Famu/viticulture center is the owner for the next 20 years of the IP for four (4) new grape cultivars and facilitator of the 1ST in florida and among the 1890 universities system new academic…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Florida A & M University $299,269 on February 1, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to establish a pilot grapevine nursery and develop four new grape cultivars.

FAMU will own intellectual property rights to the four cultivars for 20 years and will launch the first grape and wine sciences academic concentration within Florida's 1890 university system. The nursery serves as a research hub for grapevine breeding, disease resistance, and cultivation techniques, with experimentation focused on ecological solutions to common grower challenges including pest infestations and soil fertility through precision agriculture and artificial intelligence applications. The university will generate revenue through royalties and sales from patented cultivars and service fees for clean planting stock propagation.

The project delivers student experiential learning in grapevine propagation, vineyard management, and vineyard establishment, along with applied research internships designed to prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals. FAMU will conduct work at its Tallahassee, Florida location with performance extending through January 31, 2029. The award supports the executive order to strengthen HBCUs by enhancing educational capacity and workforce preparation in key industries.

Famu/viticulture center is the owner for the next 20 years of the IP for four (4) new grape cultivars and facilitator of the 1ST in florida and among the 1890 universities system new academic concentration in grape and wine sciences. Grapevine nursery production is the foundation for any grape and wine enterprise. Florida's industry generates $ 31 billion in economic input and provides more than 266000 jobs. By leveraging cutting-edge research educational initiatives and industry partnerships we aim to establish pilot grapevine nursery with a lasting impact on agriculture stewardship student training and regional economic development: (i) to serve as a hub for advancement in research and discovery for grapevine breeding disease resistance and cultivation techniques. Experimentation will focus on developing better ecological solutions to common challenges faced by grape growers including pest infestations soil fertility, spatial and temporal variables by demonstrating the advantage of precision agriculture using AI machine learning applications. (II) to provide much-needed experiential learning opportunities for students at florida a & m university offering hands-on training in grapevine propagation management and vineyard establishment. (III) to engage students in applied research projects and internships and equip the next generation of agricultural professionals with the skills and expertise needed to thrive in any area of the industry. (IV) to give the university a competitive edge by including industry and precision agriculture in our research portfolio. The pilot nursery will be an income-generating program with royalty /sales from famu's patented cultivars and service fees for grapevine clean planting stock. This project supports the executive order to bolster hbcus by enhancing their capacity for high-quality education and improving workforce preparation in key industries.