August 16th 2023.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking a major step in its commitment to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by allocating $33 million to enhance the budgets of those institutions.
According to Spectrum News, this funding will be distributed among the 19 designated 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The funds are earmarked to advance a range of agricultural research projects at those universities.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small commented on the importance of this investment to the agricultural industry. “The work these universities will take on as a result of this funding have ripple effects far beyond the walls of their laboratories and classrooms,” she said. “This investment will help deliver real-life, applicable solutions to make our food system stronger, while at the same time inspiring a next generation of students and scientists who will help us meet tomorrow’s agricultural challenges.”
This move comes shortly after the USDA invested $262 million in June of 2023 in the NEXTGEN program, which is part of the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. The program seeks to create a more diverse agricultural field and was highlighted by Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We need to ensure our youth have the education and training they need to accelerate the development of an agricultural system that is climate-smart, sustainable, profitable and equitable,” stated Vilsack. “This historic investment brings us closer to building a workforce that represents the richness and diversity of all the communities we serve.”
The USDA’s 1890 Land-Grant Institutions National Program has been steadily expanding for the past few years. This program was established by the Second Morrill Act of 1899 and aims to bolster agricultural research, education, extension programs, and the number of Black graduates in agricultural sciences.
The USDA/1890 Scholars Program was recently introduced as part of the initiative. The program provides full tuition, employment and employment benefits, fees, books, and room and board to its scholars. Upon completing their degree program, the scholars are then eligible to receive a permanent position within the USDA.
The USDA is taking a strong stance to ensure HBCUs have the resources they need to succeed. The current investments and initiatives demonstrate the Biden-Harris Administration's dedication to building a more diverse and equitable agricultural field for the future.
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