West Virginia State University Research And Development Corp

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

UNKNOWN TITLE

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF WEST VIRGINIA AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS MEETS ALL PRIMARY OF FOCUS AREAS FOR THE PROJECT FROM LEARNING TO LEADING: CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO AID IN CREATING FURTHER GENERATIONS OF AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS. THIS PROPOSAL CONTAINS GOALS IN THE AREAS OF PAID EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, SCHOLARSHIPS, NON-FORMAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND INNOVATED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INITIATIVES.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STRATEGICALLY INVESTS ITS 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM RESOURCES TO REBUILD ITS FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND HUMAN SCIENCES PROGRAMMING. CONTINUED GROWTH OF THESE PROGRAMS TRANSLATES INTO SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROGRAMMING SPACE FOR EFFECTIVE SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES. THIS FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM WILL CONSOLIDATE PREVIOUS EFFORTS AIMING AT ENHANCING, EXPANDING AND BETTER INTEGRATING RESEARCH, INSTRUCTION AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES. THE PLAN ALSO ADDRESSES IMMEDIATE AND INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMMING PRIORITIES. THIS PLAN'S CHIEF OVERARCHING STRATEGIC ENDEAVOR IS THE CONSOLIDATION OF ITS 1890 RESEARCH FUNCTIONS THROUGH THE REVAMPING OF THE UNIVERSITY'S AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION. IT ALSO ENDEAVORS TO CENTRALIZE KEY EXTENSION AREAS, THROUGH THE RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING HISTORICAL BUILDING. THREE MAJOR OVERALL GOALS ARE PROPOSED IN THIS PLAN: (1) SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S LAND-GRANT PROGRAMS' OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS BY PROVIDING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUPPORT OF ITS TRIPARTITE MISSION; (2) DEVELOP NEW AND ENHANCE EXISTING PLANT AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CONDUCT AND ENRICHMENT OF RESEARCH AND RESEARCH EDUCATION; AND (3) DEVELOP NEW AND ENHANCE EXISTING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S EXTENSION SERVICE. ALL PROPOSED ACTIVITIES WILL BE STRATEGICALLY STAGGERED DURING THIS PROGRAM'S CYCLE. AT LEAST ONE MAJOR PROJECT WILL BE CARRIED OUT EACH YEAR. KEY TASKS INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, COMPLETION OF THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION BUILDING, DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL OF DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS C AND E, AND INITIAL CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF THE GREENHOUSE COMPLEX. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THESE MILESTONES WILL TRANSLATE INTO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND BENEFITS FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S CLIENTELE AND COMMUNITIES SERVED.

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM (FUTURE ACT)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

UNKNOWN TITLE

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GRADUATE)

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU) STRATEGICALLY INVESTS ITS 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM FUNDSTO EXPAND AND ENHANCE PROGRAMMING IN THE FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, HUMAN, AND ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCES. CONTINUED PROGRAMMATIC GROWTH IN THESE AREAS REQUIRES APPROPRIATE FACILITIES TOEFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF THESE ACTIVITIES. THIS FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF WORK WILL BUILDUPON PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO ENHANCE, EXPAND AND BETTER INTEGRATE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,ACADEMICS, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMMING AT WVSU. THE PLAN ADDRESSES BOTH IMMEDIATE ANDLONG-TERM SPACE UTILIZATION NEEDS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PLAN'S PRIMARY STRATEGIC FOCUS IS TOCONTINUE THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE UNIVERSITY'S AGRICULTURE RESEARCH STATION AS WELL ASEXPAND NEEDED EXTENSION PROGRAMMING SPACES AND DEVELOP A FULLY INTEGRATED AGRICULTURALRESEARCH, TEACHING, AND EXTENSION FACILITY. THE THREE MAIN GOALS OF THIS PLAN OF WORK ARE: (1)SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S LAND-GRANT PROGRAM' OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS BY PROVIDINGPHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SUPPORT OF ITS TRIPARTITE MISSION; (2) DEVELOP NEW AND ENHANCEEXISTING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CONDUCT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DELIVERY OFAGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AND (3) DEVELOP NEW AND ENHANCE EXISTING PHYSICALINFRASTRUCTURE IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S EXTENSION SERVICE PROGRAM DELIVERY. THE PROJECTWILL SUPPORT FIRST PHASE RENOVATIONS OF THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION BUILDING, ANDINITIAL RENOVATION STAGES OF AN HISTORICAL BUILDING ON CAMPUS WHICH IS SLATED TO HOUSE THENEW WVSU SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND NATURAL RESOURCES. COMPLETION OF THESEPROJECTS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY/STAFF/STUDENTS AND THECOMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY UPWARD BOUND

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH 1445 EVANS- ALLEN CAPACITY FUNDING AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU) ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. IN BOTH URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF WEST VIRGINIA, ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND SAFE FRESH FOOD REMAINS A CHALLENGE. INCREASING PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTING PROPER PROCESSING AND HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD ARE KEY ISSUES FOR ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY ACROSS THE STATE. THE APPALACHIAN REGION FACES UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY, FOOD, AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. THESE ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR PROPOSED PLAN INCLUDES A RANGE OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A VARIETY NEEDS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS IN WEST VIRGINIA. RESEARCH EFFORTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF SPECIALTY CROPS SUCH AS MICROGREENS, MUSHROOMS, CORN, TOMATOES, PEPPERS, AND OTHER CUCURBIT CROPS (MELON, WATERMELON, PUMPKIN, AND SQUASH), AS WELL AS AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND POLLINATOR HEALTH, WILL BENEFIT FARMERS STATEWIDE. THE APPALACHIAN REGION CONTINUES TO FACE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ONGOING EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND LEGACY SOURCES OF POLLUTION, WHICH AFFECT AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, LAND MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. LOOKING FORWARD, WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP BIOLOGICALLY DERIVED ENERGY SOURCES AND ADDRESS LEGACY CHALLENGES. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. WVSU RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL FOCUS ON STUDYING, PROTECTING, AND RESTORING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BIOPRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE WVSU AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION WILL CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN A MULTISTATE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIUM WITH OTHER 1890 UNIVERSITIES TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES ACROSS AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH 1445 EVANS- ALLEN CAPACITY FUNDING AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BOTH, IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN WEST VIRGINIA, ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND SAFE FRESH FOOD IS A CHALLENGE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR PROPOSED PLAN TO WORK ON AN ARRAY OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL SUPPORT A DIVERSITY OF ENTERPRISES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS IN OUR STATE. RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY, QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SPECIALTY CROPS SUCH AS MICROGREENS, MUSHROOMS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND, OTHER CUCURBITS CROPS (MELON, WATERMELON, PUMPKIN, AND SQUASH) AS WELL AS AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND POLLINATOR HEALTH, WILL BENEFIT THE FARMERS IN WV. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT THE A PPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND THE LEGACY OF POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AFFECTING WEST VIRGINIA'S AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, ITS LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE WELLBEING O F ITS COMMUNITIES. LOOKING FORWARD, WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WHILE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. WVSU RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, BIOPRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ANTICIPATING AND ADAPTING. ADDITIONALLY, THE WVSU AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH 1445 EVANS- ALLEN CAPACITY FUNDING AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BOTH, IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN WEST VIRGINIA, ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND SAFE FRESH FOOD IS A CHALLENGE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR PROPOSED PLAN TO WORK ON AN ARRAY OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL SUPPORT A DIVERSITY OF ENTERPRISES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS IN OUR STATE. RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY, QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SPECIALTY CROPS SUCH AS MICROGREENS, MUSHROOMS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND, OTHER CUCURBITS CROPS (MELON, WATERMELON, PUMPKIN, AND SQUASH) AS WELL AS AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND POLLINATOR HEALTH, WILL BENEFIT THE FARMERS IN WV. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT THE A PPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND THE LEGACY OF POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AFFECTING WEST VIRGINIA'S AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, ITS LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE WELLBEING O F ITS COMMUNITIES. LOOKING FORWARD, WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WHILE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. WVSU RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, BIOPRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ANTICIPATING AND ADAPTING. ADDITIONALLY, THE WVSU AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH 1445 EVANS? ALLEN CAPACITY FUNDING AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BOTH, IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN WEST VIRGINIA, ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND SAFE FRESH FOOD IS A CHALLENGE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR PROPOSED PLAN TO WORK ON AN ARRAY OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL SUPPORT A DIVERSITY OF ENTERPRISES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS IN OUR STATE. RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE SAFETY, QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF SPECIALTY CROPS SUCH AS MICROGREENS, MUSHROOMS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND, OTHER CUCURBITS CROPS (MELON, WATERMELON, PUMPKIN, AND SQUASH) AS WELL AS AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION AND POLLINATOR HEALTH, WILL BENEFIT THE FARMERS IN WV CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND THE LEGACY OF POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AFFECTING WEST VIRGINIA'S AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, ITS LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE WELLBEING OF ITS COMMUNITIES. LOOKING FORWARD, WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WHILE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. WVSU RESEARCH PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, BIOPRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ANTICIPATING AND ADAPTING. ADDITIONALLY, THE WVSU AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATESMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAM 1445 FISCALYEAR 2022

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A HIGH-LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH SECTION 1444 AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION (WVSUES) ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSUES WILL FOCUS ITS EFFORTS ON CRITICAL ISSUE AREAS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING OF WEST VIRGINIANS. THE PROGRAM WILL REVITALIZE RURAL COMMUNITIES BY EMPOWERING YOUTH, SUPPORTING FAMILIES, AND FOSTERING CIVIC PRIDE THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES. IT WILL EXPAND WORKFORCE READINESS BY PREPARING YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL TOOLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN A CHANGING ECONOMY. EXTENSION WILL ALSO ADVANCE HEALTH OUTCOMES BY PROMOTING CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, FOOD SAFETY, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION WHILE INCREASING ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN, HEALTHY FOODS. FINALLY, IT WILL ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVITY AND RESILIENCE OF WEST VIRGINIA'S NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION IN EFFICIENT LAND USE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND NEW FARMER TRAINING. TOGETHER, THESE INITIATIVES WILL STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH SECTION 1444 AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU'S ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN SIX CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE-INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. EXTENSION PROGRAMS TARGETING CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS WILL FOCUS ON POSTHARVEST HANDLING SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AS WELL AS EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT- WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. EXTENSION PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. HEALTH DISPARITIES- HEALTH DISPARITIES EXPERIENCED BY RURAL AND URBAN WV COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF POVERTY, LACK OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND POOR OR NO ACCESS TO BASIC RESOURCES. FURTHERMORE, THE CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMPOUNDS THESE PROBLEMS. WVSUES PLANS TO EXPAND THE PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES LEADING TO HEALTH DISPARITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION- COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN WV CONTINUE SUFFERING FROM ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE DECLINE OF ITS EXTRACTIVE (E.G., COAL), CHEMICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. THE LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES' RESULTS IN LOSS OF A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND IDENTITY, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN RESIDENTS. WVSUES WILL CONTINUE STRENGTHENING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TARGETED COMMUNITY REVITALIZATIONS EFFORTS INCLUDING BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH PUBLIC ART, STREET SCAPING AND GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY EVENT ORGANIZATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION DEVELOPMENT, AND PLACEMAKING/HERITAGE INITIATIVES. STRENGTHENING YOUTH AND FAMILIES- POVERTY AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC ARE TWO CRITICAL ISSUES WHICH ARE CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF FAMILIES IN WV AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF ITS YOUTH. YOUTH LIVING IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS ARE ACADEMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND AT INCREASED RISK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. WVSUES PLANS TO TAKE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIED IMPACT BY THE ISSUES ABOVE BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP-THE WVSU CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (CASTEM), OPERATES WITH A MISSION OF ENCOURAGING WEST VIRGINIA'S YOUTH TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM FIELDS AND INSPIRE THEM TO BECOME FUTURE ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, TEACHERS AND LEADERS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THIS CENTER TO SERVE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN WV. THE WVSU ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC) WILL DEVELOP AND MANAGE WORKFORCE TRAINING SOLUTIONS THAT RESPOND TO BUSINESS NEEDS AND INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO BOOST REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RESILIENCY.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH SECTION 1444 AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU'S ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN SIX CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE-INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. EXTENSION PROGRAMS TARGETING CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS WILL FOCUS ON POSTHARVEST HANDLING SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AS WELL AS EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT- WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. EXTENSION PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. HEALTH DISPARITIES- HEALTH DISPARITIES EXPERIENCED BY RURAL AND URBAN WV COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF POVERTY, LACK OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND POOR OR NO ACCESS TO BASIC RESOURCES. FURTHERMORE, THE CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMPOUNDS THESE PROBLEMS. WVSUES PLANS TO EXPAND THE PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES LEADING TO HEALTH DISPARITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION- COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN WV CONTINUE SUFFERING FROM ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE DECLINE OF ITS EXTRACTIVE (E.G., COAL), CHEMICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. THE LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES' RESULTS IN LOSS OF A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND IDENTITY, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN RESIDENTS. WVSUES WILL CONTINUE STRENGTHENING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TARGETED COMMUNITY REVITALIZATIONS EFFORTS INCLUDING BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH PUBLIC ART, STREET SCAPING AND GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY EVENT ORGANIZATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION DEVELOPMENT, AND PLACEMAKING/HERITAGE INITIATIVES. STRENGTHENING YOUTH AND FAMILIES- POVERTY AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC ARE TWO CRITICAL ISSUES WHICH ARE CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF FAMILIES IN WV AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF ITS YOUTH. YOUTH LIVING IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS ARE ACADEMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND AT INCREASED RISK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. WVSUES PLANS TO TAKE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIED IMPACT BY THE ISSUES ABOVE BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP-THE WVSU CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (CASTEM), OPERATES WITH A MISSION OF ENCOURAGING WEST VIRGINIA'S YOUTH TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM FIELDS AND INSPIRE THEM TO BECOME FUTURE ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, TEACHERS AND LEADERS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THIS CENTER TO SERVE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN WV. THE WVSU ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC) WILL DEVELOP AND MANAGE WORKFORCE TRAINING SOLUTIONS THAT RESPOND TO BUSINESS NEEDS AND INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO BOOST REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RESILIENCY.

THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE INTEND TO SUPPORT WITH SECTION 1444 AND MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. WVSU'S ALIGNS ITS PROGRAMS WITHIN SIX CRITICAL AREAS BASED ON ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT AS WELL AS IDENTIFIED EMERGING ISSUES WITHIN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. I. FOOD ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY <(>&<)> SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE BOTH, IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN WEST VIRGINIA, ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND SAFE FRESH FOOD IS A CHALLENGE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. INCREASED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD, IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPER PROCESSING/HANDLING OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACCESS TO QUALITY FRESH FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTS ARE KEY ISSUES TO INCREASE FOOD SECURITY IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE INTERRELATED AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. OUR PROPOSED PLAN TO WORK ON AN ARRAY OF EXTENSION PROGRAMS WILL SUPPORT A DIVERSITY OF ENTERPRISES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE FARMERS IN OUR STATE. EXTENSION PROGRAMS WILL FOCUS ON POSTHARVEST HANDLING SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AS WELL AS EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. II. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT THE APPALACHIAN REGION HAS UNIQUE THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ENVIRONMENTAL, WATER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND THE LEGACY OF POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AFFECTING WEST VIRGINIA'S AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, ITS LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE WELLBEING OF ITS COMMUNITIES. LOOKING FORWARD, WEST VIRGINIA SEEKS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES, ADDRESS LEGACY PROBLEMS, AND TO DEAL WITH FALLOUT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, WHILE EFFECTIVELY MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ARE ESSENTIAL STEPS FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. WVSU EXTENSION PROGRAMS WILL WORK TO STUDY, PROTECT AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES WHILE DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY/BIOENERGY, BIOPRODUCTS, AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ANTICIPATING AND ADAPTING. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXTENSION PROGRAM WILL JOIN OUR FELLOW 1890 UNIVERSITIES IN A MULTISTATE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIUM TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ADOPTION OF CLIMATE?SMART TECHNOLOGIES AND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE EQUITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. III. HEALTH DISPARITIESPEOPLE LIVING IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN WV EXPERIENCE DISPARITIES RELATED TO PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WHICH HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR OVERALL WELL?BEING. THESE HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF POVERTY, LACK OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND POOR OR NO ACCESS TO BASIC RESOURCES. FURTHERMORE, THE CURRENT OPIOID EPIDEMIC, AFFECTING FAMILIES IN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, COMPOUNDS THESE PROBLEMS. NATIONAL STATISTICS REFLECT THAT IN WEST VIRGINIA THE DIABETES MORTALITY RATE IS 53% HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE NATION, THE AVERAGE ADULT FEELS MENTALLY UNHEALTHY 31% MORE OFTEN THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, AND THE YEARS OF POTENTIAL LIFE LOST IS 47% HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. FOCUSED RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PROGRAMING CAN ASSIST IN TACKLING HEALTH DISPARITIES AND IMPROVING THE WELL?BEING OF WV COMMUNITIES. MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN WV EXPERIENCE DISPARITIES RELATED TO PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELL?BEING. THESE DISPARITIES ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF POVERTY, LACK OF GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO RESOURCES. THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC COMPOUNDS THESE ISSUES FURTHER. WVSU?ES PLANS TO EXPAND THE PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES LEADING TO HEALTH DISPARITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. IV. COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN WV CONTINUE SUFFERING FROM ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE DECLINE OF ITS EXTRACTIVE (E.G. COAL), CHEMICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. THE LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES RESULTS IN THEM LOSING THEIR SENSE OF PURPOSE AND IDENTITY, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO EMPTY STOREFRONTS. MOREOVER, THESE COMMUNITIES ALSO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS OR GRADUALLY LOSE THEIR EXISTING ONES. ORGANIZATION AND REVITALIZATION EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO RESTORE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO THESE LOCATIONS AND ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FOR A FUTURE OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. MANY COMMUNITIES IN WV SUFFER FROM ECONOMIC HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE EXIT OF EXTRACTIVE (E.G. COAL) AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. THESE COMMUNITIES LOSE A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND IDENTITY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO EMPTY STORE FRONTS. WVSU?ES WILL CONTINUE STRENGTHENING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TARGETED COMMUNITY REVITALIZATIONS EFFORTS. PROJECTS INCLUDE BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH PUBLIC ART, STREET SCAPING AND GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY EVENT ORGANIZATION, OUTDOOR RECREATION DEVELOPMENT, AND PLACEMAKING/HERITAGE INITIATIVES. V. STRENGTHENING YOUTH AND FAMILIES POVERTY AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC ARE TWO CRITICAL ISSUES WHICH ARE CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF FAMILIES IN WV AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE FUTURE OF ITS YOUTH. THE CHANGING FAMILY STRUCTURE RESULTING IN MORE NON?PARENTAL RELATIVES RAISING CHILDREN IN WV RESULTS IN MENTAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED. YOUTH LIVING IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS ARE ACADEMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND AT INCREASED RISK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. THESE ISSUES ARE ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED FOR YOUTH IMPACTED BY THE OPIOID (AND OTHER DRUGS) EPIDEMIC WHO TEND TO EXPERIENCE FREQUENT TRAUMATIC EVENTS. IN ADDITION, THE PANDEMIC HAS RESULTED IN A LEARNING GAP FOR YOUTH DUE TO LACK OF CONSISTENT AND STABLE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. TEACHERS ARE STRETCHED TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE LEARNING GAPS REVEALED DUE TO INTERMITTENT SCHOOL CLOSURES AND LACK ON INPERSON TEACHING. WVSU?ES PLANS TO TAKE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES NOT ONLY EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIED IMPACT BY THE ISSUES ABOVE BUT ALSO STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. VI. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP THE WVSU LAND?GRANT PROGRAM OPERATES A COLLABORATIVE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (CASTEM), WHOSE MISSION IS THAT OF ENCOURAGING WEST VIRGINIA'S YOUTH TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM FIELDS AND INSPIRE THEM TO BECOME FUTURE ENGINEERS, SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS,TEACHERS AND LEADERS. WVSU CASTEM OFFERS ACADEMIC YEAR SCIENCE ENRICHMENT AND SUMMER CAMPS AND HOSTS TRAINING AND LOAN PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS TO BORROW EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. WVSU?ES OPERATES AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC) WHICH PROVIDES LOW?COST OFFICE RENTALS, VOICE AND CAPTURE STUDIOS AND BUSINESS SERVICES AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE IN EARLY?STAGE STARTUPS, CREATIVE AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA INDUSTRIES THROUGH A PEER?BASED MENTORING SYSTEM, SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS MENTORS, COMMUNITY AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS. OUR MAIN AREA OF FOCUS IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE EDC DEVELOPS AND MANAGES WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THAT RESPOND TO BUSINESS NEEDS AND INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. DESIGNED TO BOOST REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND RESILIENCY. OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SERVES EMPLOYERS AND CONNECTS YOUTH AND ADULT CAREER SEEKERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GRADUATE)

WV STATE UNIVERSITY FY2021 1445

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAM 1444FISCAL YEAR 2022

WV STATE UNIVERSITY FY2020 1445

WV STATE UNIVERSITY FY2021 1444

HBCU - INSTITUTIONAL AID

WV STATE UNIVERSITY - 1444 FY2020

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - EVANS-ALLEN FUNDS FY2019

FOSTERING UNDERGRADUATE TALENT BY UNLOCKING RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ACT (FUTURE ACT)

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 2017 EVANS-ALLAN FUNDS

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - EVANS-ALLEN FUNDS FY 2018

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA - SECTION 1445

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - SECTION 1444 EXTENSION - FY2019

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - SECTION 1444 - FY 2017

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - SECTION 1444 - FY 2018

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA - SECTION 1444

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAMS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA EXTENSION SERVICE ACTIVITIES

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

CONTINUE DEVELOPING NEW AND STRENGTHENING EXISTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM

STREGTHENING NEW AND EXISTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM

"STRENGTHENING NEW AND EXISTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS, AND ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS, VIA THE 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM AT

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK - FY 2017

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM

"WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM"

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM - FY 2016 ANNUAL PLAN OF WORK

"WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY`S 1890 FACILITIES PROGRAM FIVE-YEAR (FY 2013-17) AND FY 2013 ANNUAL PLANS OF WORK".

"CONTINUE DEVELOPING & SUPPORTING NEW AND EXISTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY"

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING NEW AND EXISTING RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OF SCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS TWENTY-EIGHT (28) NEW STUDENTS ENROLLING INTO ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS FOR THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS. SELECTED STUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS), BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CANULTIMATELY MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS, AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN TO MEASURE THE EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE IN PLACE. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE.ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), THE INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) AND AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD (EAB) WILL BE FORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY TO REVIEW MILESTONES AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT EXPLORES THE FASCINATING WORLD OF PHYTOCHEMICALS--NATURALLY OCCURRING COMPOUNDS IN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND SPICES KNOWN FOR THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS AND LOW TOXICITY. PHYTOCHEMICALS SUCH AS POLYPHENOLS, CAROTENOIDS, FLAVONOIDS, CURCUMINOIDS, TERPENOIDS, AND CAPSAICINOIDS ARE NOT ONLY INTEGRAL TO OUR DIET BUT ALSO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE GROWTH AND HEALTH OF ORGANISMS. TO UNRAVEL HOW THESE COMPOUNDS AFFECT HEALTH, WE TURN TO THE FRUIT FLY, DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER, A TINY BUT POWERFUL MODEL ORGANISM. WITH A GENETIC MAKEUP SURPRISINGLY SIMILAR TO HUMANS, FRUIT FLIES OFFER A WINDOW INTO UNDERSTANDING HOW OUR BODIES MIGHT REACT TO DIFFERENT DIETS. IN THIS PROJECT, WE EMPLOY CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE, INCLUDING SPATIAL TRANSCRIPTOMIC SEQUENCING AND CRISPR GENE-EDITING TECHNOLOGY, TO DELVE INTO THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMING CAPSAICIN, TURMERIC, BLUEBERRIES, AND BITTERMELON. OUR RESEARCH BEGINS WITH DETAILED INVESTIGATION INTO THESE PHYTOCHEMICALS, FOLLOWED BY DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTS THAT EXPOSE FRUIT FLIES TO THESE COMPOUNDS. WE THEN USE ADVANCED SEQUENCING TECHNIQUES TO STUDY CHANGES IN GENE EXPRESSION AND CRISPR TECHNOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLES OF SPECIFIC GENES. ADDITIONALLY, WE&#39;RE HARNESSING THE POWER OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TO REVOLUTIONIZE HOW WE OBSERVE AND ANALYZE THE FRUIT FLIES&#39; BEHAVIORS AFTER CONSUMING THESE COMPOUNDS. BY AUTOMATING DATA COLLECTION AND EMPLOYING AI FOR IMAGE RECOGNITION AND PATTERN ANALYSIS, WE AIM TO GAIN DEEPER INSIGHTS WITH LESS MANUAL EFFORT. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH PROMISES TO SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF CONSUMING NATURAL PHYTOCHEMICALS, OFFERING A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE OF DIETARY RESEARCH AND HEALTH SCIENCE.

EVANS-ALLEN

HBCU PROGRAM

SECTION 1444

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GIVEN THE ECONOMIC VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH SEED STORAGE COMPOUNDS, SUCH AS FATTY ACIDS, PROTEIN, AND STARCH, AGRICULTURE-BREEDING RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED EXTENSIVELY ON IMPROVING TRAITS RELATED TO THESE COMPOUNDS. METABOLIC ENGINEERING STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING MECHANISMS TO ENHANCE SEED COMPOUNDS SYNTHESIS IN CROPS. STILL, MUCH REMAINS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE COMPONENTS OF THESE REGULATORY NETWORKS TO PREDICTABLY MODIFY GENE TARGETS TO ENHANCE CARBON FLUX INTO DESIRED SEED STORAGE COMPOUNDS WITHOUT IMPACTING CROP YIELD.CAMELINA SATIVA(CAMELINA), A CONVENTIONAL OILSEED CROP OF THE MUSTARD FAMILY, HAS A HISTORY OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION IN EUROPE, THE NORTH AMERICAN GREAT PLAINS, AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. U.S. CAMELINA HAS BEEN MAINLY USED FOR VEGETABLE OIL-DERIVED BIOFUELS. HOWEVER, NICHE MARKETS EXIST FOR NUTRACEUTICAL OILS AND ANIMAL FEEDS. CAMELINA OIL IS USED AS A FEEDSTOCK FOR JET FUEL PRODUCTION. AMONG OILSEED CROPS, CAMELINA OFFERS THE MOST EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO ENGINEER MULTIGENE TRAITS RAPIDLY. CAMELINA CAN BE GENETICALLY TRANSFORMED BY FLORAL VACUUM INFILTRATION WITHAGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENSHARBORING DESIRED TRANSGENES, A METHOD USED FOR RAPID RNAI-BASED EVALUATION OF GENE CANDIDATES. CAMELINA HAS BEEN USED AS A PLATFORM FOR COMPLEX METABOLIC ENGINEERING FOR NUMEROUS BIOPRODUCT TRAITS. THE PROPOSED WORK IS BUILT ON OUR ONGOING RESEARCH THAT WILL IDENTIFY CRITICAL ENZYMES/GENES THAT REGULATE PRIMARILY SEED OILS, WHICH ARE COMPRISED MAINLY OF TRIACYLGLYCEROLS (TAG), AND TRANSLATE THIS KNOWLEDGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEEDS WITH IMPROVED OILSEEDS. FURTHER, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL EXPLORE METABOLIC ENGINEERING STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE OIL YIELD IN CAMELINA FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY (SECTION 1445)

CREATING AN AGRICULTURE INCUBATOR FOR EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN WV

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF DUCKWEED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR IN TRIACYLGLYCEROL METABOLISM AND ABIOTIC STRESS TOLERANCE IN PLANTS

DEVELOPING BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR OILSEED CROPS WELL-SUITED TO GROWING ON MARGINAL LANDS IN APPALACHIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS SEVERAL CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO 1) CONDUCT FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH TO GENETICALLY MODIFY PENNYCRESS TO INCREASE THE PLANT&#39;S ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY AND NUTRITIVE VALUE AS WELL AS THE PLANT&#39;S ABILITY TO GROW ON MARGINAL SOIL, AND 2) PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUMMER WORKSHOPS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS FOR STUDENTS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPING TOOLS SUCH AS METABOLOMICS DATA SETS, TRANSFORMATION CONSTRUCTS, AND HIGH OIL-YIELDING GENE-EDITED LINES TOOLS THAT WILL BE USEFUL TO SCIENTISTS WORKING ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS IN BASIC AND APPLIED AGRICULTURE RESEARCH. STUDENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE TRAINING IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS METHODS, FIELD EXPERIENCE, SUMMER WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORSHIPS. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE EO ON UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY BY FOSTERING DOMESTIC BIOENERGY PRODUCTION.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROJECT AIMS TO PERFORM GENETIC ANALYSIS WITH TRAITS INVOLVING NUTRACEUTICAL, TASTE AND FLAVOR (NTF) FROM THE CROSSES INVOLVING HABANERO PEPPERS AND EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO GLOBALLY IMPACTED GENOMIC TOOLS COMBINED WITH BREEDING PROGRAMS. FOR DECADES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NTF OF IMPROVED VARIETIES BECAUSE THE NTF-PRODUCING METABOLITES ARE NOT SELECTED FOR DURING BREEDING. WHEN GROWERS ARE PAID SOLELY BASED ON THE QUANTITY OF WHAT THEY PRODUCE, THE FOCUS OF BREEDERS HAS BEEN YIELD AND RESISTANCE. IN GENERAL, CONSUMER PREFERENCE HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT. IN THIS PROJECT, THE CONSUMER PREFERENCE TRAITS SUCH AS NTF ARE GENETIC ANALYSIS&#39;S PRIMARY GOAL. CONSUMERS WANT NUTRITIOUS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES, THAT TASTE AND SMELL GOOD. THEREFORE, THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE IS TO DETERMINE HOW TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCTS TO CONSUMERS WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE YIELD AND RESISTANCE TRAITS THAT GROWERS DEMAND.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT AIMS TO FAMILIARIZE STUDENTS WITH MICROBIOMES AND INTRODUCE THEM TO THE DIVERSITY OF GUT MICROBE ECOLOGY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VEGETABLES, FRUITS, FIBER-RICH OR PROBIOTIC DIETS. UNDERREPRESENTED AND MINORITY STUDENTS IN WEST VIRGINIA CAN DEVELOP HANDS-ON RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND EFFECTS OF UNHEALTHY FATTY FOODS AND ARTIFICIAL SUGARS ON MICROBIOME CHANGES. THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND TEACHING ENDEAVOR INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING TOOLS AND BIG-DATA SCIENCE WHILE MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE TREE OF LIFE AND UBIQUITY OF MICROBES AND ROLES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE GUT BIOME OF THE MODEL ORGANISM DROSOPHILA AND BRINGS OUT THE CONCEPT OF A MINIATURIZED VERSION OF THE HUMAN GUT MICROBIOME. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS BASED ON SOUND RESEARCH RESULTS IN GENOME ANALYSIS, AND THE GENERATION OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS (SNPS), GENES, AND SEQUENCE INFORMATION FOR PHYTOCHEMICAL TRAITS INDUCING THE REDUCTION OF BODY WEIGHT IN DROSOPHILA. THIS PROPOSAL HAS A STRONG EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT WILL IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL LEVELS OF OUR STUDENTS.

HEALTHY GRANDFAMILIES PROJECT

4-H PLANTERS

DISEASE-RESISTANT WATERMELON VARIETIES ARE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION. WATERMELON BREEDERS ARE FACED WITH CHALLENGES TO FIND NEW SOURCES OF GUMMY STEM BLIGHT RESISTANCE AS THERE IS NO SINGLE SOURCE OF RESISTANCE IN CULTIVARS. PRESENT PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY GENETIC LOCI CONFERRING RESISTANCE TO IDENTIFY AND COMBINE QTLS RESISTANT TO GUMMY STEM BLIGHT (GSB). RECENTLY, A PLETHORA OF MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES SUCH AS DEEP LEARNING (DL) ARE AVAILABLE TO FOR PRECISE PHENOTYPING IN PLANT BREEDING. THESE TOOLS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING USED BY THE PLANT SCIENCE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE LARGE DATASETS NOW REGULARLY COLLECTED VIA HIGH-THROUGHPUT PHENOTYPING AND GENOTYPING. IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE EXTEND TEACHING DL TOOLS FOR PHENOTYPING AND HOLDING SPECIAL WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS TO APPRECIATE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN GENOMIC TECHNOLOGIES.

