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Copper May be the Key to ‘Growing’ More Land and Feeding the World

August 23, 2018 Scott Elliott, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

You know what they say about land – they’re not making any more of it. In fact, when it comes to agriculture, the amount of available farmland is shrinking. When you couple that with a world population of nearly 10 billion by 2050, it’s not unusual to ask if there will be enough food to eat.

Research and Science

Unpacking the Cornucopia to Celebrate the Fall Harvest and the Fruits of Plant Breeding

October 17, 2017 Sarah Federman, AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, USDA Office of the Chief Scientist and Ann-Marie Thro, National Program Leader for Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

It’s that time of year again when many of us adorn our homes with autumn décor, and our tables with the bounties of a fall harvest. Consider the cornucopia. This centerpiece is symbolic of the food and thanks that we share with our friends and family. Inside, we find examples of grains, fruits, and...

Research and Science

Training Growers, Growing Trainers: Preparing for New Food Safety Requirements

November 15, 2016 Elanor Starmer, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator

Are you preparing to meet the new Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety rule standards? Have you heard about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)? Maybe you’ve heard that they can get buyers to notice your products and improve your access to the market place - but you need more...

Health and Safety

Protecting Your Family from Food Spoilage

March 25, 2016 Argyris Magoulas, Food Safety Education Staff, Food Safety and Inspection Service

March is National Nutrition Month. Throughout the month, USDA will be highlighting results of our efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans and supporting the health of our next generation. What happens to foods when they spoil and are they dangerous to eat? What causes foods...

Health and Safety

NIFA Helps Chart National Course for Healthy Nutrition

March 24, 2016 Stephanie Pearl, Science Communicator, USDA NIFA

Since the economic downturn of 2008, sufficient access to healthy foods has been a serious problem for many Americans. As a result, more than 17 million households confront hunger throughout the year while more than 12 million children are obese. To address these problems, the U.S. Department of...

Food and Nutrition

USDA Innovations to Reduce Food Waste Help the Farmers' Bounty Go Farther

February 02, 2016 Elizabeth Stulberg, Agricultural Science Fellow, Office of the Chief Scientist

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. We’re all fortunate to live in a country that has one of the most productive and efficient food production systems in the...

Food and Nutrition Research and Science

Shiitake Mushrooms: A Commercial Forest Farming Enterprise

January 21, 2016 Kate MacFarland, USDA National Agroforestry Center, U.S. Forest Service

Helping landowners care for their forests and strengthen local economies is an important goal of the U.S. Forest Service, USDA National Agroforestry Center and their partnering organizations. According to Ken Mudge of Cornell University, any farmer with a woodlot and the drive to diversify should...

Forestry

In New York, Youth Learn Leadership by Doing

January 05, 2016 Scott Elliott, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. In Binghamton, New York, at-risk youth are learning to take charge of their lives by working on a variety of community...

Research and Science

Bioenergy, Bioproducts Education Program Builds Student Confidence, Equips Educators

August 06, 2015 Kelly Flynn, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Being an educator is in Morina Ricablanca’s blood. Growing up in a family of teachers in the Philippines, she knew she would someday pursue a career in education. Ricablanca participated in an outreach program assisting troubled youth while attending Manuel L. Quezon University Law School in Manila...

Initiatives Energy Research and Science

USDA Goes All in for Produce Safety Outreach

May 29, 2015 Lorenzo A. Tribbett, AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program Specialty Crops Inspection Division Director

For the produce industry, the summer and fall of 2015 is more than a chance to share a new season of crops with customers. It’s when several of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) laws will become final. FSMA will make significant changes to the country’s food...

Health and Safety
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