Aquaculture plays a significant role in the world's development by promoting economic growth while reducing poverty

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Florida A & M University $597,755 on January 1, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to develop aquaculture education and research capacity through December 31, 2028.

FAMU, the only public historically Black college and university in Florida and located in the world's fishing capital, will use the funding to address gaps in aquaculture training and research availability to its approximately 10,000-student body. The project responds to challenges facing the catfish industry, including rising production costs from high feed prices, labor shortages, and competition from imported and low-quality fillets. Work is performed at FAMU's Tallahassee, Florida campus. The award supports FAMU's mission as a 1890 Land-Grant Institution to strengthen research, Extension, and teaching capacity in food and agricultural sciences and aligns with the Seafood Executive Order.

The success of the aquaculture industry and the recognized contribution IT makes to global food security rely on meeting some of its limitations. For instance, the rising cost of production due to the high feed price, labor shortage, and competition with imported and low-quality fillets are some of the challenges facing the catfish industry. Florida agricultural and mechanical university (famu) is a historically black college/university (hbcu) with a student population of about 10000. Famu is the only public hbcu in the state of florida and is in the world's fishing capital. The state leads in recreational fishing and has a strong aquaculture industry, yet training in aquaculture education and research is unavailable to famu students. This project clearly supports the seafood executive order.