The USDA announced awards totaling nearly $19M for research projects on food safety. Thirty-six grantees (some with multiple projects) were selected for funding, and all will focus on ensuring the availability of a “safe and nutritious food supply while maintaining American agriculture competitiveness.” The awards were made through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and are authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
The University of California, Davis, received three awards totaling more than $1.7M from three different sub-categories of funded work, including effective mitigation strategies for antimicrobial resistance; improving food safety; and improving food quality.
Agri-Pulse reports:
“Increasing food safety continues to be a major focus for USDA, as it directly impacts the health and well-being of all Americans,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. “Funding provided to universities supports discoveries of new ways that we can prevent foodborne illnesses and increase the safety of our food production industry.”
The UC Davis researchers are part of UC’s larger efforts focusing on one of the most compelling challenges of our time: how to sustainably and nutritiously feed a growing world population. To learn more about the University of California’s Global Food Initiative, click here.
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