Central State awarded $10M USDA grant for sustainable hemp research project

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Central State University received a $10 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for a sustainable agriculture systems project.

The project, Sustainable Use of a Safe Hemp Ingredient, called SUSHI, will research the use of hemp as an aquaculture feed, training aquaculture producers and increasing the production of healthy fish in the Menominee Nation, said Brandy E. Phipps, a CSU research assistant professor who wrote the grant and will serve as the project’s lead investigator.

“It is further designed to also provide workforce training to increase the Native American and African American graduates in agriculture,” Phipps said. “The partnership with College of Menominee Nation will create cross-cultural learning opportunities and experiential learning experiences for students from both institutions.”

Brandy E. Phipps, research assistant professor of food, nutrition and health at Central State University. Photo courtesy of Central State University.

Credit: CSU University Public Relations

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Credit: CSU University Public Relations

The five-year project will be led by the College of Engineering, Science, Agriculture, and Technology. It partners different Land-Grant Institutions to increase diversity in the agricultural workforce and develop economically and environmentally sustainable hemp and aquaculture systems, Phipps said.

“To sustainably impact public health outcomes, we must holistically address long-standing issues of food and health inequities,” Phipps said. “This means coming alongside and partnering with communities – especially those that have been historically underserved – to build meaningful and relevant outreach and agriculture development programs that build on their existing desires and community efforts toward food sovereignty.”

Aquaculture involves breeding, raising and harvesting of fish, shrimp and other water-based products.

The project includes partnerships with the College of Menominee Nation, Kentucky State University, University of Delaware, University of Kentucky and Mississippi State University.

Central State is the only Ohio university and Historically Black College or University to receive a SAS project, according to its release.

“This is a historical award for Central State University,” CSU President Jack Thomas said. “It demonstrates CSU’s core value of academic excellence and continuous efforts to meet and enhance the university’s land grant mission.”

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