STRENGTHENING VEGETABLE IMPROVEMENT CENTER WITH GENOMIC SELECTION TOOLS FOR NUTRACEUTICALS AND FRUIT QUALITY

CLEAN, ACCESSIBLE FRESHWATER DEPENDS ON WATERSHEDS THAT ARE INCREASINGLY THREATENED BY MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES. THE MANAGEMENT OF RIVERS REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO FORECAST ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCES. THE PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS IS THE MICROORGANISMS THAT LIVE IN SEDIMENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO BUILD BOTH RESEARCH AND TEACHING CAPACITY WITH REGARD TO FRESHWATER AND MOLECULAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT WVSU. THE RESEARCH COMPONENT WILL MEASURE MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES (CARBON AND NITROGEN CYCLING) IN RIVER SEDIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, INCLUDING ORGANIC POLLUTANTS AND ACID MINE DRAINAGE. THE BIOREMEDIATION OF COMMON ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (SUCH AS POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS) WILL BE TESTED IN DIVERSE RIVER SEDIMENTS AS WELL. MICROBIAL PROCESSES WILL BE STUDIED USING A COMBINATION OF GENE-BASED METHODS (GENOMICS) AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. THE TEACHING COMPONENT OF THE GRANT WILL CREATE A NEW CLASS CALLED INTEGRATED MOLECULAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AS WELL AS WORKSHOPS FOR UNIVERSITY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE GRANT WILL PURCHASE A MASS SPECTROMETER TO MEASURE ORGANIC POLLUTANTS AND AS A MICROSENSOR SYSTEM TO MEASURE CHEMICAL GRADIENTS. THE FOCUS OF THE STUDY WILL BE THE KANAWHA RIVER WATERSHED, WEST VIRGINIA, WHICH HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY A VARIETY OF SEVERE MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES FOR MANY YEARS. THE PROJECT CREATES A UNIQUE CONJUNCTION OF FRESHWATER SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY, MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, GENOMICS AND BIOINFORMATICS THAT WILL ADVANCE THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CAPACITY OF WVSU AND WEST VIRGINIA.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GRAFTING INVOLVES UNITING TWO LIVING PLANT PARTS SO THAT THEY GROW AS A SINGLE PLANT. IT IS AN ANCIENT TECHNIQUE USED BY FARMERS AND GARDENERS TO COMBINE DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF THE ROOTSTOCK WITH THOSE OF THE DONOR PLANT SHOOT, OR SCION. THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED INTEREST IN VEGETABLE GRAFTING IN THE UNITED STATES, TO THE EXTENT THAT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILLION GRAFTED TOMATOES ARE NOW GROWN ANNUALLY IN NORTH AMERICAN GREENHOUSES. UNTIL RECENTLY, WHITEFLIES AND FUSARIUM WILT (FW) HAVE BEEN MAINLY CONTROLLED IN WATERMELON BY PRE-PLANT FUMIGATION WITH METHYL BROMIDE. HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL AND THE US CLEAN AIR ACT, METHYL BROMIDE WAS PHASED OUT IN 2005. THE LOSS OF METHYL BROMIDE FOR PRE-PLANT SOIL FUMIGATION WAS ESTIMATED TO RESULT IN ANNUAL YIELD LOSSES OF 15% TO 20% FOR WATERMELON IN SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL US STATES. THUS, THERE IS A STRONG INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS RESISTANT ROOTSTOCKS FOR GRAFTING TO MANAGE WHITEFLIES AND FW IN WATERMELON AND OTHER VEGETABLE CROPS. THE GOAL OF OUR PROPOSAL IS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCY AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WATERMELON GROWERS IN THE UNITED STATES BY LAUNCHING APPROPRIATE GRAFTING TECHNOLOGIES TO OPTIMIZE RETURNS ON INVESTMENT AND ADDRESS BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS FACTORS. GRAFTING IS THE PRACTICE OF JOINING A CULTIVAR POSSESSING DESIRABLE MARKET AND HORTICULTURAL FEATURES (SCION) TO A ROOTSTOCK THAT CAN CONFER INCREASED RESISTANCE/TOLERANCE TO INSECT PESTS AND/OR ABIOTIC STRESS SUCH AS SOIL ACIDITY, AND MAY INCREASE YIELD OR ENHANCE FRUIT QUALITY. THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS A PLETHORA OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH AND BECOME FURTHER INVOLVED IN VARIOUS EXPERIMENTS IN BASIC HORTICULTURAL PRACTICES SUCH AS GRAFTING AND BREEDING FOR RESISTANCE TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESS. THE TRAINING IN THESE TECHNOLOGIES OFFERED TO STUDENTS ALONG WITH THE APPLIED GENOMIC PROCEDURES OF HORTICULTURE WILL BRIGHTEN THEIR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN VARIOUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISES AT BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY - EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY (SECTION 1444)

IMPLEMENTING METAGENOMIC-ENABLED SYSTEMS ANALYSIS TO ENGINEER ENERGY THRESHOLDS AND RESILIENCE IN MICROBIAL BIOENERGY COMMUNITIES.

SCRATCH MCDOWELL

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHEN MEDIA GIANTS LIKE VERIZON ARE USING ADVERTISEMENT DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE YOUTHS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) THESE FIELDS MUST BE IN WANT OF A WELL-EDUCATED WORKFORCE. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR BRIGHT SCIENTIFIC MINDS ARE UNDERSERVED IN THE EARLY YEARS WHEN IT SHOULD BE EASIEST TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR QUESTING MINDS. ENTER, THEN, GROWTH ON THE GO, A PROGRAM AIMED TO REINVIGORATE SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM. AS IT STANDS, SCIENCE AND MATH, INSTEAD OF BEING FRONTIERS OF EXPLORATION AND POSSIBILITY, ARE EITHER ABSENT FROM THE CLASSROOM OR, PERHAPS WORSE, MADE UNAPPEALING. THIS IS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE EARLY EDUCATION AND ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ARE UNDERPREPARED TO TEACH THESE SUBJECTS; THEY HAVE LITTLE TRAINING IN THE SCIENCES, PARTICULARLY IN CHEMISTRY, ENGINEERING, AND PHYSICS. THIS LACK OF CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IS COMBINED WITH A LACK OF PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ON DELIVERING SCIENCE EDUCATION AND LEADS, DETRIMENTALLY, TO AVOIDANCE. AN ALARMING NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DO NOT RECEIVE SCIENCE EDUCATION WEEKLY WHEN, IN FACT, THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING IT MOST DAYS IF NOT EVERY DAY.GROWTH ON THE GO AIMS TO CHANGE THIS BY PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH LOW-ANXIETY TRAININGS THAT INCREASE TEACHER CONFIDENCE IN CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH STEM SUBJECTS. RATHER THAN TEACHERS TRANSLATING THEIR ANXIETY TO THEIR STUDENTS, GROWTH ON THE GO WILL HELP THEM CULTIVATE AND CONVEY ENTHUSIASM FOR THE TOPICS AT HAND. THE PROGRAM WILL TARGET BOTH PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TEACHERS WITH TRAININGS; IT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO IN-SERVICE TEACHERS THROUGH A LENDING LIBRARY OF CURRICULUM BOXES DEVELOPED ON 14 THEMES AND OTHER TOOLS SUCH AS IPADS AND MICROSCOPES. EACH THEMED BOX FOCUSES ON HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND INCORPORATES MULTIPLE SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES AS WELL AS LITERACY, HISTORY, AND OTHER RELEVANT SUBJECTS. GROWTH ON THE GO WILL ALSO PROVIDE EVENT DAYS, DELIVERING POSITIVE STEM ENCOUNTERS TO STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA. THIS IS ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY ITS MOBILE CAPACITY, BRINGING TOOLS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITIES IN THE TRADITION OF GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER&#39;S MOVEABLE SCHOOLS. WITH THIS VIBRANT BEGINNING, STUDENTS WILL GROW INTO QUESTIONING, ENGAGED CITIZENS AND STUDENTS OF THE SCIENCES.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OUR INTEGRATED PROJECT COMBINES TEACHING (EP) AND RESEARCH TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF GRADUATES IN THE FOOD, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND NATURAL RESOURCES BY ESTABLISHING NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSES AND EXPANDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU). WVSU LOST ITS LAND-GRANT PROGRAMS IN THE 1950S, BUT SINCE REGAINING THEM IN 2001, IS ADDING ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING TO COMPLETE ITS TRIPARTITE USDA MISSION. IN FALL 2020, THIS BECAME A REALITY WITH THREE NEW OPTIONS/CONCENTRATIONS IN EXISTING DEGREE PROGRAMS. THE PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE OPTION IN THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT COMBINES THE FIELDS OF BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY WITH A PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF CROP AND SOIL MANAGEMENT. THREE UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES ARE TARGETED TO DEVELOP/TRIAL/ASSESS/REVISE 30 LABS/PROJECTS FOR THE STUDENTS IN THESE CLASSES TO LEARN CONCEPTS AND ADDRESS ISSUES IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO MANAGE AND RESOLVE MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES IN WEST VIRGINIA. THE EXPERENTIAL LEARNING RESEARCH WILL EXPLORE ACID MINE DRAINAGE, AND ASSESS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS (REE) BIOGEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES AND IF PASSIVE TREATMENT FOR ACID MINE DRAINAGE COULD BE USED AS A POTENTIAL RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR REE. ONE HUNDRED TWENTY STUDENTS WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE NEW/REVISED COURSES, 10 WILL BE THE FIRST TO GRADUATE UNDER THE NEW BIOLOGY OPTION DURING THIS PROJECT AND NINE WILL HAVE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN NATURAL RESOURCES. OUR PROJECT BRINGS AG BACK TO WVSU ACADEMICALLY AND WILL ADD GRADUATES TO THE FOOD, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND NATURAL RESOURCES PIPELINE.

LEARNING AND TEACHING BIOLOGICAL & AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE ONLINE: INCREASING SUCCESS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, AND RESEARCH

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), THE INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) AND AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD (EAB) WILL BE FORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY TO REVIEW MILESTONES AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.?

