research

National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, is a time to celebrate the rich history, cultural diversity, and contributions from Hispanic communities. USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area is home to over 8,000 of the world’s best and brightest minds in agricultural science, data, and innovation. This month, REE is spotlighting several brilliant colleagues who are pioneering change at USDA and within their communities.

This month, nearly 200,000 K-12 students from across Philadelphia head back to school, filling classrooms and lunchrooms across the city with excitement for the new year ahead.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are underway and athletes from around the world are competing for medals in individual events ranging from archery to wrestling and team events from artistic swimming to water polo. Becoming an Olympian requires more than natural ability, it takes proper coaching, endless practice, perseverance, and, of course, good nutrition. A common thread that connects top-notch athletes from around the globe is eating a healthy balance of foods.

Imagine investigators navigating city streets, collecting clues on a hidden health threat from the city’s furry inhabitants. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) living in New York City are helping to uncover the secrets of zoonotic diseases – illnesses that move between animals and humans. This is critical because early detection and response to zoonotic and emerging diseases while still in animals is essential in limiting or preventing human outbreaks.

Dr. Aaron Dossey has taken what began as a Facebook hobby of photographing insects and turned it into a successful research business, thanks in part to funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA’s) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

We are at a pivotal moment for USDA and U.S. agriculture.

As I reflect on Black History Month, I think about the tremendous accomplishments and contributions made by Black Americans. I think of the past, present and future to acknowledge how far we’ve come, where we are now, and the challenges ahead.

1890 Land-grant Universities (LGUs) are 19 historically black universities established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890. These institutions strengthen research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences by building the institutional capacities of the 1890 Institutions.