Central State University

Through the Evans Allen (EA) Program, Central State University (CSU) Is Focused on Conducting Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Sciences Research to Address the Following Six Critical Issues in the State of Ohio: Developing and Infusing Emergent Technologies in Agricultural Systems, Sustaining Plant and Animal Systems, Securing Natural Resources and Environmental Systems, Enhancing Food Nutrition and Health Systems, Fostering Workforce Development, Engaging Communities and Transforming Lives. the Agricultural Research and Development Program (ARDP) Which Serves as the Research Pillar for the Land Grant Program at Central State University Currently Supports Nine Full Time Research Faculty and Two Hybrid Faculty (50% Research) Conducting Research to Address the Critical Issues Identified Above. Research Projects Include Developing Advance Precision Agricultural Technologies for Small Farm and Specialty Crop Agriculture; Soil and Water Conservation Studies for Targeted Implementation of Agricultural Best Management Practices in Ohio for Improving Productivity, Sustainability and Climate Mitigation and Adaption in Agricultural Systems; Identifying Alternate Cropping Systems for Ohio Such as Hemp, Specialty Crops and Specialty Corn Through Plant Breeding and Genotype Screening; Fostering Bioeconomy Through Plant Based Natural Products; Genomic and Genetic Engineering Studies for Improving Pollinator Health; Precision Nutrition Management and Healthy Lifestyle Studies to Address Nutrition Driven Chronic Illnesses Including Diabetes, Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases in Minority Populations; Food Safety Studies for Improved Understanding of Pathogen Virulence in Conventional and Alternate Agricultural and Food Production Systems; and Forest Management, Forest Farming and Urban Forestry Studies to Improve Economy From Timber Based and Non-timber Based Forest Products and to Achieve Environmental Sustainability in Forest Landscapes in Southeastern Ohio. Being an 1890 Land Grant Institution, the Ea Research at Csu Puts a Special Emphasis on Serving Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners Including Minority Farmers, Beginning Farmers and Limited Resource Farmers. as the Youngest 1890 Institution in the Country, Csu Is Also Focused on Building Research Capacity Through the Ea Program. a New Research Facility Is Currently Under Construction to Support Present and Future Research Activities. the Facility Will Be Equipped With State-of-the-art Laboratories to Conduct Cutting Edge Research in Precision Agriculture, Food Safety, Soil and Water Management, Genomics and Genetic Engineer Ing, Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture, and Seed Testing and Certification. This Facility Is Part of Csu's Vision for Establishing a Larger Agricultural Research and Demonstration Complex Comprising of a Several Other Facilities as Csu Envisions to Expand Its Food and Agricultural Research Footprint in Ohio. the New Facilities Will Also Include Greenhouses and High Tunnels for Controlled En Vironment Food and Agricultural Research. the Ea Program Also Supports Workforce Development Through Undergraduate Research Where Students in Sustainable Agriculture, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Education, Business, and Computer Sciences Programs Are Provided Experiential Learning Opportunities Throughout the Year. the Ea Program Also Provides Seed Funding to Academic Faculty During Summer for Collaborative Research to Address Nifa's Strategic Goals. This Funding Forms the Basis for Generating Pilot Findings to Further Improve Grantsmanship. the Land Grant Program at Csu Is Strategically Moving Toward Building the Human Capital Needed for Successful Achievement of Programmatic Goals Including the Hiring of Research Technicians, Post-doctoral Researchers, Business and Operational Staff, and New Full-time Research and Hybrid Faculty to Fill the Research Gaps in the Ardp Missional Areas.