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OFSCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OFINCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURALSCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS AT LEAST 39STUDENTS ENROLLING IN ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND SELECTED CURRENT WVSUSTUDENTS. THE SELECTEDSTUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS) BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILLPARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THESE ACTIVITIES AIMTO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS INTHE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMCOORDINATORS AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN IS IN PLACE TO MEASURE THIS PROGRAM&#39;S EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTEDAND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE.ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), AN INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO REVIEWTHE PROGRAM&#39;S PROGRESS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC MEETSAT LEAST TWICE A YEAR.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPPROGRAM AT WVSU PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO PURSUE BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THESE FIELDS AND RELATED FIELDS. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PRODUCE GRADUATES WHO ARE READY TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THESE FIELDS TO MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS.THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THE PROGRAM IS ADVERTISED. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND QUALIFIED CURRENT WVSU STUDENTS. THE SELECTED STUDENTS (1890 SCHOLARS) ARE AWARDED BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A 3.0 GPA, COMPLETE 30 CREDIT HOURS EACH YEAR, PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS, PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES FULFILLING USDA&#39;S MISSION, AND ATTEND MONTHLY SCHOLARS&#39; MEETINGS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS ARE READY FOR A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY IMPACT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.THIS AWARD WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 20 SCHOLARS&#39; ONE-FULL-YEAR FINANCIAL SUPPORT (TUITION, FEES, ROOM &AMP; BOARD, AND BOOKS). THUS, THIS AWARD WILL HELP SOME 1890 SCHOLARS GRADUATE AND ADVANCE OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GRADUATION GOALS.EACH SCHOLAR IS MENTORED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOUR APCS. THEIR PROGRESS IS MONITORED CLOSELY THROUGH INTERNAL ACADEMIC PROGRESS REPORTING, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. THE PROGRAM&#39;S AND SCHOLARS&#39;PROGRESS IS MONITOREDREGULARLY BY THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIP TEAM, WHICH COMPRISES THE PD AND THE FOUR APCS.AN INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM&#39;S PROGRESS AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY SEMESTER, CONSISTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE OFFICES OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, STUDENT AFFAIRS, BUSINESS AND FINANCE, FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, STUDENT ACCOUNTS, REGISTRATION AND RECORDS, EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, ATHLETICS, AND RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OF SCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS AT LEAST 35 STUDENTS MATRICULATING EVERY SEMESTER IN ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND QUALIFIED CURRENT WVSU STUDENTS. THE SELECTED STUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS) BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THESE ACTIVITIES AIM TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN IS IN PLACE TO MEASURE THIS PROGRAM&#39;S EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE. ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), AN INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM&#39;S PROGRESS AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST TWICE EVERY SEMESTER, CONSISTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE OFFICES OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, STUDENT AFFAIRS, BUSINESS AND FINANCE,FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, STUDENT ACCOUNTS, REGISTRATION AND RECORDS, EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, ATHLETICS, AND RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT WVSU PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO PURSUE BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THESE FIELDS AND RELATED FIELDS. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PRODUCE GRADUATES WHO ARE READY TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THESE FIELDS TO MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS.THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THE PROGRAM IS ADVERTISED. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND QUALIFIED CURRENT WVSU STUDENTS. THE SELECTED STUDENTS (1890 SCHOLARS) ARE AWARDED BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A 3.0 GPA, COMPLETE 30 CREDIT HOURS EACH YEAR, PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS, PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES FULFILLING USDA&#39;S MISSION, AND ATTEND MONTHLY SCHOLARS&#39; MEETINGS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS ARE READY FOR A CAREERPLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY IMPACT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.THIS AWARD WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AT LEAST 20 SCHOLARS&#39; ONE-FULL-YEAR FINANCIAL SUPPORT (TUITION, FEES, ROOM &AMP; BOARD, AND BOOKS). THUS, THIS AWARD WILL HELP SOME 1890 SCHOLARS GRADUATE AND ADVANCE OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GRADUATION GOALS. EACH SCHOLAR IS MENTORED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOUR APCS. THEIR PROGRESS IS MONITORED CLOSELY THROUGH INTERNAL ACADEMIC PROGRESS REPORTING, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. THE PROGRAM&#39;S AND SCHOLARS&#39; PROGRESS IS MONITORED REGULARLY BY THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIP TEAM, WHICH COMPRISES THE PD AND THE FOUR APCS.AN INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM&#39;S PROGRESS AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY SEMESTER, CONSISTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE OFFICES OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, STUDENT AFFAIRS, BUSINESS AND FINANCE, FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, STUDENT ACCOUNTS, REGISTRATION AND RECORDS, EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, ATHLETICS, AND RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OF SCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURALSCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS AT LEAST 39 STUDENTS ENROLLING IN ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND SELECTED CURRENT WVSU STUDENTS. THE SELECTED STUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS) BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THESE ACTIVITIES AIM TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTTHE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN IS IN PLACE TO MEASURE THIS PROGRAM&#39;S EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE.ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), AN INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO REVIEW THE PROGRAM&#39;S PROGRESS AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST TWICE EVERY SEMESTER, CONSISTS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM THE OFFICES OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, STUDENT AFFAIRS, BUSINESS AND FINANCE, FINANCIAL AID OFFICE, STUDENT ACCOUNTS, REGISTRATION AND RECORDS, EARLY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, ATHLETICS, AND RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IMPROVING THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SOIL SALINITY TOLERANCE OF OILSEED CROPS WILL BE CRITICAL TO US AND GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY. SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR.) IS AN IMPORTANT OILSEED CROP WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MEETING THIS CHALLENGE. ENRICHED WITH ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS, PROTEINS, LIPIDS, AND METABOLITES, SOYBEANS CONTRIBUTE 56% OF THE WORLD&#39;S EDIBLE OIL FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, AND THEY ARE INCREASINGLY USED IN NUTRACEUTICAL, CHEMICAL, AND FUEL PRODUCTION. RECENTLY, TRANSCRIPTOME ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL CANDIDATE SALT-RESPONSIVE GENES IN SOYBEANS, AND OVEREXPRESSION OF THESE CANDIDATE GENES IN SOYBEANS IMPROVED SALT TOLERANCE. IN ADDITION, ECTOPIC EXPRESSION OF GENES FROM TOBACCO AND ARABIDOPSIS RESULTED IN ENHANCED SALT TOLERANCE IN SOYBEANS. WE AIM TO DEVELOP SALT STRESS TOLERANCE IN SOYBEAN PLANTS AND ENHANCE OIL SEED YIELD. THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS SUCH AS GENE CONSTRUCTS, GENETIC TRANSFORMATION, MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL METHODS, AND TRANSGENIC SOYBEAN LINES WITH INCREASED SALT TOLERANCE WILL BE USEFUL TO SUPPORT SOYBEAN CROP IMPROVEMENT TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SECURITY FURTHER.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PLANT BIOMASS AND SEED OILS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT, ENERGY-RICH SOURCE OF RENEWABLE HYDROCARBONS. HOWEVER, DUE TO LOW CROP YIELD, COMPETITION WITH FOOD PRODUCTION, AND LIMITED ARABLE LAND AVAILABILITY, CURRENT SUPPLIES OF THESE ENERGY-RICH COMPOUNDS ARE LIMITED. SWITCHGRASS (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) IS A PERENNIAL, WARM-SEASON, DEDICATED BIOENERGY CROP CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HIGHER BIOMASS SUITABLE AS A BIOENERGY FEEDSTOCK. IN SWITCHGRASS, TRAIT IMPROVEMENT BY TRADITIONAL BREEDING IS HAMPERED DUE TO GENETIC COMPLEXITY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES. BIOTECHNOLOGY, HOWEVER, ENABLES THE GENETIC ENHANCEMENT OF SWITCHGRASS BY FOCUSING ON THE DESIRED TRAITS THAT ARE NOT PRESENT IN NATURE. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN SWITCHGRASS BY THE ECTOPIC INTRODUCTION OF A FOREIGN GENE AND ALSO TO ENHANCE PLANT RESILIENCE TO STRESSES. WITH THE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOR AN IMPORTANT BIOENERGY CROP, THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU) AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIELD OF BIOENERGY RESEARCH.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OFSCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OFINCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURALSCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS 39NEW STUDENTS ENROLLING INTO ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS FORTHE FALL 2022SEMESTER. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS. SELECTEDSTUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS), BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILLPARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OFTHESE ACTIVITIES IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS INTHE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMCOORDINATORS, AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN TO MEASURETHE EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE IN PLACE. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTEDAND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE.ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), ANINTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) IS BEING FORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. ISAC WILL START MEETING IN AY 2022-23.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE 1890 SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A COHORT OF SCHOLARS AND IMPLEMENT NEW FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RELATED CURRICULA. THE UNIVERSITY WILL UNDERTAKE THE PROGRAM&#39;S GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES WITH THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS.THE RECRUITMENT GOAL IS TWENTY-EIGHT (28) NEW STUDENTS ENROLLING INTO ONE OF THE FOUR ACADEMIC OPTIONS AND CONCENTRATIONS FOR THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER. THE TARGET PROSPECTIVE STUDENT POPULATION INCLUDES NEW FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS. SELECTED STUDENTS WILL BE AWARDED A FULL OR PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP (1890 SCHOLARS), BASED ON A COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS. SCHOLARS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OFF-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERNSHIPS BY THEIR JUNIOR YEAR. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOLARS HAVE A CAREER PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY AND CAN ULTIMATELY MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.MENTORING OF SCHOLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, INCLUDING DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS, AND FACULTY MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES. AN EVALUATION PLAN TO MEASURE THE EXPECTED TARGET OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE IN PLACE. ALL DATA GENERATED FOR THIS PROGRAM WILL BE COLLECTED AND MAINTAINED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH OFFICE.ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM UNIT (APU), THE INTERNAL STEERING ADVISORY COUNCIL (ISAC) AND AN EXTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD (EAB) WILL BE FORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY TO REVIEW MILESTONES AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IMPROVING THE DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY OF RAINBOW TROUT COULD REDUCE ORGANIC WASTES, INCREASE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS AND OILS OF NON-MARINE SOURCES THAT WOULD ALLOW AQUACULTURE TO REMAIN ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE. IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING RAINBOW TROUT STRAINS/FAMILIES WITH FAST AND EFFICIENT MUSCLE GROWTH THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY WILL AFFECT THE PROFITABILITY OF SALMONID AQUACULTURE. THE EFFICIENCY OF DIGESTION IS AN INTIMATE INTERPLAY BETWEEN GENETICS, NATURE OF DIETS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS OF THE ANIMAL. THE EVOLUTION TOWARDS MORE SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY IMPLIES LIMITING INPUTS AND TO MAKING USE OF THE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY OF THE ANIMALS TO CHANGING AND EVEN UNFAVORABLE DIETARY CONDITIONS, INCLUDING USE OF NON-ANIMAL PROTEIN AND OIL AS WELL AS INSECT-BASED SOURCES. THIS REQUIRES A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRATION OF ADAPTIVE TRAITS IN BREEDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY AND GUT MICROBIOME COMPOSITION, IN ORDER TO FAVOR THE USE OF A WIDER VARIETY OF FEEDSTUFFS. THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY ASSOCIATION OF GENETIC SELECTION FOR MUSCLE YIELD WITH DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY, ALTERNATIVE FEED/DIET-TEMPERATURE INTERACTIONS/FISH GUT MICROBIOME IN RAINBOW TROUT. OBJECTIVE 1. ASSESS POTENTIAL DIFFERENCES IN DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY BETWEEN RAINBOW TROUT DIVERGENTLY SELECTED FOR FAST GROWTH RATE AND HIGH (ARS-FY-H) OR LOW (ARS-FY-L) YIELD FED VEGETABLE-BASED AND INSECT-BASED INGREDIENT SOURCES. SUB-OBJECTIVE 1A - CHARACTERIZE AND COMPARE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF FISH VERSUS VEGETABLE VERSUS INSECT PROTEINS ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY BETWEEN RAINBOW TROUT SELECTED FOR FAST GROWTH RATE AND HIGH- AND LOW- MUSCLE YIELD; SUB-OBJECTIVE 1B - EVALUATE EFFECTS OF FISH VERSUS VEGETABLE VERSUS INSECT-DERIVED FATS ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY BETWEEN FAMILIES OF RAINBOW TROUT SELECTED FOR FAST GROWTH RATE HIGH- AND LOW- MUSCLE YIELD; OBJECTIVE 2 - COMPARE GUT MICROBIOME COMPOSITION BETWEEN FAST-AND SLOW-GROWTH RATE AND HIGH- AND LOW- MUSCLE YIELD GROUPS TO ESTABLISH HOW SELECTION FOR FAST GROWTH RATE AND MUSCLE YIELD AFFECTED DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY AND GUT MICROBIOME COMPOSITION; OBJECTIVE 3 - CHARACTERIZE THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND DIETARY COMPOSITION ON GUT MICROBIOME COMPOSITION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY IN RAINBOW TROUT LINES SELECTED FOR IMPROVED GROWTH RATE AND YIELD CHARACTERISTICS; AND OBJECTIVE 4 - DEVELOP AN EDUCATION/TRAINING PROGRAM TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS. DIRECTLY INCORPORATING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INTO STUDENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND FOCUSING ON UNDER-REPRESENTED STUDENTS WILL DIVERSIFY STEM-RELATED WORKFORCE.

ENHANCING GENOME MAPPING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VEGETABLE CROP IMPROVEMENT

GIVEN THE ECONOMIC VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH SEED COMPOUNDS SUCH AS OILS, PROTEIN AND STARCH, AGRICULTURE-BREEDING RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED EXTENSIVELY ON IMPROVING TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE COMPOUNDS. METABOLIC ENGINEERING STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE SEED COMPOUNDS IN CROPS. ENHANCING THE GENETIC CONTROL OF SEED DEVELOPMENT AND STORAGE COMPOUND METABOLISM WILL LEAD TO QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE IMPROVEMENT OF OILSEED CROPS. IN COLLABORATION WITH RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, RESEARCHERS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU) WILL USE A COMBINATION OF GENOMIC, MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSES TO EXPLORE HOW MOLECULAR MECHANISMS REGULATE ENERGY STORAGE IN OILSEED CROPS, AND HOW THOSE MECHANISMS CAN BE MANIPULATED TO INCREASE ENERGY STORAGE--AND THUS THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE--OF THE PLANTS. WVSU UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WILL GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN GENOME-EDITING, MUTANT SCREENS, SEED COMPOUND ANALYSISBY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH FLAME IONIZATION DETECTOR, AND NEXT-GENERATION TRANSCRIPTOME SEQUENCING. KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL UNLOCK NEW AND CREATIVE AVENUES FOR ENHANCING THE MOLECULAR ENGINEERING OF ENERGY-DENSE OILSEED CROPS. WITH INCREASED CONCENTRATIONS OF SEED STORAGE COMPOUNDS, THESE CROPS WILL HELP TO MEET THE GROWING FOOD AND FUEL NEEDS OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION.

"STRENGTHENING THE INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE UTILIZATION AND BIOENERGY PRODUCTION USING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION"

"AGRICULTURAL WASTE UTILIZATION AND BIOENERGY PRODUCTION USING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION"

DIVERSIFYING THE WATERMELON CULTIVAR GENETIC BASE USING GENOMIC SELECTION TO IMPROVE NUTRACEUTICAL TRAITS AND USE THEM AS PARENTAL LINES

INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE UTILIZATION AND BIOENERGY PRODUCTION USING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

NEW START

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANTS-IN-AID AWARDED THROUGH CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION, AND PROTECTION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES BY SUCH MEANS AS EDUCATION, SURVEY, PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PRESERVATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES LIKE GRANTS AND TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THE GRANTS SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF PRESERVATION PROJECTS FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES INCLUDING ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORTS, PRESERVATION PLANS, AND PHYSICAL PRESERVATION TO SITES IN KEEPING WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIORS STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATES, TRIBES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONPROFITS AS DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS. THIS PROJECT IS AWARDED TO THE INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FOR REHABILITATION OF THE HALE HOUSE AND NORTON HOUSE OF MALDEN VILLAGE.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

ENGINEERING PHOTOSYNTHETIC ORGANISMS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

ACQUISITION OF HPLC-MASS SPECTROMETER

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE AGRI-RELATED ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, BRIDGE KNOWLEDGE GAP IN THE AGRIBUSINESS SUPPLY CHAIN, ESPECIALLY AMONG UNDERSERVED GROUPS INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, MINORITIES, AND TACKLE ISSUES RELATED TO AGRIBUSINESS, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL FINANCE AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING COURSES/PROGRAMS OF WVSU. THE PROJECT EXPECTS TO COLLECT A RESEARCH DATABASE THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE THE APPLICATION OF POLICIES TOWARDS AGRIBUSINESS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCE STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AT WVSU. FURTHERMORE, THE RESEARCH DATABASE WILL BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR STATE-LEVEL POLICY INITIATIVES CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES. THUS, THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE MISSION OF HEC TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION DELIVERY SYSTEMS, AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. THE PROJECT MAINLY ALIGNS WITH THE GOALS 2 AND 6 OF THE CBG PROGRAM &#39;ENSURE AMERICA&#39;S AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS&#39; AND ATTRACT, INSPIRE, AND RETAIN AN ENGAGED AND MOTIVATED WORKFORCE THAT&#39;S PROUD TO REPRESENT USDA. FURTHERMORE, THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS IN LINE WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN OF WVSU IN THE PILLARS OF &#39;STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP. THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN CAPACITY, INCLUDING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, RECRUITMENT, AND RETENTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, AND RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR A DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

ALGAL-DERIVED FUNCTIONAL COMPOUNDS COULD IMPROVE THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF A PLANT-BASED DIET WHILE PROVIDING AQUAFEED THAT OFFERS RELIABLE ECONOMICAL AND COST-EFFECTIVE REPLACEMENT FOR FISHMEAL AND FISH OIL. THE INITIATIVE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE FISH FARMERS WITH AN ALTERNATIVE AQUAFEED FORTIFIED WITH ALGAE WHILE OFFERING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS TO BECOME A TALENTED WORKFORCE IN RELIABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES. MOREOVER, IT COULD REDUCE FEED COSTS INCREASE ACCESS TO AQUACULTURE AND ULTIMATELY ENHANCE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF RAINBOW TROUT. WE AIM TO PROVIDE A PERSPECTIVE ON HOW ALGAL-DERIVED FUNCTIONAL FOODS CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE RAINBOW TROUT PLANT-BASED DIETS BY UTILIZING HIGH-RESOLUTION METABOLOMIC AND TRANSCRIPTOMIC TECHNIQUES TO UNCOVER THE UNDERLYING BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS BEHIND THESE IMPROVEMENTS. OBJECTIVE 1-ASSESS THE NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY AND EFFECTS OF ALGAL SUPPLEMENTATION ON RAINBOW TROUT BY ANALYZING PROXIMATE COMPOSITIONS (MOISTURE CRUDE PROTEIN CRUDE FAT ASH FIBER); OBJECTIVE 2- EVALUATE THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND FEED EFFICIENCY OF RAINBOW TROUT FED WITH PLANT-BASED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ALGAL-DERIVED FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS OBJECTIVE 3- INVESTIGATE THE METABOLIC PATHWAYS AFFECTED BY ALGAL-DERIVED FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN A PLANT-BASED DIET USING ADVANCED METABOLOMIC TECHNIQUES IN RAINBOW TROUT TISSUES; OBJECTIVE 4- ANALYZE TRANSCRIPTOMIC DATA TO IDENTIFY GENE EXPRESSION CHANGES RELATED TO GROWTH DIGESTION NUTRIENT ABSORPTION AND IMMUNE RESPONSE IN RAINBOW TROUT FED ALGAL-SUPPLEMENTED DIETS REVEALING MOLECULAR MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CHANGES; OBJECTIVE; 5-DESIGN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO PROMOTE A CULTURE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AMONG THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCHOLARS. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS EXECUTIVE ORDERS RELATED TO AQUACULTURE.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RIVERS REPRESENT A CONFLUENCE OF NATURAL AND HUMAN-ALTERED ENVIRONMENTS AND PROCESSES. RIVER WATER QUALITY FLOWS FROM LINKAGES AMONG MUNICIPAL, AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL INPUTS, REGIONAL GEOLOGY, RIVER MANAGEMENT, AND CONTINENTAL CLIMATE PATTERNS. THE INTERSECTION OF THESE FORCES IS MEDIATED BY THE METABOLISM OF RIVER MICROORGANISMS (MICROBIOMES) THAT RESIDE IN THE WATER AND SEDIMENT. WHILE THE INCREDIBLE METABOLIC DIVERSITY OF RIVER MICROBIOMES IS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY, IT CAN ALSO MAGNIFY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH NUTRIENT POLLUTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS. THE KANAWHA-NEW RIVER BASIN ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 12,000 SQUARE MILES OF APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. THE LOWER KANAWHA RIVER, IN THE CHARLESTON METROPOLITAN AREA, EXPERIENCES DRAMATIC CHANGES IN DISCHARGE RATE, WATER CHEMISTRY, AND WATER QUALITY FOLLOWING LARGE STORM EVENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES ANTICIPATE THAT THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY OF STORMS WILL INCREASE. THEREFORE, STORM EVENTS MAY SIMULTANEOUSLY EXACERBATE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS AND GHG EMISSIONS DUE TO PROCESS LINKAGES WITHIN THE SHARED RIVER MICROBIOME. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF STORM EVENTS ON WATER QUALITY, GHGS AND MICROBIOME PROCESSES IN THE KANAWHA RIVER WATERSHED. THIS RESEARCH IS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND WILL USE A SUITE OF TOOLS INCLUDING HYDROLOGY, HYDROCHEMISTRY, QUANTITATIVE MODELING, MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GENOMICS THAT WILL BUILD THE RESEARCH CAPACITY OF WVSU IN THE AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FRESHWATER SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY.

IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF GROWTH, NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AND MITOCHONDRIAL OXIDATIVE FUNCTION USING ALTERNATIVE FEED INGREDIENTS

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROPOSAL AIMS TO DEVELOP SPECIALTY WINTER SQUASHES BY PERFORMING MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION FOR ENHANCED FLAVOR AND NUTRACEUTICALS INVOLVING C. MAXIMA DIVERSE HORTICULTURE GROUPS TO CATER TO THE DEMAND OF CONSUMERS LOOKING FOR NEW AND INTERESTING VARIATIONS. WINTER SQUASH FRUIT SHAPES VARY FROM BANANA TO DRUM-SHAPED, TOP-SHAPED, FUSIFORM, AND OBLATE, WITH RIND COLORS RANGING FROM RED-ORANGE TO PINK-ORANGE, NEARLY WHITE, BLUISH-GRAY, INTENSE GREEN, AND BLACK-GREEN. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO DEVELOP PREBREEDING LINES THAT ARE NUTRACEUTICALLY ENRICHED AND ENHANCED FOR FLAVOR COMPOUNDS. WE AIM TO CHARACTERIZE C. MAXIMA GERMPLASM POOLS AND ADVANCE INTERSPECIFIC CROSS DERIVATIVES OF C. MOSCHATA X C. MAXIMA TO IDENTIFY NOVEL SQUASH CULTIVARS ENHANCED FOR FLAVOR, RESISTANCE, AND OTHER NUTRACEUTICAL TRAITS.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GENOMIC METHODS FACILITATED THE IDENTIFICATION OF ASSOCIATED QUANTITATIVE TRAIT NUCLEOTIDES (QTNS) EFFECTS RANGING FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE ON THE PHENOTYPE. THE TREND IS PYRAMIDING POSITIVE-EFFECT QTNS AND PURGING DELETERIOUS ALLELES WITH THE GENOME EDITING TECHNOLOGIES CALLED PAGE (I.E., PROMOTING ALLELES BY GENOME EDITING). MODERN CROP IMPROVEMENT IS BASED ON THE INTROGRESSION OF FAVORABLE ALLELES FROM LANDRACES AND KNOCKING OFF DELETERIOUS ALLELES THAT PASS ALONG THE DOMESTICATION AND BREEDING PROCESSES. TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THESE GENOMIC RESOURCES, WE NEED KNOWLEDGE OF DATA-DRIVEN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) METHODOLOGIES AND TO INTEGRATE WITH MODERN HIGH-THROUGHPUT TECHNOLOGIES. ML AND SYSTEMS GENOMICS HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVELY USED TO ANALYZE GENOMIC DATA. IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE ASSEMBLED INTRODUCTORY TUTORIAL MODULES FOR GENOMIC-DRIVEN IDENTIFICATION OF ALLELIC EFFECTS AND METHODS FOR BUILDING MULTIPLE FAVORABLE ALLELE RECOMBINANTS.THE PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE TEACHING CAPACITY IN THE AREA OF GENOME EDITING WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TOMATO AND PHENOMIC METHODS TO ACCELERATE THE IDENTIFICATION OF GENES UNDERLING VARIOUS TRAITS SUCH AS FRUIT COLORS AND OTHER FRUIT ATTRIBUTES INCLUDING SIZE AND SHAPE. THE NEWLY ACQUIRED INSTRUMENTATION THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALSO BE USED TO ORGANIZE PHENOMIC AND MACHINE LEARNING WORKSHOPS USING MECHANISMS UNDERLYING TOMATO FRUIT COLORS AND RELATED METABOLITES. THE PROPOSED INSTRUMENTATION WILL BENEFIT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER&#39;S STUDENTS IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY AT WVSU BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO GENOME ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES THROUGH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED COURSE AS WELL AS FACULTY-DIRECTED RESEARCH IN PLANT GENOMICS, METABOLOMICS, BIOINFORMATICS, AND MACHINE LEARNING.

STORIES OF CROP EVOLUTION BIODIVERSITY AND DOMESTICATION AND METHODS OF GENOMIC ASSISTED CROP IMPROVEMENT FOR CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF SWITCHGRASS FOR ENERGY USES

THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE KNOWLEDGE GAP IN SPECIALTY TREE SYRUP PRODUCTION,THEREBY EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES ANDFARMS. DESPITE AN ABUNDANCE OF SUITABLE TREES (BLACK WALNUT AND SYCAMORE) FOR SPECIALTY SYRUPPRODUCTION IN WEST VIRGINIA, THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE GAP REGARDINGSYRUP PROPERTIES AND OPTIMAL PRODUCTION CONDITIONS. PARTNERING WITH FUTURE GENERATIONUNIVERSITY AND UTILIZING THEIR ESTABLISHED NETWORK WITH LOCAL SYRUP PRODUCERS, THE PROJECT, DRIVENBY THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR&#39;S EXPERTISE IN FOOD SCIENCE, FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING SYRUPCHARACTERISTICS AND DEVELOPING VALUE-ADDED PROJECTS. DRAWING ON INSIGHTS FROM PREVIOUS ANDONGOING COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL SYRUP PRODUCERS, THE PROJECT TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL KEYCHALLENGES TO ADDRESS. THEREFORE, IT WILL PRIORITIZE ACHIEVING FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES: 1) IDENTIFY ANDVALIDATE PROCESSING CONDITIONS TO REMOVE OR SEPARATE THE PECTIN-LIKE SUBSTANCE AND BYPRODUCTOF BLACK WALNUT SYRUP DURING PRODUCTION, 2) ANALYZE THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTIMICROBIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BLACK WALNUT ANDSYCAMORE SYRUPS, 3)DEVELOP INNOVATIVE VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS USING SPECIALTY TREE SYRUPS, 4) ENGAGE WITH LOCAL SYRUPPRODUCTION COMMUNITIES TO SHARE FINDINGS AND PROMOTE SPECIALTY TREE SYRUP PRODUCTION. THROUGHINTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, THE PROJECT AIMS TO BRING DIRECTBENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE, AND HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS,ENHANCING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHIN THE RURALSYRUP COMMUNITY. MOREOVER, STUDENTS WILL GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY FOODAND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TEACHING PROGRAM TO STUDY GENETIC PROCESSES AS ELUCIDATED BY MACHINE LEARNING AND PHENOMICS (WHICH HAVE SO FAR NOT BEEN WELL APPLIED IN TODAY&#39;S CROP PHENOMICS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS), WHILE EXPLORING MODERN STRATEGIES OF GENOMICS. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL PREPARE STUDENTS TO USE UP-TO-DATE PHENOMIC TOOLS THAT HAVE ALLOWED PLANT BREEDERS TO EXTRACT IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CROP GENOMES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PROPOSAL ISTRAINING OUR STUDENTS IN THE PHENOMIC PIPELINE AND ITS ROLE IN CROP PHENOMICS ANALYSES. WE OFFER OUR EXPERIENCE WITH VARIOUS PROJECTS AS TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE RESEARCH-BASED TEACHING OF SCIENCE AND FOR A RICH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE FOR OTHER FACULTY. PLANT BREEDING HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED BY ML DRIVEN PHENOMICS APPROACHES OF CROP PLANTS. AIDED BY THE REVOLUTION IN ML AND PHENOMICS TECHNOLOGY, PROSPECTS FOR IMPROVING SUSTAINABLE YIELD AND QUALITY OF CROPS HAS CAUGHT THE PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL EYE. ML AND PHENOMICS IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE DETECTION AND LARGE-SCALE SCREENING OF GERMPLASM ACCESSIONS FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT. THE RAPID GROWTH IN THE FIELD OF ML AND SYSTEMS GENOMICS HAS TRIGGERED TODAY&#39;S SEVERE SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE SKILLED IN PHENOMICS ARE REGULARLY ANNOUNCED ON THE WEB (E.G., SCIENCE MAGAZINE) AND IN JOURNALS SUCH AS PLANT GENOMICS AND AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGY. WITH THE INCREASE IN NEED FOR PLANT BREEDERS AND GENETICISTS WITH TRAINING IN ML AND PHENOMIC PIPELINES IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND IN OUT-SOURCING OF SEQUENCING WORK BY MULTINATIONAL SEED COMPANIES, DEMAND FOR TRAINED PERSONNEL WILL CORRESPONDINGLY INCREASE.

PHENOMICS FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT: TOOLS TO CREATE NEXT GENERATION PLANT BREEDERS

ARSENIC (AS) CONTAMINATION IN SOIL AND WATER POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SAFETY. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP ARSENIC-TOLERANT WATERMELON VARIETIES TO ENSURE SAFER FOOD PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING. BY STUDYING A DIVERSE RANGE OF WATERMELON PLANTS, WE SEEK TO IDENTIFY THOSE THAT NATURALLY ABSORB LESS ARSENIC FROM THE SOIL.THROUGH ADVANCED GENETIC ANALYSIS, WE ARE PINPOINTING KEY PLANT TRAITS AND GENETIC FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LOWER ARSENIC ACCUMULATION. THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR BREEDING NEW WATERMELON VARIETIES THAT ARE NATURALLY RESISTANT TO ARSENIC UPTAKE, MAKING THEM SAFER FOR CONSUMPTION.BY INTEGRATING LABORATORY RESEARCH WITH REAL-WORLD FIELD TESTING, THIS PROJECT STRIVES TO DEVELOP DELICIOUS, HIGH-QUALITY, AND ARSENIC-SAFE WATERMELONS, ADDRESSING HEALTH CONCERNS WHILE PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.

DEVELOPMENT OF VALUE ADDED PEPPERS USING GENOMIC DRIVEN ASSOCIATION MAPPING

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES A PLAN TO TACKLE ANTHRACNOSE, A HARMFUL FUNGAL DISEASE AFFECTING KEY CROPS LIKE TOMATOES AND PEPPERS. ANTHRACNOSE CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THESE CROPS, LEADING TO MAJOR LOSSES FOR FARMERS AND THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. TO COMBAT THIS, THE PROPOSAL SUGGESTS CREATING GENETIC TOOLS AND RESOURCES AIMED AT DEVELOPING CROP VARIETIES RESISTANT TO THE DISEASE. THE STRATEGY INVOLVES A DETAILED STUDY OF THE CROPS&#39; GENETIC RESPONSE TO THE FUNGUS BY EXAMINING THE RNA FROM INFECTED FRUIT TISSUES. BY COMPARING THESE FINDINGS WITH HEALTHY CONTROLS, THE RESEARCHERS HOPE TO PINPOINT SPECIFIC GENES AND GENETIC REGIONS (QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI OR QTLS) THAT PLAY A ROLE IN RESISTANCE TO ANTHRACNOSE. THE PLAN INCLUDES USING CUTTING-EDGE DNA TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY THESE CRITICAL GENES ACROSS DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CAPSICUM (THE PEPPER PLANT FAMILY) AND THEN TESTING THESE PLANTS FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE. A KEY PART OF THE PROPOSAL IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DNA-BASED TESTS (PACE ASSAYS) THAT CAN QUICKLY IDENTIFY PLANTS WITH THE DESIRED RESISTANT TRAITS. THESE TESTS WILL HELP IN SELECTING THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR BREEDING ANTHRACNOSE-RESISTANT TOMATOES AND PEPPERS. BEYOND THE SCIENTIFIC GOALS, THE PROJECT EMPHASIZES COLLABORATION WITH FARMERS, INDUSTRY EXPERTS, AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCHERS TO ENSURE THE RESULTS ARE PRACTICAL AND BENEFICIAL FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. IT ALSO AIMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF PLANT BREEDING AND GENETICS. OVERALL, THE PROPOSAL OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPING STRONGER, DISEASE-RESISTANT CROPS, WHICH COULD HAVE A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY.

BIOENGINEERING THE CARBOXYLATE PLATFORM IN THERMOPLYLIC ANAEROBIC MICROBIOMES

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT IS DEDICATED TO TACKLING THE ISSUE OF SE ACCUMULATION IN WATERMELON, AIMING TO MAKE THESE POPULAR FRUITS SAFER FOR CONSUMPTION. BY EXPLORING A WIDE VARIETY OF WATERMELON PLANTS, THE GOAL IS TO FIND THOSE THAT NATURALLY TAKE UP LESS SE FROM THE SOIL. THROUGH ADVANCED GENETIC ANALYSIS, WE&#39;RE IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC PLANT TYPES AND GENETIC FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LOWER SE LEVELS. THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL BE INVALUABLE FOR BREEDING NEW WATERMELON VARIETIES THAT ARE NATURALLY LESS PRONE TO SE ACCUMULATION, ENSURING THEY&#39;RE SAFER TO EAT. IN ESSENCE, THE PROJECT COMBINES LABORATORY RESEARCH WITH PRACTICAL FIELD TESTS TO DEVELOP WATERMELONS THAT ARE BOTH DELICIOUS AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE, ADDRESSING HEALTH CONCERNS AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WITH ITS HIGH ECONOMIC VALUE AND MULTIPLE USES, SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR.) IS AN OILSEED CROP THAT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING INCREASING GLOBAL DEMAND IN THE FOOD, FEED, FUEL, AND CHEMICAL SECTORS. HOWEVER, AS WE ENTER AN ERA IN WHICH GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION IS LIKELY TO DOUBLE AS THE HUMAN POPULATION INCREASES, USING PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND RESOURCES FOR FOOD, FEED, AND ENERGY PRODUCTION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE BECOMES AN EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL BREEDING AND AGRONOMIC PRACTICES HAVE STEADILY INCREASED SOYBEAN SEED YIELDS AND TOLERANCE TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESSES, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IN ENHANCING SEED YIELD. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE CONSTRAINTS OF RELATIVELY LIMITED GENETIC DIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO CROPS SUCH AS MAIZE, FURTHER GAINS FROM SOYBEAN BREEDING MAY BE INCREMENTAL. WE AIM TO HAVE SOLAR RADIATION STRESS TOLERANCE IN SOYBEAN PLANTS AND ENHANCE SEED YIELD. DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS SUCH AS GENE CONSTRUCTS, AGROBACTERIUM-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION, MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL METHODS, AND TRANSGENIC SOYBEAN LINES WITH ALTERED SEED COMPOUNDS WILL BE NECESSARY FOR SCIENTISTS WORKING IN BASIC AND APPLIED ENERGY RESEARCH. SHARING LARGE-SCALE SEQUENCING AND LIPIDOMICS DATA IN THIS PROJECT WITH THE BROADER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT CROP IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH PROJECTS.

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF NATURAL PLANT COMPOUNDS, CALLED PHYTOCHEMICALS, IN TREATING TWO CHALLENGING TYPES OF CANCER: RENAL CELL CARCINOMA (KIDNEY CANCER) AND GLIOBLASTOMA (BRAIN CANCER). THESE CANCERS OFTEN RESIST CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS, MAKING NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES CRUCIAL. THE RESEARCH FOCUSES ON SEVERAL SPECIFIC PHYTOCHEMICALS, INCLUDING CAPSAICIN (FOUND IN CHILI PEPPERS), CURCUMIN (FROM TURMERIC), THYMOQUINONE (FROM BLACK CUMIN SEED OIL), AND EXTRACTS FROM BLUEBERRIES AND BITTER GOURD. THESE COMPOUNDS HAVE SHOWN PROMISE IN EARLY STUDIES FOR THEIR ABILITY TO FIGHT CANCER CELLS WHILE CAUSING MINIMAL HARM TO HEALTHY CELLS. THE PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE HOW THESE PHYTOCHEMICALS AFFECT CANCER CELLS, PARTICULARLY THEIR ABILITY TO TRIGGER APOPTOSIS, A FORM OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH THAT CAN HELP ELIMINATE CANCER CELLS. THE RESEARCHERS WILL USE ADVANCED LABORATORY TECHNIQUES TO EXAMINE HOW CANCER CELLS RESPOND TO THESE PHYTOCHEMICALS AT THE GENETIC LEVEL. THIS INVOLVES ANALYZING CHANGES IN GENE ACTIVITY (KNOWN AS TRANSCRIPTOME ANALYSIS) TO UNDERSTAND WHICH GENES AND CELLULAR PATHWAYS ARE AFFECTED BY THE TREATMENT. THIS INFORMATION COULD REVEAL NEW TARGETS FOR CANCER THERAPY AND HELP EXPLAIN WHY THESE NATURAL COMPOUNDS MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST CANCER. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO USE A CUTTING-EDGE GENE EDITING TECHNIQUE CALLED CRISPR TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER THE ROLES OF SPECIFIC GENES IDENTIFIED IN THE EARLIER EXPERIMENTS. BY SELECTIVELY REMOVING OR ALTERING THESE GENES, THE RESEARCHERS CAN CONFIRM THEIR IMPORTANCE IN HOW CANCER CELLS RESPOND TO PHYTOCHEMICAL TREATMENT. BEYOND THE LABORATORY WORK, THIS PROJECT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY&#39;S RESEARCH CAPABILITIES, PROVIDING STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN ADVANCED CANCER RESEARCH TECHNIQUES. THE FINDINGS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE UNIVERSITY&#39;S CURRICULUM, HELPING TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF CANCER RESEARCHERS. THE RESEARCHERS ALSO PLAN TO ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS, SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING. THIS ASPECT OF THE PROJECT RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION IN CANCER PREVENTION. ULTIMATELY, THIS RESEARCH COULD LEAD TO NEW, LESS TOXIC CANCER TREATMENTS BASED ON NATURAL COMPOUNDS. IT MAY ALSO PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO HOW THESE PHYTOCHEMICALS COULD BE USED ALONGSIDE EXISTING CANCER THERAPIES TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. WHILE THE ROAD FROM LABORATORY FINDINGS TO NEW CANCER TREATMENTS IS LONG, THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN EXPLORING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO COMBAT THESE CHALLENGING FORMS OF CANCER.

GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION MAPPING FOR IMPROVING NUTRACEUTICAL TRAITS IN PUMPKIN AND SQUASH

ENGAGING STUDENTS IN GLOBAL GENOMIC RESEARCH THROUGH CGIAR VISITS AND INDEPENDENT NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING PROJECTS

COMBINING GENOMIC RESOURCES WITH SPEED BREEDING WILL HELP ADVANCE BREEDING CYCLES IN PEPPERS, THUS FURTHER ACCELERATING THE INTROGRESSION PROCESS. IN A BREEDING CONTEXT, RAPID GENERATION ADVANCE TO HOMOZYGOSITY AFTER CROSSING WILL FACILITATE GENETIC GAINS FOR KEY TRAITS AND ALLOW FOR MORE RAPID PRODUCTION OF IMPROVED CULTIVARS BY BREEDING PROGRAMS. FRUIT WEIGHT, SHAPE AND COLOR ARE MAJOR TRAITS THAT DETERMINE THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF THE PEPPER FRUIT. FRUIT WEIGHT AND SHAPE ARE QUANTITATIVELY INHERITED TRAITS WITH LARGE NATURAL VARIATION IN CAPSICUM. HOWEVER, MOST STUDIES HAVE USED LOW-RESOLUTION MAPPING POPULATIONS OR LACKED FUNCTIONAL TESTS TO PROVE THE EFFECT OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATE GENES AND THEREFORE WERE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE UNDERLYING GENES. BY COMBING HIGH-RESOLUTION MAPPING, ENRICHMENT OF MARKERS IN THE QTL REGIONS USING NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING (NGS) TECHNOLOGIES AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED GENES BY TRANSCRIPTOME ANALYSIS, WE WILL IDENTIFY A SET OF CANDIDATE GENES FOR THE FRUIT SHAPE.

UNDERSTANDING SEGREGATION DISTORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE BARRIERS IMPROVES BREEDERS ABILITY TO TRANSFER TRAITS FROM WILD SPECIES TO CULTIVATED

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT AIMS TO REVOLUTIONIZE MELON BREEDING BY INTEGRATING CUTTING-EDGE GENOMIC TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE YIELD, QUALITY, AND DISEASE RESISTANCE IN MELON VARIETIES. WITH MELONS FACING CHALLENGES SUCH AS COMPLEX TRAIT INHERITANCE AND LOW HERITABILITY, OUR STRATEGY INVOLVES TAPPING INTO THE VAST GENETIC DIVERSITY OF MELONS, INCLUDING WILD VARIETIES, TO IDENTIFY AND INTRODUCE BENEFICIAL TRAITS. DRIVEN BY A TEAM OF EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS FIELDS, INCLUDING PLANT BREEDING, GENETICS, AND BIOINFORMATICS, WE ARE PIONEERING APPROACHES LIKE GENOMIC SELECTION (GS) TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERIOR MELON VARIETIES. THIS EFFORT IS UNDERPINNED BY THE MOLECULAR EXPLORATION OF MELONS, LEVERAGING SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS (SNPS) FOR PRECISE TRAIT SELECTION. OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ALSO EXTENDS TO EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AIMING TO ENRICH STUDENT LEARNING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN GENOMICS AND CROP IMPROVEMENT AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU), AN INSTITUTION WITH A RENEWED FOCUS ON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AS AN 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION. THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY ADDRESSES THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF U.S. MELON GROWERS FOR DIVERSE, DISEASE-RESISTANT CROPS BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE BROADER GOALS OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE AND LEVERAGING THE LATEST IN GENOMIC RESEARCH, WE ARE SET TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN MELON BREEDING, OFFERING PROMISING PROSPECTS FOR STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AS WE ENTER AN ERA IN WHICH GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION IS LIKELY TO DOUBLE AS THE HUMAN POPULATION INCREASES, SHARING PRIME AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND ENERGY PRODUCTION BECOMES AN EVEN GREATER CHALLENGE. A BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES THE CULTIVATION OF AN ENERGY CROP ON A VAST AREA OF MARGINAL LANDS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. GIVEN THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF SEED COMPOUNDS, AGRICULTURE-BREEDING RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED EXTENSIVELY ON IMPROVING TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE COMPOUNDS. METABOLIC ENGINEERING STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE SEED COMPOUNDS IN CROPS. RECENTLY, THE USE OF METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND CRISPR/CAS9 IN ENERGY CROPS IMPROVED THE PRODUCTION OF OLEIC ACID IN THE SEEDS FOR IMPROVED OIL OXIDATIVE STABILITY AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO GENERATE OIL-RICH CAMELINA PLANTS CAPABLE OF GROWING ON LARGE AREAS OF APPALACHIAN SURFACE COAL MINE LANDS. DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS SUCH AS TRANSCRIPTOMICAND METABOLOMICS DATA, GENE CONSTRUCTS AND GENOME-EDITED TRANSGENIC LINES IN ARABIDOPSIS AND CAMELINA, WILL BE OF IMPORTANCE TO SCIENTISTS WORKING IN BASIC AND APPLIED ENERGY RESEARCH. SHARING OF LARGE-SCALE SEQUENCING DATA IN THIS PROJECT WITH THE BROADER SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO MODEL AND CROP PLANTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR MISSION AS AN 1890 LAND GRANT INSTITUTION, OUR PRINCIPAL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE STEM-CENTRIC LEARNING AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY (AND OFTEN FIRST-GENERATION) COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO COME FROM A REGION WITH THE LOWEST COLLEGE ATTENDANCE RATE IN THE NATION.

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH OF GENOMICS AND METABOLOMICS FOR INCORPORATION OF WHITEFLY RESISTANCE IN CULTIVATED WATERMELON

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** A GLOBAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL AGRICULTURE (CEA) HAS GAINED INCREASING ATTENTION, WITH MICROGREENS BEING AN IDEAL CANDIDATE CROP TO BE GROWN IN SUCH CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS. NEVERTHELESS, THERE EXIST RESEARCH GAPS PERTAINING TO THE PERSISTENCE, SURVIVAL, AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DECONTAMINATION STRATEGIES DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT GROWING SUBSTRATES, INITIAL MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF SEEDS, GROWING AND POST-HARVEST CONDITIONS, AND DIFFERENT SEED VARIETIES. THESE ASPECTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH BASELINE DATA SPECIFIC TO SAFE CEA PRACTICES. GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIOR AND INTERACTIONS OF THESE FOODBORNE PATHOGENS WITHIN THESE UNIQUE GROWING CONDITIONS WILL ILLUMINATE POTENTIAL RISKS FROM MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN CEA, AS WELL AS AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVENTION METHODS. THE WORK AIMS TO EVALUATE SEED DECONTAMINATION TECHNIQUES COMMONLY USED AMONG SMALL-SCALE GROWERS AND DEVELOP NOVEL APPROACH, SUCH AS USING HYDROGELS AND PHOTODYNAMIC INACTIVATION. ADDITIONALLY, THIS STUDY WILL INVESTIGATE THE SURVIVAL, PERSISTENCE, GROWTH, AND ITS BIOFILM FORMATION OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN DIFFERENT GROWING AND STORAGE CONDITIONS, AND EXPLORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE ERADICATION STRATEGIES. FURTHERMORE, THIS WORK WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF SCIENTIFIC-BASED KNOWLEDGE ON SAFE MICROGREEN PRODUCTION PRACTICES. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL HOST IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS FOR SMALL GROWERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO PROMOTE SAFE MICROGREEN CULTIVATION, PARTNERED WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THE PROJECT WILL GAIN VALUABLE HANDS-ON TRAINING TO ENHANCE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. THE RESULTING DATA WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND LONGSTANDING RELEVANCE TO SMALL-SCALE GROWERS AND CONSUMERS ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA AND BEYOND.

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RIVERS ARE THE MOST HEAVILY USED AND DAMAGED FRESHWATER RESOURCE IN THE WORLD. DAMAGE TO NATURAL RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS ARISES FROM A MULTITUDE OF DIVERSE STRESSORS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY COMMON AGRICULTURAL, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES ACROSS WATERSHEDS. PREVIOUS RESEARCH THAT COMPARED TYPICAL LAKE STRESSORS TO RIVERS FOUND THAT WHILE LAKES ARE MOST OFTEN DAMAGED BY EXCESS NUTRIENTS, RIVERS ARE IMPACTED BY MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRESSORS. THIS MAKES THE DIAGNOSIS OF CAUSES FOR RIVER WATER QUALITY DECLINE AS WELL AS PROGNOSIS FOR RECOVERY QUITE DIFFICULT. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE PREDICTION OF STRESS EFFECTS AND ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IS THE MIXING OF MULTIPLE STRESSORS WHEN SUBCATCHMENT STREAMS MERGE. MERGERS ARE FURTHER AFFECTED BY MICROBIOME DIVERSITY WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY ENHANCE OR DIMINISH THE EFFECTS OF COMBINED STRESSORS. THIS STUDY WILL EXAMINE WHETHER A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS AND HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES AFFECT RIVERINE ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES AND WATER QUALITY IN KANAWHA RIVER (WV). THIS WATERSHED OF 31,000 SQUARE KM LIES IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIAN REGION. MOREOVER, WV IS A HEADWATERS STATE WITH THOUSANDS OF STREAMS THAT ARISE IN THE MOUNTAINS, EMPTY INTO KANAWHA RIVER, AND EVENTUALLY INTO OHIO RIVER. SUBCATCHMENTS WITHIN THIS WATERSHED ACQUIRE QUITE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEMICAL STRESSORS, SUCH AS WASTEWATER EFFLUENT AND ACID MINE DRAINAGE, THAT COMBINE DOWNSTREAM. THIS RESEARCH WILL USE ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND MICROBIOME ANALYSIS TO INVESTIGATE HOW COMBINATIONS OF STRESSORS AFFECT RIVERINE ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES. FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF RIVER CHEMISTRY WILL BE JOINED WITH LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS THAT USE MICROCOSMS TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUAL AND MIXED STRESSORS ON THE MICROBIAL CARBON CYCLE. THE RESEARCH IS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND WILL USE HYDROLOGY, ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, MODELING, MICROBIAL ECOLOGY AND GENOMICS THAT WILL BUILD THE RESEARCH CAPACITY OF WVSU IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY.

HARNESSING WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCE OF PEPPER FOR ASSOCIATION MAPPING OF NOVEL FRUIT QUALITY PHENOTYPES WITH ENHANCED PHYTONUTRIENTS

ASSOC. OF GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES OF OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION AND NUTRIENT EFF., GROWTH AND DEV. IN DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES OF RAINBOW TROUT

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

1890 RESEARCH PROGRAMS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA EXTENSION SERVICE ACTIVITIES

1890 EXTENSION PROGRAMS AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

DEV. COST-EFFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL REMOVAL TECHNOLOGY FOR SELENIUM & NITRATE FROM FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION WASTEWATER FROM EXISTING POWER GENERATING FAC.

BUILDING CAPACITY OF COLD STORAGE RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL AND URBAN FARMERS IN WEST VIRGINIA ??? A PILOT PROGRAM

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHERE WE LOVE IS HOME---HOME THAT OUR FEET MAY LEAVE, BUT NOT OUR HEARTS. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SAID, I THINK, WHAT MOST WEST VIRGINIANS BELIEVE ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. SOMETIMES WE MOVE AWAY--SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FOR GREAT OPPORTUNITIES---BUT OUR HEARTS ARE ALWAYS IN THE FOOTHILLS AND FORESTS. SOWING YOUNG SPROUTS (SYS) AIMS TO INSTILL A LOVE NOT JUST OF APPALACHIA, BUT OF NATURE ITSELF, OF EARTH; TO OPEN YOUTH TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD IN STEM FIELDS CONNECTED WITH NATURE, AGRICULTURE, AND CONSERVATION; AND, IN THE PROCESS, CHANGE THEIR RELATIONSHIPWITH SCIENCE AND BROADEN THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE.WV RANKS 43RD IN EDUCATION IN THE U.S. IN 2020, 74% OF WV FOURTH-GRADERS WERE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING (ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION, 2021). HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT? THE ONLY PATH, MAYBE EVEN THE BEST PATH, IS NOT THROUGH FORMAL EDUCATION. NOT WHEN WE KNOW THAT ONLY 20% OF A CHILD&#39;S LEARNING TIME IS IN A FORMAL SETTING (MORRIS ET AL., 2019). SYS WILL LEVERAGE THAT INFORMAL TIME BY SHIPPING HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING KITS DIRECT TO YOUTH---YOUTH WHO ARE HOMEBOUND OR SIMPLY UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TRADITIONAL MODELS OF 4-H CLUBS, YOUTH WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE INTERNET. THESE KITS WILL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAP MAPLE TREES AND MAKE THEIR OWN MAPLE SUGAR, TO BUILD POLLINATOR GARDENS, TO EXPLORE WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION IN REAL WAYS THAT PUT THEM INTO THE ENVIRONMENT AND LET THEM TAKE THE LEAD AS FARMERS, SCIENTISTS, AND CONSERVATIONISTS. WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE WV DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WV CONSERVATION AGENCY, AND THE WV RAPTOR REHABILITATION CENTER EACH KIT WILL HAVE A UNIQUE FOCUS WITH CURRICULA DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUBJECT EXPERTS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE EXACT CAREER FIELDS THE YOUTH WILL BE EXPOSED TO. THROUGH ONLINE EXPERIENCES, PARTICIPANTS WILL MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER, 4-H AGENTS, AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS. THEY&#39;LL ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET UP IN PERSON AT EVENT DAYS WHERE THEY MIGHT MEET AN OWL GETTING REHABILITATED OR EXPLORE THE WVCA&#39;S SOIL TUNNEL TRAILER.THE PROGRAM WILL PRODUCE CURRICULA AND KITS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE MADE AVAILABLE, AT A COST, TO EDUCATORS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. THIS COST WILL HELP SUPPORT CONTINUING AND EXPANDING THE PROGRAM, FOR FREE, TO WV YOUTH. ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL COMPLETE PRE AND POST-SURVEYS SO THE SYS TEAM CAN GAUGE THE SUCCESS OF THE ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULA, CHANGING THEM AS NEEDED. PARTICIPANTS&#39; ADULTS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO COMPLETE SURVEYS ON THE PROGRAM, SO WE CAN GAUGE ITS RESPONSIVENESS AND APPROACH. FINALLY, A 4-H ADVISORY BOARD WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO HELP ENSURE THE TEAM IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING DEADLINES AND MOVING FORWARD AS INTENDED. THE BOARD WILL ALSO BE A MUCH-NEEDED FORUM FOR ONGOING STAKEHOLDER INPUT.WE BELIEVE THIS EXTENSIVE EVALUATION WILL SHOW THAT THE PROGRAM WILL HELP YOUTH HAVE MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT SCIENCE AS WELL AS THEIR BELIEF IN THEIR ABILITY TO DO SCIENCE. WE WANT YOUTH TO LEARN TO BE OPEN TO CHALLENGE AND DISCOVERY, TO BELIEVE THAT EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE HARD THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH THEM WITH HELP AND PERSEVERANCE. IN THE PURSUIT OF THAT, WE EXPECT THEY WILL ALSO LEARN MORE FACTS AND PRACTICES, BUT IT IS THAT QUESTIONING MINDSET, THAT CURIOSITY AND BELIEF IN SELF, THAT ARE MOST VITAL TO LEADING A HAPPY, FULFILLED, AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE; ULTIMATELY, THOSE INNER RESILIENCIES WILL SERVE THEM IN THE FUTURE CAREERS IN STEM WE HOPE THEY PURSUE.THE BROADER IMPACT TO THE WORLD IS BEST SUMMED UP BY JANE GOODALL: ONLY IF WE UNDERSTAND, WILL WE CARE. ONLY IF WE CARE, WILL WE HELP. ONLY IF WE HELP, SHALL ALL BE SAVED. CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE REFUGEES AREN&#39;T SOMETHING OF THE FUTURE, THEY EXIST NOW. SPECIES HAVE GONE EXTINCT IN THELIFETIME OF A CURRENT THIRD-GRADER. IN WV, YOUTH IN MANY AREAS HAVE EXPERIENCED NOT HAVING POTABLE WATER FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS DUE TO THE IMPACT OFPEOPLE. A FUTURE THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR EVERYONE RELIES ON SCIENCE AND SCIENCE THAT SEES CONSERVATION AS A RESPONSIBILITY INHERENT IN ITS WORK. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT FUTURE, WE NEED PEOPLE---AND ESPECIALLY SCIENTISTS---THAT CARE FOR THE WORLD. THE BEST WAY TO COME TO CARE IS THROUGH CONNECTION. SYS WILL FOSTER THAT CONNECTION, ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY, AND HOPEFULLY BE A SMALL PART IN CREATING A WORLD THAT IS POPULATED BY THOSE WHO AIM TO DO WORK THAT CHANGES THE WORLD IN POSITIVE WAYS, THAT SEES SCIENCE AS A FORCE OF CREATIVE GOOD, AND THEN WORKS TO MAKE IT EXACTLY THAT.

