NIFA Invests over $7M for Food and Agricultural Non-Formal Education
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(News Release) - NIFA recently awarded 11 grants(link is external) in the AFRI Food and Agriculture Non-formal Education (FANE) program supports content development and activities for non-formal education to foster development of technology-savvy youth. Projects must develop activities that cultivate interest and competencies in STEM and in food and agricultural sciences supported by the six Farm Bill Priority areas of AFRI. Data science, including artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics as well as gene editing and biotechnology will be supported in this program area priority. FANE projects must address developing content and activities to enhance youth's understanding of food and agriculture relevant technologies, developing outreach materials that communicate the benefits of such technologies, complement, and build upon already-successful and related programs (4-H, Agriculture in the Classroom, FDA's Agriculture Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative, etc.), and involve youth in the design, execution, and evaluation of activities. FANE emphasizes including supporting youth from typically underrepresented groups. These grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.