Ed Gruver//October 14, 2024//
Projects in Berks County are among the 27 recipients of research grants aimed at aiding Pennsylvania agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced Monday.
According to a release, the Shapiro Administration is investing nearly $2.2 million in research to help Pennsylvania grow and keep pace with changes in technology, climate, diseases, and the marketplace.
“Research is the first critical step to developing the innovations Pennsylvania agriculture needs to stay on the cutting edge of the industry,” Redding said in a statement. “These research grants are part of a comprehensive package of investments the Shapiro Administration is making to keep Pennsylvania agriculture growing, and a national leader in years to come.”
In Berks County, Rodale Institute received $500,000 for preparing a skilled agriculture workforce and fostering understanding of sustainable, regenerative farming methods. Pasa Sustainable Agriculture received $82,375 for rowing climate resilient farms through soil health benchmarking.
“In my administration, we know economic growth and opportunity flow right through our farmlands – and that is why we put agriculture front and center in the bipartisan budget I signed this summer,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said. “We’re proud to announce this $2.2 million investment in research and innovation as we continue working to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in agriculture.
“This initiative – along with our first-in-the-nation ag innovation fund – is going to help fund game-changing projects, and thanks to our bipartisan work, the future of farming is happening right here in Pennsylvania,” added Shapiro.
The program is open for applications through Nov.15 and will put innovations developed through agriculture research into practice on Pennsylvania farms.