Federal Grant Award Summary

North Dakota State University received a $750,000 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 on May 1, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2030. The award funds "Tech for Tomorrow (TFT): Cultivating Innovators in Agriculture," a multi-year youth education program designed to address the documented shortage of skilled workers in agricultural technology and science fields. The program delivers weeklong summer academies on NDSU's campus immersed in agricultural technology, biotechnology, and precision agriculture, complemented by satellite academies deployed in community settings to expand access and reduce participation barriers. Through these academies, participating youth engage in hands-on learning, create outreach materials, collaborate with industry professionals, and solve real-world agricultural problems.

The TFT program aims to generate four primary outcomes: increased knowledge and applied skills in agricultural technology and biotechnology; development of 21st-century competencies including collaboration, problem-solving, and communication; heightened awareness of career opportunities in agriculture; and improved understanding of agricultural technology's safety and benefits. By targeting youth during critical career decision-making periods and exposing them to modern agricultural innovation, the initiative directly addresses the anticipated gap between job openings and qualified candidates, with projections indicating 21% of the 107,000 agricultural jobs expected between 2025 and 2030 will require science and technology expertise.