applied research projects, whose findings will be disseminated through RCE educational programming. NJAES/RCE is deeply committed to reaching out and engaging with all our NJ communities. One of the primary goals of this effort is educational programming that understands the needs of youth and families. The office of urban extension and engagement was established to increase the coordination of programs and facilitate collaborations to address food security, individual and community health, resource stewardship, urban agriculture and food chains, environmental planning and design, and other concerns facing our state's urban communities.