UConn has received $1.5 million from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to to support agricultural research. The funds will be used for investigations of climate change, best management practices, and the economic impact of the food and fiber supply chain.
The long-term goal of one study is to investigate the potential impact of climatic change on the productivity of U.S. agriculture both at the state and county levels, as well as a more focalized case study for Wisconsin and other states as data becomes available.
Another seeks to advance the valuation of ecosystem services in connection with water quality credits arising from agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The researchers will explore how conservation-buyers could enhance new revenues for agriculture.
The third will attempt to measure the full contribution of food and agriculture industries to the U.S. economy. The study requires coordinated reporting of business activity along the entire food-and-fiber supply chain.
