The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant $4.5 million investment to establish three new USDA Nutrition Hubs, aimed at addressing food and nutrition security challenges in underserved communities. This initiative, revealed on December 19, 2024, expands on the pilot Nutrition Hub created last year at Southern University and A&M College.
These new hubs, funded through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the USDA Agricultural Research Service, will be located at three Land-grant Universities: the University of Hawaii, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and Utah State University. Each hub has a specific focus tailored to its region’s needs.
The Pacific Nutrition Hub at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa will develop strategies for Native populations in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Region. Texas A&M’s Healthy Living for Hispanic Communities USDA Nutrition Hub will target Hispanic communities, while Utah State University’s Western Region Nutrition Security Collaborative will address structural inequalities in food access.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Nutrition security means everyone has consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being.” The hubs will employ precision nutrition approaches, tailoring dietary guidance to specific subpopulations based on various factors including genetics, socioeconomic characteristics, and cultural factors.
Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA’s Chief Scientist, highlighted the role of Land-grant Universities in this effort, noting their experience in community building through education and Extension outreach programming. The hubs aim to stimulate interdisciplinary work among scientists and stakeholders, developing science-based solutions to address food, nutrition, and diet-related health disparities.
This expansion of Nutrition Hubs represents a significant step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring nutrition security for all Americans and reducing the burden of diet-related chronic diseases in at-risk communities.
See: “USDA Delivers on Promise to Expand Access to Nutrition Resources in Underserved Communities by Funding Three New Nutrition Hubs” (December 19, 2024)