**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 PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING SUPPORT FORTHE 13TH ANNUAL AQUAPONIC CONFERENCE(09/12-09/15/2024) IN ORDERTO CREATE SOLUTIONS, ALIGNED WITH THE IDEAS PROGRAM, TO HISTORICAL CHALLENGES OUR ORGANIZATION HAS FACED HOSTING THIS CONFERENCE IN THE PAST. THIS FUNDING WILL ALLOW US TO CREATE INITIATIVES, HOST SPECIAL SESSIONS ALIGNED WITH THE IDEAS PROGRAM (ENVIRONMENTAL SYNERGIES OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION, AUTOMATION/PRECISION AGRICULTURE, URBAN PRODUCTION), AND INVITE UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS (NATIVE-AMERICAN, STUDENTS, ETC.) TOENHANCE THE CONTENT DELIVERED DURING THIS EVENT AS WELL AS EXPAND THEINTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY ATTENDING THIS EVENT. SPECIFICALLY, THE FUNDING WILL BE USEDTO 1) PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TARGET AUDIENCES AND SPEAKERS (STUDENTS, INDIGENOUS/UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, URBAN PRODUCERS, AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE END USERS); 2) HOST SPECIAL SESSIONS ALIGNED WITH THE IDEAS PROGRAM (WASTE TO VALUE, AUTOMATION, ORGANIC, URBAN, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES, ETC.); AND 3) CONDUCT LOCAL TOURS OF AQUAPONIC FACILITIES (TEXAS A&M DALLAS AGRILIFE CENTER AND TIMBERVIEW FARMSTEAD). THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES/IMPACTS ARE: 1) FULL FINACIAL SUPPORT FOR 10 SELECTED ORGANIZATIONS/GROUPS TO ATTEND AND PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE AND PARTIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR 27 ADDITIONAL ORGNIZATIONS/GROUPS; 2) INCREASED KNOWLEDGE FROM SPECIAL SESSIONS OF >70% OF THE ATTENDEES;AND3) 300+ ATTENDEES AND 20+ SPONSORS FOR THIS EVENT.$20,000
· FY2024 · National Institute of Food and Agriculture