USDA Gives SDSU $3.96M Healthy Food Choice Grant

The U.S. Agriculture Department has awarded South Dakota State University a $3.96 million grant to examine community efforts to encourage healthy food choices.

SDSU is one of 21 schools across the country to receive $75 million in grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The money is for research, education and extension activities to ensure greater food security in the United States and around the world.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan made the announcement Wednesday morning at SDSU's campus in Brookings.

Merrigan says the grants will help policymakers recognize the food and nutrition needs of low-income communities and improve the productivity to meet those needs.

Purdue University will study ways to defend against corn ear rot diseases and University of Tennessee will examine ways to improve milk quality.