The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded Navajo Technical University (NTU) a $650,000 grant under the 1994 Institutions Research Grants Program (CFDA 10.227) to support applied agricultural research projects. The 3-year grant, awarded on December 1, 2023, will enable NTU to leverage its expertise in hydroponics and work with the Navajo Nation community to address research questions on hydroponic food production under seasonal environments. Key outcomes will include training the Navajo community on operating, maintaining, and implementing food safety practices for hydroponic systems, as well as providing hands-on learning experiences for at least 25 NTU students. The research will also characterize the microbiome of soilless production systems and harvested crops to inform plant protection, nutrient conservation, and nutritional quality.