** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SEEDS4LIFE PROGRAM AIMS AT EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OFFOOD SYSTEMSLEADERS BYENHANCINGSTUDENTS' (N=60) TECHNICAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLSAND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS.EACH YEAR WE WILL 1) RECRUIT 10 DIVERSE STUDENTS (UF = 5; FAMU = 5) TO CULTIVATE A STUDENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES WITHIN THE FOOD SYSTEMS IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE HEALTH, 2) PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENTIAL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES, AND 3) PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR CULTURAL COMPETENCE, TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR THEIR PERSONAL AND CAREER NEEDS. STUDENTS WILL INTERACT WITH RESEARCHERS, EXTENSION SPECIALISTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND OTHER STUDENTS THROUGH A SERIES OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES THAT WILL INCLUDE AN INTRODUCTORY 16-WEEK, 3 CREDIT HOURS COURSE, A 6-WEEK HANDS-ON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION DOMESTIC EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES WEEKLY 1-HOUR BROWN BAG DISCUSSIONS, AN OPTIONAL 2-WEEK EXTENSIVE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP ABROAD, A SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT THROUGH THE STUDENT ORGANIZATION CLUB, AND DISSEMINATION OF THEIR RESULTS THROUGH ON-CAMPUS AND PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES AND PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS. WE EXPECT THAT STUDENTS WILL 1) PROVIDE SOLUTIONSTO MINIMIZE ISSUES SURROUNDING FOOD SYSTEMS, 2) DEVELOP TECHNICAL, INTERPERSONAL, CROSS-CULTURAL, TEAMWORKAND LEADERSHIPSKILLS, 3) ILLUSTRATE, IN TERMS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC,CLEARAND EFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO PROPOSED APPROACHES, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES THAT ADDRESSCHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH CURRENT FOOD SYSTEMS, AND 4) ENGAGE IN PERSONALAND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH A FOCUS ON FOODS SYSTEMS TO ENRICH CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS FOR PROSPECTIVE CAREERS OR TO PURSUE GRADUATE DEGREES.