West Virginia State University Research And Development Corp

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU), THE STATE'S 1890 LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION, THROUGH ITS RESEARCHAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, REQUESTS $27,000,000 IN FEDERAL RFAP FUNDS, MATCHED DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLARBY $27,000,000 IN SECURED NON-FEDERAL CASH, TO CONSTRUCT THE WV AGRICULTURE COMPLEX, ANAPPROXIMATELY 45,000-SQUARE-FOOT, GROUND-UP AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FACILITY IN INSTITUTE, WEST VIRGINIA.GOAL. THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH PURPOSE-BUILT CAPACITY FOR NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE FOOD ANDAGRICULTURAL SCIENCES RESEARCH, POSITIONING WVSU TO ADVANCE FOOD SAFETY VALIDATION, VALUE-ADDEDDEVELOPMENT, CROP IMPROVEMENT, AND AGRICULTURAL AI AND TO TRANSLATE THAT SCIENCE TO PRODUCERSSTATEWIDE.OBJECTIVES. THE COMPLEX WILL (1) ESTABLISH DEDICATED FOOD SCIENCE LABORATORIES TO RUN CONCURRENT FOODSAFETY, MICROBIOLOGY, AND SHELF-LIFE STUDIES; (2) ADD A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND SENSORY EVALUATIONFACILITY FOR VALUE-ADDED DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCER ASSISTANCE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE; (3)PROVIDE FLEXIBLE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES LABORATORIES, AGRICULTURAL AI COMPUTING, AND APPLIEDTEACHING SPACE FOR THE DEVELOPING PURDY SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES; AND (4)CO-LOCATE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ACCREDITED LABORATORIES, EXPANDING ISO/IEC 17025SCOPE AND FOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK CAPACITY ON CAMPUS.PLANS. WVSU WILL DELIVER THE COMPLEX THROUGH CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, WITH DESIGN BYPERKINS AND WILL AND COST VALIDATION BY THE FORELLA GROUP, TARGETING FALL 2029 OCCUPANCY ANDSEQUENCED FEDERAL COMPLIANCE.RELEVANCE. AS LEVEL IV NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE COMPLEX FULFILLS THE RFAP PURPOSE OF MODERNIZINGAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CAPACITY AND ADVANCES ALL FIVE USDA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.

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)

** 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.

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM

UNKNOWN TITLE

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GRADUATE)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GRADUATE)

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

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.

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

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

WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY (WVSU) HAS EXPANDED ITS AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS SINCE REGAINING LAND-GRANT STATUS IN 1999. ITS 1890 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BEGAN RECRUITING AGRICULTURE-FOCUSED STUDENTS IN 2020 AND HAS SUPPORTED 40 CURRENT SCHOLARS WITH 22 GRADUATES TO DATE. THE PROPOSED DAVID A. SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP WILL BUILD ON THIS FOUNDATION BY INCREASING DOMESTIC ENROLLMENT IMPROVING RETENTION AND GRADUATION AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN FOOD AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SUPPORTS FOUR DEGREE PATHWAYS: BIOLOGY/PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCE CHEMISTRY/APPLIED CHEMISTRY BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION/AGRIBUSINESS AND ECONOMICS/AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. WVSU PROPOSES ADDING AGRICULTURE CYBERSECURITY AGRICULTURE COMMUNICATIONS AND A NEW BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE ANTICIPATED FOR APPROVAL IN 2027-28. THE AGRICULTURE DEGREE IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE NEEDS WHILE ALLOWING FUTURE CONCENTRATIONS IN EMERGING AREAS SUCH AS AGROECOLOGY CYBERSECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. SCHOLARS WILL RECEIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS COVERING TUITION FEES BOOKS AND ROOM AND BOARD FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS. RECRUITMENT WILL TARGET HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TRANSFER STUDENTS AND CURRENT STUDENTS THROUGH ADMISSIONS EVENTS SCHOOLS FFA ACTIVITIES SCIENCE FAIRS CAMPUS PROGRAMS AND ATHLETICS.SELECTION WILL CONSIDER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RESIDENCY LEADERSHIP EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT CAREER GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.ONCE ENROLLED SCHOLARS WILL RECEIVE ACADEMIC ADVISING MENTORING TUTORING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIPS RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES CAREER PREPARATION AND COMMUNITY-SERVICE EXPERIENCES. PROGRESS WILL BE MONITORED THROUGH ADVISING FACULTY PROGRESS REPORTS MIDTERM GRADES AND REGULAR SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WVSU EXPECTS TO SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 45 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WHILE TRACKING STUDENT OUTCOMES EMPLOYMENT GRADUATE EDUCATION AND ALUMNI PROGRESS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE PROGRAM.

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.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

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"