Question for written answer E-002797/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Maria Grapini (S&D)
The risk management tools under the CAP should offer an effective response to crises in order to protect European farmers, without discriminating or differentiating among them.
Does the Commission not consider that the provisions of Recital 21 and Article 41a(5) of the proposal for a regulation (COM (2025) 236 final) allowing Member States the possibility of national co-financing of up to 200 % (in the form of state aid) in the event of climate disasters could lead to disparities between regions? This could happen owing to the differing potentials of the Member States, which are at different stages of development, and the provision risks undermining the level playing field in the single market.
Rather than making provision for national co-financing, the financing of the crisis reserve at EU-level could be bolstered, and this used equitably for farmers wherever they are farming.
Question for written answer E-002797/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Maria Grapini (S&D)
The risk management tools under the CAP should offer an effective response to crises in order to protect European farmers, without discriminating or differentiating among them.
Does the Commission not consider that the provisions of Recital 21 and Article 41a(5) of the proposal for a regulation (COM (2025) 236 final) allowing Member States the possibility of national co-financing of up to 200 % (in the form of state aid) in the event of climate disasters could lead to disparities between regions? This could happen owing to the differing potentials of the Member States, which are at different stages of development, and the provision risks undermining the level playing field in the single market.
Rather than making provision for national co-financing, the financing of the crisis reserve at EU-level could be bolstered, and this used equitably for farmers wherever they are farming.
Question for written answer E-002797/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Maria Grapini (S&D)
The risk management tools under the CAP should offer an effective response to crises in order to protect European farmers, without discriminating or differentiating among them.
Does the Commission not consider that the provisions of Recital 21 and Article 41a(5) of the proposal for a regulation (COM (2025) 236 final) allowing Member States the possibility of national co-financing of up to 200 % (in the form of state aid) in the event of climate disasters could lead to disparities between regions? This could happen owing to the differing potentials of the Member States, which are at different stages of development, and the provision risks undermining the level playing field in the single market.
Rather than making provision for national co-financing, the financing of the crisis reserve at EU-level could be bolstered, and this used equitably for farmers wherever they are farming.
Question for written answer E-002797/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Maria Grapini (S&D)
The risk management tools under the CAP should offer an effective response to crises in order to protect European farmers, without discriminating or differentiating among them.
Does the Commission not consider that the provisions of Recital 21 and Article 41a(5) of the proposal for a regulation (COM (2025) 236 final) allowing Member States the possibility of national co-financing of up to 200 % (in the form of state aid) in the event of climate disasters could lead to disparities between regions? This could happen owing to the differing potentials of the Member States, which are at different stages of development, and the provision risks undermining the level playing field in the single market.
Rather than making provision for national co-financing, the financing of the crisis reserve at EU-level could be bolstered, and this used equitably for farmers wherever they are farming.
At its meeting on 16 July, the College of Commissioners is likely to adopt the post-2027 multiannual financial framework package, including the first set of sectoral proposals. Commissioner Hansen will present the proposal on the common agricultural policy after 2027 which is supposed to be part of the package in the afternoon of the same day in ComAGRI and answer questions from MEPs.
At its meeting on 16 July, the College of Commissioners is likely to adopt the post-2027 multiannual financial framework package, including the first set of sectoral proposals. Commissioner Hansen will present the proposal on the common agricultural policy after 2027 which is supposed to be part of the package in the afternoon of the same day in ComAGRI and answer questions from MEPs.
The Commission is aware that cut flowers may contain residues of pesticides, whether these flowers are produced domestically or imported.
The use of pesticides for the production of flowers in the EU falls within the scope of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 on the placing on the market of plant protection products[1].
Potential exposure of workers to pesticides is always assessed prior to their authorisation on the basis of worst-case scenarios to ensure a high level of protection of human health.
As stated in the Vision on agriculture and food[2], considering EU’s concerns about environmental protections and moral values in response to societal demands, the Commission will pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, including on pesticides.
There is no EU legislation regulating the levels of residues of pesticides in cut flowers as Regulation (EC) 396/2005 setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides[3] applies only to food and feed intended for human or animal consumption.
Since 2017, the Commission has held discussions with Member States on residues on cut flowers on several occasions in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed[4].
As the control of the levels of residues of pesticides in imported cut-flowers is not currently covered by any EU legislations, Member States have the possibility to introduce specific national provision to protect the workers in this sector as it is already the case in one Member State.
