Contributors to USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs at Kansas State University gather with USAID staff members, Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer (center, with red tie), K-State Provost and Executive Vice President Charles Taber (left of Colyer); Jennifer "Vern" Long, acting director of the Office of Agriculture, Research and Policy for USAID's Bureau for Food Security (right of Colyer) and Ernie Minton, interim dean of K-State's College of Agriculture (right of Long) after an Aug. 23, 2018, press conference announcing the extension of USAID funding for innovation labs at K-State. | Download this photo.
Vote of Confidence: USAID extends partnership with Kansas State University
University receives $21.9 million for efforts to help end hunger, poverty
August 23, 2018
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Thursday that they have awarded $21.9 million to Kansas State University to continue funding three research labs that work to end global hunger and poverty.
In 2013, USAID awarded three “innovation labs” to K-State through the Feed the Future initiative, which is the U.S. government’s effort to end global hunger. K-State won the awards through a competitive process against programs across the United States.
“These awards don’t happen by accident,” said Jennifer "Vern" Long, the acting director for the office of agriculture, research and policy in USAID’s Bureau for Food Security. “We have a very high bar for extending programs, and it’s really a reflection of the innovative approach that these programs have taken and how they bring the best of U.S. science to bear on these global challenges.”
Good for the World, Good for Kansas
In helping to feed impoverished nations, K-State also is helping U.S. farmers
August 28, 2018
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Farmers in Kansas and across the United States stand to benefit as a result of last week’s announcement by the U.S. Agency for International Development that it has awarded $21.9 million to continue work to end global hunger and poverty through three Kansas State University programs.
During the annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth in Manhattan, USAID said it is awarding $14 million over five years for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Sorghum and Millet (SMIL); $3 million over three years for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss (PHL); and $4.9 million over five years to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Applied Wheat Genomics.
All three of those programs were established at K-State in 2013. The new awards represent an extension of work the labs have been doing the past five years.
“These university programs, the innovation labs, are part of our implementation of Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act, which mandates that these university programs provide dual benefits to both the U.S. and our developing country partners,” said Jennifer ‘Vern’ Long, the acting director for the office of agriculture, research and policy in USAID’s Bureau for Food Security.
“So it’s our intention from the outset to ensure that the focus of the research is not only to achieve our development goals of ending hunger and reducing poverty (globally), but also to ensure that we are delivering benefits to the U.S. as well.”
Listen to an interview with USAID executive Jennifer "Vern" Long:
You can also listen to Dr. Long's interview on the Agriculture Today podcast.
Watch the entire announcement as it appeared on Facebook Live
Kansas State University is committed to providing equal access opportunity and reasonable accommodation to campus programs and services for faculty, staff and students. If you require accommodation to view or hear a video live stream or archive, please submit a request for accommodation. Students should make their request to the Student Access Center. All others should request accommodation through Human Capital Services.
