Information-USDA Awards More Than $1.2 Million for
Aquaculture Research at Four Universities; January 14, 2016
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View this release on the NIFA website. USDA Awards More
Than $1.2 Million for Aquaculture Research at Four Universities
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2016 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
awarded more than $1.2 million to four universities for research to support
the development of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture
in the United States. These new projects will generate new science-based
information and innovations to address constraints that hinder the growth of
the US aquaculture industry. These awards were made through the Aquaculture
Research Program, which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered
through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). “Aquaculture research projects provide increased security and
sustainability to a growing industry with domestic and international market
value,” said NIFA Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy. “The impacts of these
projects will contribute to the 70 percent growth in the aquaculture industry
that is expected in the next 30 years.” The Aquaculture Research Program focuses on projects that directly address
major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry. Projects funded in fiscal
year 2015 focused on program priorities that include: 1) genetics of
commercial aquaculture species; 2) critical disease issues impacting
aquaculture species; 3) design of environmentally and economically
sustainable aquaculture production systems; and 4) economic research for increasing
aquaculture profitability. Since 2014, this program has awarded nearly $2.5
million in funding. Awards for fiscal year 2015 include:
Projects from this year include research by scientists at the University
of Arizona who are measuring how the metabolic rate of fish embryos and
tissues can predict the growth potential of individual fish. By doing
this, breeding programs can more efficiently and effectively select which
fish should be grown to adulthood and bred in order to yield faster growing
line of fish for fish famers to raise. Another project, from Oregon State
University researchers, will assess bacterial communities that are present in
hatcheries that raise and supply larval oysters to shellfish farmers.
By understanding how these bacterial communities respond to both the
environment and other bacteria, hatchery managers can prevent and manage
pathogenic bacteria outbreaks that can devastate oyster larvae produced in
hatcheries. For information on all of this year’s projects, visit the NIFA website. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the
past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in
savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to
implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing
disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools;
expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; estab lishing innovative
public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for
rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing, and community
facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more
information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. Since 2009, NIFA has invested in and advanced innovative and
transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the
long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA’s integrated research, education,
and extension programs, supporting the best and brightest scientists and
extension personnel, have resulted user-inspired, groundbreaking discoveries
that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic
growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food production,
finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability, and ensuring
food safety. To learn more about NIFA’s impact on agricultural science, visit
www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates, or
follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider
and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410,
or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or
(866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish
Federal-relay)
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