[1] Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1107/oj.
[2] COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, COM/2025/75 final.
[3] Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/396/oj.
[4] Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in March 2017, May 2017, July 2017, October 2017, October 2020, March 2022 and May 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/standing_committees/sc_phytopharmaceuticals_en.
The Province is urging people in British Columbia to conserve water over the coming weeks as forecasts suggest much of the province will experience elevated drought conditions.
“Saving water and responding to drought is a shared responsibility, and we know that early action can make a big difference, especially when we work together,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “The Province is doing our part to ensure communities and farmers are prepared, and we are working with large water users to reduce their water use. This is especially critical in high-risk watersheds that support fish populations or are at risk of long-term harm.”
Voluntary reduction and water-conservation measures and changes in weather, including significant rainfall, can play a critical role in maintaining stream flows. In some B.C. communities, residential water use makes up as much as 70% of total use during the summer months, which is why even small changes at home can make a big difference. That might look like:
watering your lawn less often or switching to drought-tolerant plants;
using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways or patios;
turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes; or
fixing leaky faucets, which can waste hundreds of litres over time.
The Province continues to monitor stream and weather conditions and their potential impacts to aquatic ecosystems and fish populations. In the meantime, people in British Columbia are asked to help ensure the sustainability of watersheds by reducing their water use whenever possible.
While the recent rains provided relief for some regions in B.C., particularly the Fort Nelson area, it has not been enough to overcome limited rain from previous months. Much of the southern Interior is expected to remain dry with little to no rainfall, with drought conditions worsening and stream flows continuing to decline in the Nicola, Kettle, Okanagan and Slocan-Lower Columbia basins.
The Province has taken a whole-of-government approach to investing in practical solutions and is working closely with First Nations, local governments, industry and the agricultural sector to manage water wisely and protect long-term water security. In spring 2025, government also updated B.C.’s Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan to clarify the approach to monitoring drought and water-scarcity impacts ahead of the dry season, with an emphasis on early action and support for local decision-making.
Additional efforts include a $100-million Watershed Security Fund to support local water projects that build drought resilience and more than $100 million through the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program to help farmers and communities build better water storage and delivery systems, as well as more funding for emergency response and community planning to better manage water shortages when they happen.
Temporary protection orders may be issued as a last resort if voluntary efforts are not enough to restore water flows and protect vulnerable animals, fish and watersheds from long-lasting harms that could take generations to recover. Decisions about whether to issue water-use restrictions are based on supporting science, and a careful analysis of local economic factors.
Learn More:
To learn more about drought preparation and response, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/drought
The Province is urging people in British Columbia to conserve water over the coming weeks as forecasts suggest much of the province will experience elevated drought conditions.
“Saving water and responding to drought is a shared responsibility, and we know that early action can make a big difference, especially when we work together,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “The Province is doing our part to ensure communities and farmers are prepared, and we are working with large water users to reduce their water use. This is especially critical in high-risk watersheds that support fish populations or are at risk of long-term harm.”
Voluntary reduction and water-conservation measures and changes in weather, including significant rainfall, can play a critical role in maintaining stream flows. In some B.C. communities, residential water use makes up as much as 70% of total use during the summer months, which is why even small changes at home can make a big difference. That might look like:
watering your lawn less often or switching to drought-tolerant plants;
using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways or patios;
turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes; or
fixing leaky faucets, which can waste hundreds of litres over time.
The Province continues to monitor stream and weather conditions and their potential impacts to aquatic ecosystems and fish populations. In the meantime, people in British Columbia are asked to help ensure the sustainability of watersheds by reducing their water use whenever possible.
While the recent rains provided relief for some regions in B.C., particularly the Fort Nelson area, it has not been enough to overcome limited rain from previous months. Much of the southern Interior is expected to remain dry with little to no rainfall, with drought conditions worsening and stream flows continuing to decline in the Nicola, Kettle, Okanagan and Slocan-Lower Columbia basins.
The Province has taken a whole-of-government approach to investing in practical solutions and is working closely with First Nations, local governments, industry and the agricultural sector to manage water wisely and protect long-term water security. In spring 2025, government also updated B.C.’s Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan to clarify the approach to monitoring drought and water-scarcity impacts ahead of the dry season, with an emphasis on early action and support for local decision-making.
