** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WE WILL ESTABLISH A RESEARCH AND EXTENSION EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REEU) PROGRAM EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: CROP-TO-FOOD INNOVATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN (UNL). THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE 46 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PARTICIPANTS AND 14 FACULTY ADVISORS IN 10-WEEK SESSIONS DURING FIVE SUMMERS. THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN AN INTEGRATED, INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PIPELINE THAT CREATES NOVEL CROP TRAITS AND APPLIES INNOVATIVE BIOPROCESSING AND FORMULATION TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOP NEW FOOD AND FEED APPLICATIONS. OUR RESEARCH-BASED, EXPERIENTIAL TRAINING WILL EXPOSE STUDENTS TO DIVERSE DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING PLANT BREEDING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING, FOOD SCIENCE, AND HUMAN AND LIVESTOCK NUTRITION. WE WILL DEVELOP RECRUITMENT NETWORKS WITH 1890 LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER HBCUS TO ENHANCE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THE AGRICULTURAL STEM WORKFORCE. STUDENTS WILL BE PREPARED FOR DIVERSE CAREER PATHS THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT HIGHLIGHT STEPS FROM CROP TRAIT INCEPTION TO PRODUCT MARKETPLACE DELIVERY. IN LINE WITH AFRI EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, WE WILL EMPHASIZE TRAINING IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS.