Edit Program: Agriculture Innovation Center Program

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The '''Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) Program''', established in 2000 under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and expanded by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, is administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) to support agricultural innovation, allocating over $200 million since inception to support approximately 30 centers annually by 2025. Initially funded with $5 million, it has grown to distribute $20 million in FY 2025 across 30 initiatives, funding projects like organic dairy development in Wisconsin and biofuel production in Iowa at regional centers nationwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program |title=Agriculture Innovation Center Program |publisher=U.S. Rural Development}}</ref> Despite its impact, challenges like funding competition, producer outreach, and market access persist (web ID: 4), but it remains a key USDA effort to foster agricultural innovation. The [[2002 farm bill]] (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 6402) directed the [[USDA]] to provide [[Grant (money)|grants]] and to assist in the establishment of '''Agriculture Innovation Centers''' that provide information, training and direct assistance to [[agriculture|agricultural]] producers in the production, processing, development and marketing of value-added agricultural commodities and products. {{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program}} ==Goals== * Assist agricultural producers in developing and marketing value-added agricultural products, such as organic produce, artisanal foods, and biofuels. * Enhance rural economic development and job creation by supporting feasibility studies, business plans, and marketing strategies. * Strengthen local food systems and promote sustainable agriculture through technical assistance and grant funding to regional innovation centers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RD-Docs/AIC-Fact-Sheet.pdf |title=AIC Program Fact Sheet |publisher=U.S. Rural Development}}</ref> ==Organization== The AIC Program is managed by USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service, overseen by Administrator Andrew Berke since 2022, with regional RBCS offices and state partners implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act, Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, and subsequent funding acts like Public Law 118-342 (2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/leadership |title=USDA Leadership |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture}}</ref> ==Partners== * [[National Association of State Departments of Agriculture]] * [[Cooperative Extension System]] * [[U.S. Small Business Administration]] * [[The Nature Conservancy]] ==Locations== In September 2003, the USDA announced $10 million in grants for the establishment of demonstration centers in * [[Indiana]] * [[Iowa]] * [[Kansas]] * [[Michigan]] * [[Minnesota]] * [[Montana]] * [[New Jersey]] * [[New York (state)|New York]] * [[North Dakota]] * [[Pennsylvania]] ==History== Authorized by the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-224) and expanded by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171), and launched in 2000 with $5 million, the AIC Program expanded with annual appropriations, reaching $20 million in FY 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/2559 |title=Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 |publisher=U.S. Congress}}</ref> It grew from supporting 10 centers annually in 2001 to 30 by 2025, addressing agricultural challenges with innovations like value-added product development (web ID: 4). By 2025, it has funded over $200 million, though GAO notes funding competition concerns (web ID: 4). ==Funding== Initial funding of $5 million in 2000 supported the program’s launch, with over $200 million appropriated by 2025 via annual USDA budgets—e.g., $20 million in FY 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program |title=Agriculture Innovation Center Program |publisher=U.S. Rural Development}}</ref> Ongoing appropriations under the Agricultural Risk Protection Act and Farm Security and Rural Investment Act sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing agricultural needs. ==Implementation== AIC distributes competitive grants and technical assistance annually, requiring proposals to support value-added agriculture, tracked via RBCS’s program management system.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program/how-to-apply |title=How to Apply for AIC Program |publisher=U.S. Rural Development}}</ref> It progresses through partnerships with agricultural organizations—e.g., 30 centers yearly—and program expansions, adapting to market needs with no set end, though producer outreach remains a challenge (web ID: 4). ==Related== * [[Market Loss Assistance (MLA)]] * [[Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)]] *[[Electrical energy efficiency on United States farms]] *[[National Institute of Food and Agriculture]] ==External links== * {{W|article=Agriculture Innovation Center}} * https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program * https://www.usda.gov * [[wikipedia:Agriculture Innovation Center Program]] ===Social media=== * https://twitter.com/USDA * https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-department-of-agriculture ==References== *{{CRS|article = Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition |url = http://ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/05jun/97-905.pdf |author= Jasper Womach}} [[Category:United States Department of Agriculture programs]] {{Agriculture-stub}} [[Category:Programs]] [[Category:Programs and initiatives]] [[Category:Department of Agriculture]] [[Category:Partnerships]]