Kentucky State University receives largest federal award in the university’s history

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State University received the largest stand-alone federal award in its history.

KSU received $7 million from the National Science Foundation for the project “Driving AgTech Research and Education in Kentucky (DARE-KY) through Inclusive Network Building, Impactful Research, and Workforce Development for Soilless Food Systems.”

“We had a great team with a very diverse set of skillsets to make it all come together,” said KSU state specialist for aquaponics Jannelle Hager.

Those dollars establish a state-wide research network focusing on agriculture, climate change, and access to fresh food using soilless food systems for more sustainable agriculture.

“Mother nature is getting more and more unreliable,” said KSU president Dr. Koffi Akakpo “So we have to be looking for an alternative, and this is one way that we look at it.”

“Soilless agriculture can take a small landholder and open up tons of opportunities for production agriculture as well as the science and environmental benefits,” added KSU College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources acting dean. “So, this, we think, is great for the commonwealth.”

University leaders hope this grant will garner even more student success in STEM and workforce development.

“We’re really focusing on students that can really start careers that a lot of times wouldn’t have opportunities to do otherwise in an industry that is rapidly growing,” said KSU research and extension associate Leo Fleckenstein. “This really provides a ton of opportunities for people entering these jobs.”

The project will take place from August 2024 through July 2028.

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