4-H FAMILY GROWTH

APPLICATION OF GENOMIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR APPALACHIAN MINE SOIL RECLAMATION

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** REGULATING A RIVER HAS MULTIPLE BENEFITS SUCH AS TRANSPORT, IRRIGATION, FLOODING CONTROL, HYDROPOWER ELECTRICITY AND ALSO IN DRINKING WATER SUPPLY. THIS REGULATION MODIFIES THE NATURAL RIVER FLOW BY IMPOSING FIELD CONDITIONS TO THE AQUATIC LIFE AND WATER QUALITY. THE IMPOSED FIELD CONDITIONS FAVOR THE PRODUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES SUCH AS METHANE, NITROUS OXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE WHICH ARE EMITTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE. FOR EXAMPLE, METHANE IS A POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS OF CONCERN IN CLIMATE CHANGE. GREENHOUSE GASES ARE EASILY IDENTIFIED BY BUBBLING IN SHALLOW BAY ZONES WHERE SEDIMENTATION AND STAGNANT WATER OCCUR. TO KNOW THE ROLE OF WATER QUALITY, ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND SEDIMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES, THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON THE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS PRODUCING METHANE AND CARBON DIOXIDE FOR THE KANAWHA RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA AS AN EXAMPLE OF A REGULATED RIVER. THE HIGH TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES WILL BE INVESTIGATED WITH THE AIM TO EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF WATER QUALITY. ALSO, THE USE OF STATISTICS WILL ALLOW TO IDENTIFY THE MORE IMPORTANT WATER QUALITY VARIABLES DETERMINING GREENHOUSE GASES AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITIES TO REDUCE INSTRUMENTATION IN THE FIELD. FINALLY, FIELD DATA COLLECTION AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES WILL SERVE AS A FRAMEWORK TO KNOW THE IMPACT OF GREENHOUSE GASES FROM REGULATED RIVERS IN OTHER REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND ELSEWHERE.

THE LACK OF URBAN TREE CARE KNOWLEDGELENDS TO DIMINISHED ECOSYSTEM BENEFIT RETURNS ON URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTS IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE THE EASTERN PANHANDLE. ALACK OF STATE FUNDING FOR URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAMMING AND STAFF FURTHER COMPLICATES KNOWLEDGE DELIVERY. THIS WEST VIRGINIA TREE MINDERS (WVTM) PROGRAM SEEKS TO PUT THE POWER OF URBAN AND COMMUNITY TREE MANAGEMENT IN THE HANDS OF COMMUNITIES, ALLOWING THEM A DEGREE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING COMMUNITY TREE CARE.ONLINE, SELF-PACED TREE CARE LESSONS WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED WITHTECHNICAL SUPPORT AND HANDS-ON TRAINING FROM THE WVTM TEAM, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF WV STATE UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURE &AMP; NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION SERVICE (WVSUES) AND THE WV DIVISION OF FORESTRY (WVDOF) URBAN &AMP; COMMUNITY FORESTRY (UCF) PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW FOR MORE WIDESPREAD ACCESS TO UCF KNOWLEDGE SPECIFIC TO ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY WV COMMUNITIES WHILE MAXIMIZING IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING WITH LIMITED STAFF. THESE LESSONS WILL ALSO BE INTEGRATED INTO FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCE CURRICULA IN SEVERAL SMALLER WV COLLEGES WHERE THERE IS NO URBAN FORESTRY COURSE, PROVIDING A PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THIS UP-AND-COMING GREEN FIELD. STUDENT INTERNSHIPS WILL ALSO PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS OF URBAN CANOPY COVERAGE INCLUDEPOSITIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN HEALTH, WATER QUALITY, ENERGY SAVINGS, AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY. EXPECTED RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE MORE COMMUNITIES PLANTING AND ACTIVELY MANAGING URBAN TREES AND PARTICIPATING IN OTHER URBAN FORESTRY-RELATED PROGRAMMING AND FUNDING, AS WELL ASMORE WV STUDENTS ENTERING THE URBAN FORESTRY OR OTHER SERVICE ORGANIZATION WORKFORCE. THE WV TREE MINDERS PROGRAM WILL BE A HUB OF URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY CONTENT AND TRAINING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE AGENCIES, EXTENSION, AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY, PROVIDING A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM OF EXPERTISE, EVENTS, AND CONTACTS SPECIFIC TO THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.

INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF WEST VIRGINIA VETERAN AND MINORITY FARMERS THROUGH EDUCATION AND DEMONSTRATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AN

WEST VIRGINIA MINORITIES

WEST VIRGINIA MINORITY AND VETERAN URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM

KANAWHA VALLEY VETER

OASIS IN THE DESERT: PROVIDING FOOD ACCESS AND PRODUCTION TRINING TO THE MINORITY AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS OF CHARLESTON'S WEST END AND BEYOND THROUGH WVSU'S REBECCA STREET URBAN FARM INITIATIVE

CULTIVATING YOUNG AGRIPRENEURS

WVSU COLD CHAIN INITIATIVE

AN AUTOMATED ANALYZER SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN TEACHING AND RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

WVSU MCINTIRE-STENNIS FY2021

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND CROP BIODIVERSITY AS RECRUITING TOOLS: LINKING HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE WITH ONGOING RESEARCH

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY MCINTIRE?STENNIS 2023 PROJECT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EVALUATE STREAM WATER QUALITY IN REFORESTED, DRASTICALLY DISTURBED WATERSHEDS IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA. A PAIRED?WATERSHED STUDY IS CONDUCTED WHERE STREAM WATER QUALITY OF PREVIOUSLY RECLAIMED SURFACE COAL MINING HEADWATER IS COMPARED TO THAT OF AN ADJACENT NON?DISTURBED HEADWATER. THE TWO HEADWATERS WERE INSTRUMENTED WITH MONITORING DEVICES TO CONTINUOUSLY RECORD METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WATER CHEMISTRY (E.G. PH, REDOX POTENTIAL, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, ETC.), AND STREAM FLOW. IN ADDITION, BIWEEKLY WATER SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED FROM THE TWO STREAMS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS OF WATER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION (E.G. METAL CONTENT, ALKALINITY, DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON, MAJOR IONS, ETC.). FURTHERMORE, IN THE DISTURBED HEADWATER, SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED ALONG THE STREAM TO ASSESS BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL TRENDS AND CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE HYDROLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT, MODELING, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LONG?TERM IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITIES AND MINE RECLAMATION PRACTICES ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ON THE RECOVERY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. PROJECT OUTCOMES AND RESULTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE SCIENTIFIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND REGULATORY COMMUNITIES. INTENDENT BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES, THE MINING INDUSTRY, AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NON?FOR?PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS CONTINUED ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF COAL MINE RECLAMATION PRACTICES ON STREAM WATER QUALITY IN REFORESTED, DRASTICALLY DISTURBED WATERSHEDS IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A PAIRED-WATERSHED STUDY WHERE STREAM WATER QUALITY OF PREVIOUSLY RECLAIMED SURFACE COAL MINING HEADWATER IS COMPARED TO THAT OF AN ADJACENT NONDISTURBED HEADWATER. THE TWO HEADWATERS INSTRUMENTED TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR AND RECORD METEOROLOGICAL DATA, WATER CHEMISTRY (E.G. PH, REDOX POTENTIAL, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, ETC.), AND STREAM HYDROLOGY. ADDITIONAL WATER SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED PERIODICALLY FOR FURTHER ANALYSES OF WATER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION (E.G. METAL CONTENT, ALKALINITY, DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON, MAJOR IONS, ETC.). FURTHER SAMPLING AND MONITORING ALONG THE CREEK OF THE DISTURBED HEADWATER IS CARRIED OUT TO ASSESS BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL TRENDS AND CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ASSESSMENT AND USE OF SELECTED FOREST PRODUCTS (I.E. BIOCHAR) TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND CARBON STORAGE. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE HYDROLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT, MODELING, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITIES AND MINE RECLAMATION PRACTICES ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ON THE RECOVERY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. THE PROJECT TRAIN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN DESIGNING EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY FIELD WORK, ANALYTICAL LABORATORY SKILLS AND DATA PROCESSING ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. PROJECT OUTCOMES AND RESULTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE SCIENTIFIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND REGULATORY COMMUNITIES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES, THE MINING INDUSTRY, AND LOCAL AND FED ERAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS CONTINUED ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF COAL MINE RECLAMATION PRACTICES ON STREAM WATER QUALITY IN REFORESTED, DRASTICALLY DISTURBED WATERSHEDS IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A PAIRED-WATERSHED STUDY WHERE STREAM WATER QUALITY OF PREVIOUSLY RECLAIMED SURFACE COAL MINING HEADWATER IS COMPARED TO THAT OF AN ADJACENT NONDISTURBED HEADWATER. THE TWO HEADWATERS INSTRUMENTED TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR AND RECORD METEOROLOGICAL DATA, WATER CHEMISTRY (E.G. PH, REDOX POTENTIAL, DISSOLVED OXYGEN, ETC.), AND STREAM HYDROLOGY. ADDITIONAL WATER SAMPLES ARE COLLECTED PERIODICALLY FOR FURTHER ANALYSES OF WATER CHEMICAL COMPOSITION (E.G. METAL CONTENT, ALKALINITY, DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON, MAJOR IONS, ETC.). FURTHER SAMPLING AND MONITORING ALONG THE CREEK OF THE DISTURBED HEADWATER IS CARRIED OUT TO ASSESS BOTH TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL TRENDS AND CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY. FOLLOWING UP ON CURRENT FINDINGS OF ELEVATED TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND POSSIBLE REMEDIAL EFFECT OF IN-STREAM POOLS, WE EXPEND THE MONITORING AREAS TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SITES WHERE POOL EFFECT CAN BE EVALUATED. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ASSESSMENT AND USE OF SELECTED FOREST PRODUCTS (I.E. BIOCHAR) TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND CARBON STORAGE. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE HYDROLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT, MODELING, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITIES AND MINE RECLAMATION PRACTICES ON OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ON THE RECOVERY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. THE PROJECT TRAIN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN DESIGNING EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY FIELD WORK, ANALYTICAL LABORATORY SKILLS AND DATA PROCESSING ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. PROJECT OUTCOMES AND RESULTS WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE SCIENTIFIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND REGULATORY COMMUNITIES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES, THE MINING INDUSTRY, AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

CONVERSION OF WOOD AND OTHER FOREST RESIDUE INTO HIGHLY VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT WILL HELP DIVERSIFY AND IMPROVE FORESTRY INDUSTRY PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. ONE SUCH CONVERSION PATHWAY IS PRODUCTION OF BIOCHAR, A CARBON-RICH CHARCOAL LIKE MATERIAL PRODUCE DURING PYROLYSIS (THE BURNING OF BIOMASS IN OXYGEN-LIMITED ENVIRONMENT). USED AS SOIL AMENDMENT, BIOCHAR CAN ENHANCE FOREST AND ARABLE LAND PRODUCTIVITY AND RESILIENCY. BIOCHAR PROPERTIES (E.G. HIGH POROSITY, HIGH CARBON CONTENT, ASH AND NUTRIENT CONTENT, ETC.) HOLD A GREAT POTENTIAL IN ENHANCING SOIL NUTRIENT AND WATER HOLDING CAPACITY, INCREASING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT, STIMULATE MICROBIAL ACTIVITY, AND IN IMPROVING SOIL RESILIENCY TO DROUGHT AND TO OVERALL IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH. GIVING THE INHERENT LOW FERTILITY OF NATIVE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL SOILS AND THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF SURFACE MINING OPERATIONS AND RECLAMATION ON REGIONAL SOIL PRODUCTIVITY, USE OF BIOCHAR AS SOIL AMENDMENT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE REGIONAL LAND PRODUCTIVITY, STRENGTHENING RURAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITIES. YET, GIVEN BIOCHAR IMPACT DEPENDENCY ON SOIL INHERENT AND DYNAMIC PROPERTIES, ON CROP AND BIOCHAR TYPE AND APPLICATION RATE, MUCH UNCERTAINTY STILL EXISTS, HINDERING WIDE ADOPTION AND USE OF THE PRACTICE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF BIOCHAR ON PROPERTIES, PRODUCTIVITY, AND HEALTH OF SOILS AND LAND-USES TYPICAL TO THE APPALACHIAN REGION, AND TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AND DECISION MAKING MATRICES FOR ITS BROADER ADOPTION AND USE AS SOIL AMENDMENT BY REGIONAL FORESTRY INDUSTRY, LAND OWNERS, AND RURAL AND FARMING COMMUNITIES. UNDERLYING PHYSICAL AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES WILL BE EXPLORED IN FIELD AND LABORATORY SETTINGS. FIELD RESEARCH STUDIES WILL BE ESTABLISHED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, REPRESENTING RECLAIMED MINE SITES AND FARM LANDS OF DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES TYPICAL TO THE REGION, TESTING FOREST INDUSTRY PRODUCT RESIDUE BIOCHAR AT DIFFERENT APPLICATION RATES (0-96 MG PER HECTAR). METEOROLOGICAL DATA WILL BE RECORDED AT EACH SITE AND SELECTED RESEARCH PLOTS WILL BE INSTRUMENTED WITH SOIL SENSORS TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR SOIL MOISTURE TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY. ADDITIONALLY, SOIL CARBON EMISSION DYNAMICS WILL BE MONITORED AT ONE OF THE SITES TO QUANTIFY BIOCHAR IMPACT ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND CARBON DYNAMICS AND STABILITY. SOIL SAMPLES WILL BE COLLECTED ANNUALLY FOR COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND YIELD AND VEGETATION COMPOSITION WILL BE RECORDED. LAB ASSAYS, AND ANALYSIS ON UNDISTURBED SAMPLES WILL ACCOMMOD ATE THE FIELD STUDY TO ASSES BIOCHAR IMPACT ON SOIL NUTRIENTS AND CONTAMINANTS RETENTION AND LEACHING, SOIL WATER RETENTION, SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND CARBON DYNAMICS, ETC. RESULTS OF THIS STUDY WILL ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF BIOCHAR ON SOIL PROCESSES AND OVERALL IMPACT ON REGIONAL SOIL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY. DECISION MAKING PROCESS MATRICES WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP REGIONAL SOIL SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE RESEARCH SITES WILL BE USED AS DEMONSTRATION SITES TO FURTHER ENHANCE STAKEHOLDER AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF THE USE OF BIOCHAR AS SOIL AMENDMENT. OUTCOMES WILL BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE FORM OF FIELD DAYS, PRESENTATION AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC MEETING, PUBLICATION IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE DECISION MAKING MATRICES FOR PRIVET AND PUBLIC END-USERS APPLICATION AND USE. OUTCOMES OF THIS STUDY WILL EXPAND AND IMPROVE REGIONAL PRODUCTIVE LAND INVENTORY, IMPROVE MARGINAL LANDS AND RECLAIMED MINE LAND PRODUCTIVITY AND HEALTH, AND EXPAND FOREST PRODUCT MARKET VERSATILITY, DIVERSITY, AND UTILIZATION. THIS WILL BENEFIT REGIONAL FORESTRY AND FOREST PRODUCT INDUSTRY, LAND OWNERS, AND FARMING, RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY AND SERVICE AGENCIES.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN APPALACHIA THROUGH CHILDREN`S HANDS

