Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of California, Davis received a $591,500 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), awarded January 15, 2026, with a completion date of January 14, 2030. This research initiative addresses the critical gap in monitoring and predicting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly referred to as "forever chemicals"—in drinking water and agricultural water supplies. The project directly supports the Agricultural Experiment Station's mission in soil and water conservation, human nutrition, and rural community development.

The primary deliverable is the development of a data analytic model and prediction tool to estimate PFAS concentrations in agricultural and drinking water supplies where direct testing is unavailable. Project objectives focus on compiling existing datasets, validating prediction tool performance, and creating an econometric approach to assess the interrelationship between natural resources, environmental quality, and agricultural sustainability. This work responds to recent EPA regulatory actions on PFAS contamination and documented human health and economic costs to agriculture, providing rural communities and agricultural stakeholders with accessible analytical capabilities to evaluate water safety risks where traditional monitoring resources are limited.