Centers of Excellence
Pioneering Innovation and Impact

Driving Progress in Agriculture, Science, and community empowerment

Per the 2018 Farm Bill, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture administers the Designated Areas of Expertise at 1890 Institutions Program, which is the flagship initiative of the 1890 system. Established to harness the collective expertise and resources of the 1890 land-grant universities, these centers focus on groundbreaking research, innovative teaching, and impactful community outreach. Each center addresses critical issues in agriculture, addressing food insecurity, health, and environmental responsibility, paving the way for advancements that benefit society at large. By fostering multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration, the COEs are at the forefront of creating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time.

Driving Innovation in Agriculture and Food Sciences

Explore Our 2023 Showcase Report

Discover the transformative outcomes and innovative projects of our designated areas of expertise in the 2023 Showcase Report. See how our cutting-edge research, dynamic educational programs, and community-driven extension activities are shaping the future of agriculture and food sciences across the 1890 Universities system:

2023 Showcase Report

The Designated Areas of Expertise are the cornerstone of the 1890 Universities system, exemplifying our commitment to pioneering research, dynamic education, and impactful community outreach. These centers focus on food and agricultural sciences and related fields, addressing critical societal needs such as nutrition, health disparities, and sustainable agricultural production.

Centers and their Achievements

Our designated areas of expertise are spread across various universities, each tackling specific challenges and opportunities in agricultural sciences and community empowerment. From enhancing global addressing food insecurity to promoting community health & wellness through nutrition, each center plays a crucial role in our purpose to innovate and improve lives.

Center of Excellence for Global addressing food insecurity and Defense

Lead: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Priorities: Foster international partnerships that strengthen agricultural development in developing countries, address emerging animal and plant pests and diseases, and addresses challenges with agricultural disaster recovery.

Center of Excellence for Farming Systems, Rural Prosperity, & Economic Sustainability

Lead: Tuskegee University

Priorities: Develop and share best practices, innovations, technologies, and personnel across an 18-state region to address the profitability, sustainability and prosperity challenges of small farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners, with an emphasis on socially disadvantaged and underserved farmers.

Center of Excellence for Emerging Technologies

Lead: Delaware State University

Priorities: Demonstrate the utilization of emerging technologies (such as robotics, drones, and sensors) to further propel agriculture through in- formation and communication technologies in the cyber-physical cycle of farm management.

Center of Excellence for Natural Resources, Renewable Energy, and the Environment

Lead: Tennessee State University

Priorities: Develop management practices that will conserve and promote natural resources, explore renewable energy sources, and develop climate-smart agricultural production practices to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and improve environmental quality and sustainability.

Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life

Lead: Southern University and A&M College

Priorities: Support the tripartite land-grant mission of research, teaching, and extension that provide solutions to improve the health and well-being of underserved and minority populations.

Center of Excellence for Student Success and Workforce Development

Lead: North Carolina A&T State University

Priorities: Foster and elevate the academic success of minority students. Boost the collective capacity of the 1890 land-grant universities to provide supportive learning environments and programs to increase the diversity of the U.S. agricultural workforce in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences.

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Our Work

Research Innovation

Developing new technologies and sustainable practices that make agriculture more efficient and profitable.

Education and Training

Offering top-tier academic programs that boost student achievement and prepare future leaders in agricultural and food sciences.

Community Extension

Bringing research to life by applying discoveries to help underserved producers, families, and communities access vital resources and knowledge.

Join Us

We invite you to explore the diverse projects and initiatives at our designated areas of expertise. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or community member, there’s a place for you to engage with our work, participate in groundbreaking research, and apply your learnings to real-world challenges.