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY MCINTIRE-STENNIS COOPERATIVE FORESTRYRESEARCH PROGRAM FY 2022

FORESTRY RECLAMATION APPROACH EFFECT ON SUBSURFACE SPOIL AND WATER QUALITY

MCINTIRE-STENNIS FY2020

FAST TRACK HEALTH NUTRITION PROGRAM

FAST TRACK

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN APPALACHIA THROUGH CHILDREN`S HANDS

EVALUATION OF SELECTED SOIL AMENDMENTS, VEGETATION TYPE, AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO MITIGATE RUNOFF AND IMPROVE APPALACHIAN SOILS PRODUCTIV

FORESTRY RECLAMATION APPROACH EFFECT ON SUBSURFACE SPOIL AND WATER QUALITY

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY 2017 MCINTIRE-STENNIS

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN APPALACHIA THROUGH CHILDREN'S HANDS

FAST TRACK HEALTH NUTRITION PROGRAM

SUMMER ACADEMY OF PLANT BREEDING: A PLATFORM TO DEVELOP MINORITY WORKFORCE IN MOLECULAR PLANT BREEDING

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN APPALACHIA THROUGH CHILDREN`S HANDS

FAST TRACK HEALTH NUTRITION PROGRAM

THE WVSU'S EFNEP AIMS TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DIETARY QUALITY, FOOD SAFETY, FOOD RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND FOOD SECURITY OF LIMITED-RESOURCE FAMILIES AND YOUTHS IN WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH NUTRITION EDUCATION. TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS, EFNEP USES BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS. THE PROFESSIONALS RECEIVE ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TRAINING ORGANIZED BY USDA NIFA. THE PROFESSIONALS THEN TRAIN AND GUIDE PARAPROFESSIONALS TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS FROM SCHOOLS, HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEAD THEM THROUGH A SERIES OF AT LEAST EIGHT LESSONS USING USDA-APPROVED AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA, INCLUDING EATING SMART AND BEING ACTIVE, CHFFF, THE ORGANWISE GUYS, AND TEEN CUISINE. BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS REPORT PROGRAM DATA THROUGH THE WEBNEERS PORTAL. THE REPORTED DATA INCLUDES ANNUAL BUDGETS, FIVE-YEAR PLANS, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, THE NUMBER OF LESSONS, AND CHANGES IN PARTICIPANT KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES. PARTICIPATION IN EFNEP IMPROVES ATTITUDES TOWARDS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATING, ENHANCES KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES, IMPROVES PERSONAL HYGIENE, AND ENABLES PLANNING OF NUTRITIOUS, LOW-COST MEALS AND SAFE FOOD CHOICES AWAY FROM HOME. IN THE LONG TERM, PARTICIPATION LEADS TO FEWER RISK FACTORS FOR NUTRITION-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CHRONIC DISEASES AFFECTED BY DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS FEWER INCIDENTS OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH UNSAFE FOOD HANDLING PRACTICES. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN EFNEP INCREASES REFERRALS AMONG VARIOUS PROGRAMS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MEET PARTICIPANTS' NEEDS AND ENHANCE WVSU'S CAPABILITIES. ULTIMATELY, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ENCOURAGES GREATER COORDINATION, COOPERATION, AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN WVSU AND COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS LOCAL AND STATE PRIORITIES.

THE PRIMARY AIM OF WVSU'S EFNEP IS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN WEST VIRGINIA. THIS INVOLVES TRAINING PROFESSIONAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN NUTRITION EDUCATION EFFORTS. THE PROFESSIONALS WILL RECEIVE ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TRAINING ORGANIZED BY USDA NIFA. WITH GUIDANCE FROM PROFESSIONALS, PARAPROFESSIONALS WILL RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS FROM SCHOOLS, HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEAD THEM THROUGH A SERIES OF AT LEAST EIGHT LESSONS USING USDA-APPROVED AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULA, INCLUDING EATING SMART AND BEING ACTIVE, CHFFF, THE ORGANWISE GUYS, AND TEEN CUISINE. BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS WILL INPUT PROGRAM DATA INTO WEBNEERS, INCLUDING ANNUAL BUDGETS, FIVE-YEAR PLANS, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, THE NUMBER OF LESSONS, AND CHANGES IN PARTICIPANT KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE IMPROVED ATTITUDES ABOUT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATING, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES, IMPROVED PERSONAL HYGIENE, THE ABILITY TO PLAN HEALTHY MEALS USING LOW-COST NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS, AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE SAFE, NUTRITIOUS, ECONOMICAL FOOD CHOICES AWAY FROM HOME. IN THE LONG TERM, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THERE WILL BE FEWER RISK FACTORS FOR NUTRITION-RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CHRONIC DISEASES AFFECTED BY DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS FEWER INCIDENTS OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH UNSAFE FOOD HANDLING PRACTICES. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN EFNEP WILL INCREASE REFERRALS AMONG VARIOUS PROGRAMS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MEET PARTICIPANTS' NEEDS AND ENHANCE WVSU'S CAPABILITIES. ULTIMATELY, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WILL ENCOURAGE GREATER COORDINATION, COOPERATION, AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN EFNEP UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS LOCAL AND STATE PRIORITIES.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS BECOME AN EPIDEMIC IN WEST VIRGINIA, WITH DATA FROM THE CDC SHOWING 20% OF YOUTH ARE OBESE. IN KANAWHA COUNTY, OVER ONE-THIRD OF CHILDREN ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, EXCEEDING NATIONAL AVERAGES. THIS CHRONIC DISEASE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES RISKS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS, ASTHMA, JOINT PROBLEMS, AND OTHER CO-MORBIDITIES. MULTIPLE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE HIGH CHILDHOOD OBESITY RATES IN KANAWHA COUNTY. NEARLY 30% OF RESIDENTS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, LEADING TO FOOD INSECURITY FOR MANY FAMILIES. DIETS CONSIST LARGELY OF PROCESSED FOODS THAT ARE HIGH IN CALORIES, FAT, SUGAR, AND SODIUM WHILE BEING DEFICIENT IN VITAMINS, MINERALS, AND FIBER. LIMITED OR LACK OF EDUCATION ON NUTRITION, BUDGETING, AND COOKING SKILLS INHIBITS BEHAVIOR CHANGES. A 2020 STUDY ALSO FOUND LESS THAN 20% OF KANAWHA COUNTIES LOCAL YOUTH ENGAGE IN ADEQUATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ROOT CAUSES REQUIRES EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS. THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S (WVSU), USDA'S EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM (EFNEP) HAS PARTNERED WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS IN KANAWHA COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT A CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION INITIATIVE. GOALS INCLUDE REDUCING BMI THROUGH NUTRITION EDUCATION, IMPROVING HEALTH LITERACY, AND PROMOTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. WVSU'S EFNEP CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON PROMOTING HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. INTERACTIVE LESSONS TEACH YOUTH AND PARENTS HOW TO READ NUTRITION LABELS, MEAL PLAN, GROCERY SHOP, AND COOK NUTRITIOUS FOODS ON A BUDGET. CLASSES ALSO COVER EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS AND METHODS TO INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT HOME AND SCHOOL. BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION, FOCUS GROUPS AND SURVEYS WILL COLLECT KANAWHA COUNTY SPECIFIC INSIGHTS. EFNEP EDUCATORS WILL USE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY, WHICH EMPHASIZES RECIPROCAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL, PERSONAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND INCREASED SELF-EFFICACY. CLASSES WILL BUILD CAPACITY FOR OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO HEALTHY CHOICES IN THE COMMUNITY. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE LOW-INCOME, MINORITY POPULATIONS IN KANAWHA COUNTY EXPERIENCING DISPROPORTIONATE HEALTH RISK FACTORS. THROUGH EDUCATING BOTH CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS, EFNEP CAN FOSTER BEHAVIOR CHANGES THAT IMPACT THE HOME FOOD ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGE A CULTURE OF SUPPORT AND WELLNESS. CLASSES WILL BE TAILORED AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED FRUIT, VEGETABLE, FIBER CONSUMPTION; REDUCED BMI/OBESITY RATES; MORE TIME SPENT IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; DECREASED SCREEN TIME; FEWER SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES; AND MORE FAMILY MEALS COOKED AT HOME. EFNEP STAFF WILL COLLECT QUANTITATIVE DATA ON BEHAVIORS AND BIOMARKERS. A 2020 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EFNEP INTERVENTIONS FOUND PARTICIPANTS HAD IMPROVED DIETS, FOOD SECURITY, FOOD BUDGETS, AND NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE. AMONG YOUTH, EFNEP PROGRAMMING YIELDED REDUCED BMI PERCENTILES. APPLYING THESE PROVEN MODELS CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN KANAWHA COUNTY. STEMMING CHILDHOOD OBESITY REQUIRES ADDRESSING ITS COMPLEX WEB OF CAUSES WITH COORDINATED, EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS. WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S EFNEP PROGRAMING PROVIDES THE EDUCATION AND SKILLS FOR HIGH-RISK FAMILIES TO MAKE IMPACTFUL LIFESTYLE CHANGES. ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY-LEVEL EFFORTS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND INCREASE WELLNESS RESOURCES, THE PROGRAM CAN HELP REVERSE TROUBLING TRENDS IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, SPECIFICALLY IN KANAWHA COUNTY

ACCORDING TO HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020, GOOD NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. PRACTICING ALL OF THESE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF WELL-BEING CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE BURDEN OF PREVENTABLE ILLNESS AND PREMATURE DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE NATION'S ECONOMIC BURDEN. HOWEVER, MOST ADULTS AND YOUTH DO NOT PRACTICE HEALTHY EATING HABITS OR GET ENOUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, LEADING TO A DRASTIC INCREASE IN OBESITY. ACCORDING TO THE CDC BETWEEN 2001 AND 2010, CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS DECREASED, BUT STILL ACCOUNTS FOR 10% OF TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE. BETWEEN 2003 AND 2010, TOTAL FRUIT INTAKE AND WHOLE FRUIT INTAKE AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS INCREASED. HOWEVER, MOST YOUTH STILL DO NOT MEET FRUIT AND VEGETABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. EMPTY CALORIES FROM ADDED SUGARS AND SOLID FATS CONTRIBUTE TO 40% OF DAILY CALORIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGE 2–18 YEARS—AFFECTING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THEIR DIETS. APPROXIMATELY H ALF OF THESE EMPTY CALORIES COME FROM SIX SOURCES: SODA, FRUIT DRINKS, DAIRY DESSERTS, GRAIN DESSERTS, PIZZA, AND WHOLE MILK. MOST YOUTH DO NOT CONSUME THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF TOTAL WATER. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), DIETARY FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH 4 OF THE 10 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH: CORONARY HEART DISEASE, SOME TYPES OF CANCER, STROKE, AND TYPE 2 DIABETES. CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES PUTTING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AT RISK FOR POOR HEALTH. OBESITY PREVALENCE AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IS STILL TOO HIGH. FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGED 2-19 YEARS: THE PREVALENCE OF OBESITY WAS 18.5% AND AFFECTED ABOUT 13.7 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. OBESITY PREVALENCE WAS 13.9% AMONG 2- TO 5-YEAR-OLD, 18.4% AMONG 6- TO 11-YEAR-OLD, AND 20.6% AMONG 12- TO 19-YEAR-OLD. CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS ALSO MORE COMMON AMONG CERTAIN POPULATIONS. IN WEST VIRGINIA 16.4 PERCENT OF THE 9TH GRADE STUDENTS ARE OBESE AND 22.3 PERCENT OF 12 GRADE. EACH GRADE YEAR GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH A DECLINE TO 16.7 PERCENT GRADE 11 AND THEM SHOOTS BACK UP IN 12 GRADE. THE RAPID SPREAD DURING THE 1990'S OCCURRED ACROSS ALL STATES, REGIONS, AND DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS. HIGHEST RATES OF OBESITY FOR 10- TO 17-YEAR-OLD, WEST VIRGINIA (20.3%), WAS RANKED SECOND HIGHEST WITH MISSISSIPPI (26.1%), BEING 1ST. WERE AND KENTUCKY (19.3%). ACCORDING TO THE 2019 KIDS COUNT, 26 PERCENT OF WEST VIRGINIA CHILDREN (94,000) UNDER THE AGE OF 18 LIVED IN POVERTY COMPARED WITH 18 PERCENT OF U.S. CHILDREN. CHILDREN FARE WORSE THAN ADULTS ON POVERTY MEASURES, AND CHILDREN UNDER AGE SIX SUFFER THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATES OF ALL. A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDIES HAVE DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE / AS WELL AS AMONG CHILDREN BEING RAISED BY GRANDPARENTS. STATE EFFORTS WILL NEED TO BE COORDINATED WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL INTERVENTIONS TO CONTROL THIS EPIDEMIC. BASED ON THE US CENSUS THE 2019 ESTIMATE SHOWED THE POPULATION OF WEST VIRGINIA AT 1,792,147 W ITH 16% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION LIVING IN POVERTY. OUTLINED ARE THE ARE THE CHILD AND ADULT COMORBIDITIES THAT OUR CURRENT EFNEP PROGRAMING IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSING. IDENTIFYING LOCAL AND REGIONAL HEALTH CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY, IN WEST VIRGINIA HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY GOAL OF EFNEP PROGRAMING. OUR DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL RESEARCH BASED SOLUTIONS IN COMBINATION WITH COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH LITERACY EXTENSION PROGRAMING HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE WHEN ADDRESSING CHILDHOOD OBESITY, TYPE 2 DIABETES AND OTHER METABOLIC DISEASES.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATIONPROGRAM

WVSU EFNEP FY2021

WVSU EFNEP FY 2020

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT OPPORTUNITY (FGO)

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GANT

WEST VIRGINIA URBAN ORCHARD PROJECT - YEAR 3

WEST VIRGINIA URBAN ORCHARD PROJECT

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN APPALACHIA THROUGH CHILDREN'S HANDS

FAST TRACK

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

WVSU EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FORMULA GRANT

FA WV FY2016 AS WVSU

SCRATCH MCDOWELL

PLANNING GRANT FOR STEM PROGRAM EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT AT WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

FISCAL YEAR 2011 EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM (EFNEP) FORMULA GRANT OPPORTUNITY

INFLUENCE OF POULTRY LITTER AMENDMENTS AND SEED MIXES ON THE SOIL QUALITY AND VEGETATION OF A RECLAIMED SURFACE COAL MINE IN WEST VIRGINIA

INFLUENCE OF POULTRY LITTER AMENDMENTS AND SEED MIXES ON THE SOIL QUALITY AND VEGETATION OF A RECLAIMED SURFACE COAL MINE IN WEST VIRGINIA

"NASA EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER/STUDENT OUTREACH SATELLITE CENTER"