The National Institute of Food and Agriculture is committed to the values of equity and inclusion rooted in justice and equal opportunity for those it serves as well as its employees. This commitment to a diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible NIFA will be demonstrated through accountability, data collection, analysis and effective policymaking.
NIFA is working to ensure the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) are applied across all our programs, grant review panels, Requests For Applications and other activities. NIFA strives to be equitable to its stakeholders, including historically underserved groups, ensuring full access and participation in our its programs and services. The agency continues to actively look inward through an equity lens and integrate equity into decision making as well as how it designs and delivers its programs and services. NIFA is working to increase agency outreach and make grant programs more inclusive. Additionally, the agency is developing consistent and equitable procedures for NIFA as a whole.
Impacts
- Broadened opportunities with the “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals” program to create career development opportunities for students at MSIs. This program is supported by a $250 million investment.
- Invested $25 million through workforce development programs to train workers to meet the demand increased independent meat processing capacity. The effort will be supported by regional education and Extension networks and new or existing Centers of Excellence at MSIs.
- Developed a new competitive grant to support the establishment of an Agriculture Business Innovation Center at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to serve as a technical assistance hub to enhance agriculture-based business development opportunities. The first grant was awarded in June 2022.
- Leveraged USDA and external partnerships to bolster climate research and share climate-smart solutions directly to producers with a focus on minority and indigenous farmers.
- Invested nearly $40 million to support the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) Produce Prescription Program utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funding. GusNIP Produce Prescription projects provide incentives to income-eligible individuals and families to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables to improve dietary health, reduce individual and household food insecurity, and reduce associated health care costs.
- Ensured equity in hiring and selection processes. USDA NIFA’s Equal Opportunity Staff has issued guidance and a process for new hires that includes: (1) reviewing and approving interview questions; (2) monitoring all interviews via an EEO observer; and (3) review all interview documentation and scoring sheets and approving selections.
- Built capacity in knowledge of federal requirements and best practices for hiring to ensure equitable and fair treatment of all candidates. NIFA Equal Opportunity Staff issued a new hiring guide to support the capacity building effort. Closing this knowledge gap is expected to improve diversity across the agency.
NIFA Programs & Funding Opportunities
While Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs) can apply to all NIFA Funding Programs, these programs are open only to MSIs.
- Agricultural Extension Programs at 1890 Institutions
- Agricultural Research at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions
- Agriculture Business Innovation Center at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Program
- Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH)
- Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants (HSI) Program
- Tribal College Endowment Program
- Tribal College Research Grant Program
- Tribal Equity Grants Program
- Tribal Extension Grant Program