The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing in aquaculture development.

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking research grant funding applications for projects to support an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints.

Although U.S. aquaculture production has shown growth in the past decade, the country still has an approximately $12 billion trade deficit in seafood products and imports more than 90 percent of seafood consumed. Applied research in genetics, disease, production systems and economics is needed to develop practical solutions that will facilitate growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry.

USDA’s Aquaculture Research program will fund projects that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on priorities including genetics of commercial aquaculture species; critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species; design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems; and economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability.

According to USDA, the results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry and reduce the U.S. trade deficit. They could also increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

Applications are due May 17 and may only be submitted by state agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, private organizations or corporations and individuals.

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