As the human population increases worldwide there is a growing demand to provide sufficient and nutritious food

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Delaware State University $600,000 on February 1, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to expand graduate students' knowledge and experience through supervised research and extension projects in animal, plant, natural resources, and nutritional sciences, and to develop students' soft and leadership skills through peer mentoring, leadership training, and dissemination of research data at conferences and extension workshops.

The award funds a collaborative effort between Delaware State University and Tuskegee University, both 1890 land-grant institutions, to strengthen the research, extension, and teaching capacity in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The project aligns with USDA high-priority areas in food safety and security, sustainable agriculture, and family and consumer sciences, and supports Executive Order 14283 on HBCUs to bolster workforce preparation in key industries.

Work is performed in Leipsic, Delaware, with a period of performance from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2029. The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program is designed to build the institutional teaching, research, and extension capacities of eligible 1890 land-grant institutions through cooperative programs with federal and non-federal entities.

As a result, there is an increase in the job market for individuals who are knowledgeable and trained in the areas of food agriculture, natural resources and human (fanh) sciences. Thus, we must develop a diverse workforce of well-trained agricultural scientists, natural resource managers and nutritional experts that can generate and implement innovative solutions. To develop an effective workforce that is well-trained knowledgeable and equipped we need to provide graduate students the opportunities to participate in experiential learning activities involving research and extension engagement. This will allow students to gain soft technical and research skills, so they are able to make the link between course work and practical applications in the work environment. The proposed project aims to: 1) expand graduate students' knowledge and experience through supervised research and extension projects in animal plant natural resources and/or nutritional sciences; and 2) develop students' soft and leadership skills through peer mentoring leadership training and dissemination of research data at conferences and extension workshops. These goals are aligned with both institutional goals and USDA high priority areas in food safety and security sustainable agriculture family and consumer sciences and others. This project is a collaborative effort including delaware state university and tuskegee university. Implementation will significantly enhance the research extension and teaching capacity at both institutions and increase the number of well-trained students pursuing a graduate degree in agricultural natural resources and nutritional sciences. This project aligned with the EO 14283 on hbcus to bolster workforce preparation in key industries.