UMaine awarded federal funds for projects that support food economy, media report
The Portland Press Herald and Mainebiz reported the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station at UMaine are among the recipients of federal funding awarded to support Maine’s local food economy. Maine businesses and food projects will receive over $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree announced in a news release. UMaine Extension will receive funding for a project to develop soil and climate-based phosphorus recommendations for the purpose of improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing grower’s input cost and environmental issues. A partnership between the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and UMaine Extension to address microbial quality and safety of Maine maple syrup also will get support, according to the release. “Increasing the production and consumption of local food represents a fantastic opportunity for Maine jobs and businesses,” Pingree said.