Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania is set to strengthen its reputation as a national leader in agriculture with the launch of the first-of-its-kind in the nation $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, announced earlier this week at Pennsylvania State University’s Dairy Research and Teaching Complex. The new initiative aims to fund cutting-edge solutions and technologies that will shape the future of agriculture, starting in the Commonwealth.
Agriculture is a key driver of Pennsylvania’s economy — more than 53,000 farms across the Commonwealth support over 600,000 jobs and contribute $132 billion to our state's economy. That’s why Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy places agriculture at the forefront, and his 2024-25 budget allocates additional funding to grow new businesses and reinforce Pennsylvania’s legacy as a frontrunner in agriculture.
This is the first dedicated fund for agricultural innovation in the nation and the Department of Agriculture (PDA) has hired the first Director of Agricultural Innovation in the country. The program is administered by the PDA and applications open on September 30, 2024, at esa.dced.state.pa.us and run through November 26, 2024.
Read what agricultural educators, along with leaders from the legislature and the Shapiro Administration, are saying about the new $10 million Ag Innovation Grant Program:
Dr. Troy Ott, Dean of Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences: “I'm particularly grateful for the leadership of Governor Shapiro, Secretary Redding, and Representative Takac and his colleagues who championed this program to support agricultural innovation that will ensure competitiveness, resiliency, environmental stewardship, and vitality for farms and agribusinesses in the Commonwealth. This program will provide grants for implementation of innovations that increase production efficiency, encourage sustainable practices, utilize renewable energy, and sequester carbon.”
Dr. Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and Director of The Center for Pollinator Research at Pennsylvania State University: “Farmers are the backbone of this nation, but farming is incredibly difficult. Advances in technology, including robotics and artificial intelligence can help make farming easier, more productive and profitable, and more sustainable. AgTech is a field that advances very quickly, and our College of Ag Sciences has been at the forefront of this field. Pennsylvania has one of the most diverse farming systems in the nation, and so this provides many opportunities for research and for innovation. That is why we're very excited about the agriculture Innovation Fund – it will drive the growth of small businesses that will take our research and turn it into tools that farmers can use, and it will also create a community of farmers that know how technology can be used on their farms.”
Representative Paul Takac: Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s number one industry and supports hundreds of thousands of workers and their families across the Commonwealth. As the pace of agricultural research, discovery, and innovation continues to accelerate, it is important that we help PA farmers and businesses take full advantage in order to help make them more efficient, profitable, and sustainable while also benefitting the environment and climate. This new Ag Innovation Grant Program provides funding assistance to PA farmers to adopt and implement new technologies and best practices to increase both economic resiliency and environmental sustainability. These grants will help create partnerships and opportunities to work toward a better and more prosperous future. On a personal level, this is my first legislation to be signed into law and I am both proud and grateful that it is something that will have a significant positive impact on farmers, families, and communities across our Commonwealth.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding: “We now have – for the very first time – an Agricultural Innovation Grant Program. And when you couple that with the Governor’s Economic Development Strategy – together, this becomes the answer to our farmers and farm communities who are tackling some of the most important issues of our time: food security and issues around productivity. Ultimately, it is about the competitive footing of our farms – if they succeed, we succeed. That has been at the core of the Governor's work to make sure that we're thinking about those on the front line who have committed themselves to production agriculture. We want to make sure that they succeed, and that's only possible through agricultural innovation.”
Read more about the $10 million Ag Innovation Grant Program and how it will help support new solutions and technologies – including energy and conservation endeavors – to continue building the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania:
Morning Ag Clips: Pa. Launches $10 Million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program
StateCollege.com: Shapiro Visits Penn State to Talk New $10M Agricultural Innovation Fund
WPSU: Gov. Josh Shapiro visits Penn State to promote Agricultural Innovation Grant Program
WJAC: Governor Shapiro signs bill to boost Pennsylvania agriculture with $10 million fund
WTAJ: Gov. Shapiro visits Penn State Dairy Complex to launch new grant program
WVIA: Gov. Josh Shapiro visits Penn State to promote Agricultural Innovation Grant Program
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