To assist socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers in mississippi in owning and operating farm businesses and engaging youth in agriculture programs

This $750,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Advocacy and Outreach under the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (CFDA 10.443) program is intended to assist socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers in Mississippi in owning and operating farm businesses, as well as engaging youth in agricultural programs. The grant recipient, SR1 (doing business as Scientific Research), is a minority-owned non-profit organization based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, that focuses on eliminating disparities in health, education, and technology through partnerships and research.

Key services to be delivered under this 3-year award, which runs from Sep 2024 to Sep 2027, include education, training, technical assistance, and outreach to Black, Latinx, and Indigenous beginning farmers on planning, launching, and sustaining independent organic farm businesses. SR1 will also work to improve access to local foods in USDA Child Nutrition Programs and provide food safety education and conservation technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners in the region.