The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $9.4 million to support 25 research and outreach projects that will help mitigate pests, weeds and diseases on farms and in communities. The awards are made through NIFA's Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (CPPM) and Integrated Pest Management program which have awarded more than $64.5 million since 2014.
"NIFA is making investments to ensure America's agriculture sector is able to rely on sound scientific approaches to increase production and ensure continued food security in the face of the many challenges including arthropod, weed and disease pests," says NIFA director Sonny Ramaswamy. "The Crop Protection and Pest Management Program has a history of developing new tools, best management practices and strategies for healthy crop systems while supporting communities with effective, affordable and environmentally sound solutions that reduce potential health risks."