Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply

NUSC groupThe ability to feed populations is at the forefront on the local, national, and global level. Through our Strategic Vision on sustainable agriculture, CAHNR is working to address this challenge. We leverage our expertise in animal science, nutrition, and plant science to help tackle food insecurity, growing a vibrant agricultural economy in Connecticut, and other issues now and in the future.

Building on current momentum, the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Supply SVIC continues exploring ways we can support Connecticut’s residents, producers, businesses, and consumers. The SVIC focuses on four identified tracks and strategically leverages CAHNR’s research, extension, and education expertise.

  • Sustainable approaches to agriculture
  • Improve local food access and affordability
  • Agrifood innovation and economic growth
  • Workforce development.

Examples

A $10 million USDA Poultry Sustainability grant, the largest CAHNR has received to date is safeguarding animal, human, and environmental health. The multi-institution project led by CAHNR is improving broiler production by relying on environmentally friendly approaches and no antibiotics.

An array of federally funded research focuses on sustainable and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to achieve carbon neutrality on our campus and beyond. The advances in CSA management evaluation and promotion help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil health, and climate resilience while maintaining sustainable food production.

Teens are exploring agricultural biotechnology careers with UConn 4-H, the UConn Extension youth development program. A grant-funded project is helping youth build knowledge and career awareness as they learn about how biotechnology supports crops through climate resilience, CRISPR technology, and basic lab techniques.

A study highlighted the current challenges Connecticut’s farmers and agricultural producers are facing, and how CAHNR can help them through our research, teaching, and extension mission areas. Climate change, the high cost of production, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles were all cited as challenges. CAHNR faculty and staff use the study findings and other needs assessments to provide resources and extension education.

A suite of programs addresses food security in the state, from community nutrition programs to farm-to-school programming, and local food resources for urban agriculture, as well as new and beginning farmers, and aquaculture producers. UConn Extension leads these initiatives, harnessing the power of CAHNR’s research for statewide audiences.

A research project is turning seafood waste into value-added products and has a provisional patent for commercialization. Researchers are partnering with an agricultural company to test if chitin, the seafood waste product, at different molecular weights and nano chitin, can be used for crop production. Projects include innovation in algal biotechnology to capture industrial CO2 and produce nutritious biomass.