New Approaches To Address Climate Change Impact On US Agricultulre

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced the availability of $8.4 million in available funding to study and develop new approaches for the agriculture sector to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. The funding is available through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

The goal of the AFRI Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area is to reduce the use of energy, nitrogen, and water, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Since 2009, more than $150 million in research and extension grants have been awarded through AFRI in support of efforts to minimize the impacts of climate change.

Within this program, NIFA also will provide funds to design a cadre of community-based volunteers who would be trained to become “climate masters,” whose work will help their communities become better at adapting and becoming resilient to climate change. This effort could connect with state cooperative extension efforts and support the USDA Climate Hubs.

Applicants for fiscal year 2016 should focus on how land-use affects and is affected by climate change. Applications are due November 17 for climate and land use projects. Climate masters outreach and extension applications are due September 14.

Source:uga.edu