Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** inter american university of puerto…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** inter american university of puerto rico, barranquitas campus (iaupr-BC) and aguadilla campus (AC) with industrial partner corteva agriscience, aim to lead the goals of nifa-USDA hispanic serving institution program. A collaborative effort of institutes with support from purdue university will be addressing an educational priority area of nifa, namely agriculture systems and technology, in the central region of the island. The vulnerability of the island's supply-chains, that became evident during recent natural disasters, has shown the increased need for food security. Therefore, a focus growth on agricultural practices represents an opportunity for the islands' prosperity and the welfare of its habitants. The first educational goal of the project is to attract and support undergraduate students from underrepresented groups by developing new course in associate degree in controlled environmental agriculture (CEA).iaupr BC has an industrial partner corteva agrisciences to facilitate an intensive industrial training experience. We will graduate 45 students through training by experience-based learning, modern laboratory activities and outreach activities. The second goal is to maximize the outreach potential of the project with an off-campus training facility for local communities in the form of an agricultural mobile laboratory. The outcomes of the project will enhance educational and training opportunities that will impact about 109 students in 4 years. This will facilitate the development of a pool of agricultural workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills, rooted in the core aims of the nifa-USDA program and establishment of agricultural educational programs in rural regions of puerto rico.