The growing global innovators in agriculture project aims to deepen youth engagement inagriculture, empowering them to become agricultural learners, leaders, innovators, global citizens, and agents of…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $750,000 to the Regents of the University of Minnesota on May 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to deliver the Growing Global Innovators in Agriculture Project, a four-year youth engagement program running from fall 2025 through April 30, 2030.

The project introduces 1,545 youth directly across grades 3–13 from urban, suburban, rural, and tribal locations—with priority to underserved communities—to agricultural technologies including hydroponics, crop scouting, soil and irrigation systems, and food preservation. The program also reaches 6,800 youth indirectly through public events and curriculum distribution. Year 1 focuses on curriculum development; subsequent years deliver four in-person and two virtual 4-H Ag Lab experiences annually, including project learning, college immersion experiences, and industry visits. The project hosts three public 4-H Plant Science Project Days and 4-H Crop Scouting events annually. Program design escalates youth engagement through stages: fueling interest, developing skills, cultivating authentic involvement, and deepening learning through mentorships. The project aligns with AFRI priority areas in plant health and production and food safety, nutrition, and health, and supports workforce development in agriculture.

Work is performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The University of Minnesota serves as the recipient and administers the award through its Office of Sponsored Projects Administration.

The growing global innovators in agriculture project aims to deepen youth engagement inagriculture, empowering them to become agricultural learners, leaders, innovators, global citizens, and agents of change, with a focus on future workforce opportunities. Building on past successesand supporting the plant health and production and plant products, and the food safety, nutrition, and health afri priority areas, the project will introduce youth to diverse agricultural technologiessuch as hydroponics, crop scouting, soil and irrigation systems, and food preservation technologies.over four years, the project will directly engage 1545 youth (1200 grades 3-9; 320 grades 3-13, AND25 grades 10-13) from urban, suburban, rural, and tribal locations, with a priority on underservedcommunities. Objectives will be achieved through a four-year program design that engages youth inactivities at increasing levels of intensity, beginning by fueling their interest in agriculture, thendeveloping their skills, cultivating authentic involvement, and deepening learning throughmentorships. Year 1 will focus on developing curriculum, followed by implementation of 4 in-person and 2 virtual 4-H AG lab experiences each year. These will include project learning, collegeimmersion experiences, and urban/rural agriculture industry visits. The project will also host threepublic 4-H plant science project days and 4-H crop scouting events annually. The project willindirectly serve 6800 youth through these events and curriculum distribution.collaborating partners are committed to these goals, ensuring the program's success. The projectwill run from fall 2025 to fall 2029, with sustainability efforts to continue beyond the fundingperiod.