WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $10,000,000 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support a research project seeking to improve the sustainability of the nation’s food supply at West Virginia University (WVU). This project will create a collaborative, sustainable, and economical biomass for value-added products program in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
“WVU’s research capabilities continue to shine across our state,” Senator Capito said. “It is great to see this investment coming to support our nation’s supply chain when we need it the most. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited the capabilities of our producers across the county, and creating alternative options for our value added products would benefit consumers, producers, and our overall economy. NIFA has been a great partner to West Virginia, and I look forward to continuing our working together so we can keep driving investments like these to support our higher education institutions.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted issues within our national food supply chain. Many areas of America can’t access healthy food options, especially rural communities, like those in West Virginia,” Senator Manchin said. “This funding will allow West Virginia University to research ways to improve our food supply chain so we are ready to handle a national crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters while also conducting research that could help reach communities in food deserts across the nation. Every West Virginian and American deserves nutritious, available food options and I will continue to advocate in Washington until food deserts in West Virginia are addressed.”
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