Agriculture Innovation Center Program: Difference between revisions

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|TopOrganization=Department of Agriculture
|TopOrganization=Department of Agriculture
|CreationLegislation=Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-224), Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171)
|CreationLegislation=Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-224), Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171)
|Purpose=The Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), provides grants and technical assistance to regional centers to help agricultural producers develop and market value-added agricultural products. It aims to enhance rural economic development, create jobs, and strengthen local food systems by supporting feasibility studies, business plans, and marketing strategies for products like organic produce, artisanal cheeses, and biofuels, available nationwide through competitive grants to nonprofit organizations and state agencies.
|Purpose=AIC Program, via USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), grants aid to centers helping farmers market value-added products like organic produce and biofuels, boosting rural jobs and food systems nationwide.
|Website=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program
|Website=https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program
|ProgramStart=2000
|ProgramStart=2000
|InitialFunding=$5 million
|InitialFunding=$5 million
|Duration=Ongoing
|Duration=Ongoing
|Historic=false
|Historic=No
}}
}}
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 '''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.