Tuesday, April 23, 2019

MSU leads FIL research projects


STARKVILLE, Miss. - The international Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish (FIL) made its first round of ‘Quick Starts’ awards for research by granting $100,000 each to five projects in four countries – Kenya, Bangladesh, Zambia and Nigeria. The innovation lab project is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by Mississippi State University. The project supports sustainable and resilient aquaculture and fisheries systems by initiating and supporting research to enhance food safety and nutrition, improve fish production systems to improve nutrition and livelihoods of small-scale producers in developing countries. The lab will fund approximately $7.5M in research grants through 2023 to researchers working with small-scale producers in Feed the Future focused countries. The Quick Starts span one year and will provide valuable information to guide lab efforts over the next five years. Leveraging existing knowledge and expertise at Mississippi State, all Quick Starts include at least one MSU researcher. Results of the studies are expected later this year. (Source: MSU 04/22/19) The FIL is one of 24 labs leveraging the expertise of U.S. universities and developing country research institutions to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges in agriculture and food security.