News Summary
The USDA has announced an $18 million funding opportunity for the Farm to School Grant Program, the largest single-year commitment since its inception. This initiative seeks to improve access to fresh, local foods for students, although it comes amidst criticism of recent program cuts. Changes in grant parameters may disadvantage smaller projects, as funding will focus on larger initiatives requiring partnerships. Stakeholders are urging the USDA to engage with farmers and food service directors to ensure the ongoing success of the program and the needs of local communities are met.
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled an $18 million funding opportunity for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, slated for 2026. This initiative marks the largest single-year financial commitment to the program since its inception, aimed at enhancing students’ access to fresh, local foods. The announcement was made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who emphasized the potential benefits for small family farms and the importance of fostering the next generation of farmers.
The funding comes at a time when the USDA is facing scrutiny for cuts to the very programs that support local food sourcing for schools. Earlier this year, the agency canceled an anticipated $10 million allocation for the same grant program, a decision that impacted numerous schools and organizations that had already submitted applications.
The latest changes to the grant parameters are a significant shift from previous practices. The USDA has indicated that while there will be fewer grants awarded, the projects financed will likely be larger in scale. Consequently, the application process will be streamlined, consolidating seven grant categories into one and requiring partnerships among applicants. This new structure sets a minimum grant award of $100,000, which raises concerns regarding its accessibility for smaller projects. Historically, many organizations received grants under $50,000 that covered initiatives such as establishing school gardens.
Experts argue these adjustments could disadvantage smaller entities that may struggle to form the necessary partnerships to qualify for the new funding structure. The consolidation of grant categories and the removal of a scoring system that previously promoted the equitable distribution of funds to underserved communities have raised red flags for advocates of school nutrition programs. Some stakeholders in the farm-to-school initiative have expressed distress over the potential reversal of progress achieved in school nutrition efforts due to these changes.
The farm-to-school grant program has been operational for over a decade, supported through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed into law by Barack Obama in 2010. Since its establishment in 2013, the program has awarded approximately $100 million to over 1,200 projects aimed at expanding student access to fresh, local food.
The initial funding for the program began at $5 million annually. It has since received additional support from Congress each successive year, signifying its established role in promoting local agriculture and healthy eating among schoolchildren. Despite this new round of funding, experts caution that it does not sufficiently counterbalance the previous cuts impacting other essential programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Local Food for Schools initiative.
As the USDA initiates this new funding opportunity, stakeholders in the farm-to-school policy arena are calling for the Department to engage with farmers and school food service directors. Their concerns highlight the need for a collaborative approach in shaping policies and funding decisions that impact local food sourcing initiatives in schools. However, the USDA has not yet responded to requests for clarification regarding the implications of these funding changes or its broader strategic goals for supporting local food initiatives.
This ongoing dialogue reflects a critical juncture in refining the farm-to-school program and ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of both schools and local agricultural producers in fostering a healthier food system.
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- Encyclopedia Britannica: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
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