Food Security
Ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, safe, abundant, and nutritious food.
Featured Food Security Impacts
Research and Extension ensure everyone has ample access to affordable, safe, nutritious food
Invasive pests damage crops, costing U.S. agriculture an estimated $30 billion annually. Pest management research and Extension are stabilizing the food supply chain. Efforts have […]
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Supporting meat and dairy industries
Meat and dairy provide critical protein and a wide variety of other products for consumers and represent economically important industries across the country, not just […]
The U.S. prepares for a potential screwworm outbreak
As a New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak spreads from Central America to Mexico, states in the Southwest are ramping up efforts to raise awareness among […]
Producers learn to manage for bird flu during outbreak
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, plagues the U.S. poultry industry. In addition to poultry impacts, the dairy industry experienced a spillover […]
Enhancing food safety with research and training
The United States food supply is among the safest in the world, but every day news stories report food recalls for a variety of safety […]
Safeguarding farms through improved biosecurity
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service has been stepping up producer education in biosecurity and agroterrorism, and pest and disease surveillance and control, to […]
Artificial intelligence helps protect from Avian influenza
In the fight against the costly impacts of avian influenza, protecting poultry flocks from contact with wild birds is an important deterrent. However, the methods […]
Using genetics for crop disease resistance
Pests of major crops, including wheat, soybean, potatoes, tomatoes and wine grapes, cost American producers billions in yield losses each year and raise prices for […]
New Robigus app allows viewers to track invasives, crop diseases worldwide
Plant diseases pose a global threat to food security, yet critical data on outbreaks are scattered across thousands of journals and reports. This fragmentation makes […]
International collaboration to attack the cattle fever tick
Building on previous success developing genetic tools to combat deer ticks, researchers in Nevada are partnering with those in Uruguay to genetically modify cattle tick […]
Making aquaculture more productive, safe and economical
The seafood industry is economically vital and provides an important source of protein for the world. Challenges to aquaculture include inefficient production methods, expensive feed […]
Veterans grow food, community and connection through gardening initiative
Military veterans and their families often face challenges related to physical and mental well-being, social isolation and food insecurity. Michigan State University Extension’s Seeds in […]
Addressing food insecurity to drive community impact
Food security is fundamental to the health, resilience and economic vitality of rural and urban communities. Across the United States,1890 Land‑grant Universities are uniquely positioned […]
New vaccine and delivery system protect catfish against fatal disease, reduce antibiotic reliance
Catfish is the largest aquaculture industry in the United States. For decades, catfish producers have struggled against pervasive infestation from E. ictaluri, which mainly affects […]
Preserving food traditions
America’s heritage is deeply rooted in food. It’s important for people to learn where food comes from, how it is produced and how to prepare […]
Innovative methods for safer, healthier food production practices
Regional food production is critical to local economies and supporting American food systems. Rising reports of foodborne illnesses, increased antibiotic resistance and newer production systems […]
Billion-dollar bacterial test for poultry
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is estimated to cost $6 billion in annual losses to the poultry industry, where it causes the death of cells and tissue […]
Bots for kebabs
Consumer demand is strong for grilled kebabs — meat and vegetable cubes on skewers — that require highly labor-intensive tasks and complex hand-eye coordination. This […]
Food Recovery relieves food waste in Rhode Island
In 2024, more than one-third of Rhode Island households struggled to afford food. While food pantries served over 84,000 people each month, food remained the […]
Even when farmers adapt to extreme weather, crop losses continue
A first-of-its-kind study analyzed the real-life measures that farmers worldwide are taking to combat reduced yields due to higher temperatures, drought conditions and other extreme […]
Recognizing regenerative ag champions
Small-scale farmers who use regenerative practices play an important role in local food systems. These farmers often operate in areas with limited access to fresh […]
Integrated approach identifies bee protection opportunities in rural, urban areas
Bees are essential pollinators for many fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants. Continuing declines in their populations jeopardize crop yields, food security and biodiversity. Over 400 […]
Cold plasma-treated rice seeds inhibit fall armyworm, improve early crop vigor
Fall armyworm, a major crop pest particularly damaging in rice, often requires repeated insecticide applications for control. Plasma — the same electrically charged matter responsible […]
Research and development of water-resilient sorghum expands rural economic opportunities in the West
In water-limited agricultural landscapes of the West, sustaining food crops for beef and dairy has become increasingly challenging. Traditional feed crops such as maize and […]
Wild peanut varieties source of disease resistance
Cultivated peanuts are plagued by diseases and pests, which make them expensive to grow as use of chemical controls account for more than 30% of […]
Researchers show rust fungus helps control invasive Canada thistle
The noxious weed Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense L.), which originated from the eastern Mediterranean region, crowds out crops, forage and native plant species in the […]
Disease-resistant wine grape reduces losses in Florida
Pierce’s disease devastates grapevines in warm, humid regions like Florida, making wine grape production nearly impossible without costly interventions. This disease forces growers to rely […]
The relationship between irrigation and child nutrition
There is an assumption that irrigation automatically leads to better food security. But irrigation doesn’t consistently improve nutrition because regions with sufficient water often use […]