Additional efforts include a $100-million Watershed Security Fund to support local water projects that build drought resilience and more than $100 million through the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program to help farmers and communities build better water storage and delivery systems, as well as more funding for emergency response and community planning to better manage water shortages when they happen.
Temporary protection orders may be issued as a last resort if voluntary efforts are not enough to restore water flows and protect vulnerable animals, fish and watersheds from long-lasting harms that could take generations to recover. Decisions about whether to issue water-use restrictions are based on supporting science, and a careful analysis of local economic factors.
Learn More:
To learn more about drought preparation and response, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/drought
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Engler-Stringer, Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan
This spring, as part of a sabbatical project, I had the privilege of visiting school food programs and meeting with school food researchers in six cities in France, England and Scotland.
I got to eat school lunches, visit central kitchens in two cities where meals are prepared for thousands of children, visit school kitchens and discuss school food with the countries’ leading experts.
2) One important benefit of school food programs globally is to encourage picky eaters to try new foods due to the social pressure of all kids eating the same foods together. In three cities in France I visited, and one in England, school lunches look like home-cooked meals. One main dish with meat is served (and in England, a vegetarian alternative), and kids can choose if and how much of the side vegetables and fruit to take.
In the other two locations in England and Scotland, kids choose from multiple main dishes — something that adds cost to the program and does less to encourage kids to try new foods, given one choice is always something basic like a cheese sandwich.
Kids need to have some autonomy when it comes to eating, but school food programs should not be facilitating eating the same food every day. Nor should school food programs aspire to a model where broad choice is afforded from a large menu.
3) With care, planning and sufficient resources, centralized kitchens can prepare thousands of servings of a main dish daily. The French central kitchens I visited prepare 6,000 to 10,000 servings a day of high-quality food following strict food safety protocols.
I ate two simple yet delicious meals cooked in municipally owned central kitchens. In the three cities in France where I visited, they used central kitchens where main dishes were prepared and chilled to be delivered for heating at the school level. Central kitchens also delivered the salads and sides (like chopped veggies, bread, cheese and fruit) and dressings.
In the small school kitchens, the salads were dressed, and the cheese and fruit were cut for service.
The central kitchens were also used in at least one city to prepare food for daycares and for seniors who were home-bound — something to consider for Canadian cities.
Centralizing kitchens can reduce costs and provide a way for high-quality food to be produced from basic ingredients without commercial kitchens in every school capable of preparing meals for hundreds of children at a time.
4) When designed with requirements for purchasing foods from local farmers and other Canadian producers, school food programs can benefit the agricultural sector and multiply their benefits to communities beyond direct school food jobs. In France, for example, there are specific percentages to be purchased from local and sustainable sources. Percentage requirements for local and sustainable purchasing should be enacted now in Canada as its program establishes itself, perhaps beginning with 20 per cent and growing over time.
I have many more reflections from my visits, both positive and negative, but the four I have discussed are important for Canada to learn from as it begins to design the National School Food Program to meet the needs of diverse communities from coast to coast to coast.
Rachel Engler-Stringer receives funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and received a University of Saskatchewan International Travel Award for program visits. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Engler-Stringer, Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan
This spring, as part of a sabbatical project, I had the privilege of visiting school food programs and meeting with school food researchers in six cities in France, England and Scotland.
I got to eat school lunches, visit central kitchens in two cities where meals are prepared for thousands of children, visit school kitchens and discuss school food with the countries’ leading experts.
2) One important benefit of school food programs globally is to encourage picky eaters to try new foods due to the social pressure of all kids eating the same foods together. In three cities in France I visited, and one in England, school lunches look like home-cooked meals. One main dish with meat is served (and in England, a vegetarian alternative), and kids can choose if and how much of the side vegetables and fruit to take.
In the other two locations in England and Scotland, kids choose from multiple main dishes — something that adds cost to the program and does less to encourage kids to try new foods, given one choice is always something basic like a cheese sandwich.
Kids need to have some autonomy when it comes to eating, but school food programs should not be facilitating eating the same food every day. Nor should school food programs aspire to a model where broad choice is afforded from a large menu.
3) With care, planning and sufficient resources, centralized kitchens can prepare thousands of servings of a main dish daily. The French central kitchens I visited prepare 6,000 to 10,000 servings a day of high-quality food following strict food safety protocols.
I ate two simple yet delicious meals cooked in municipally owned central kitchens. In the three cities in France where I visited, they used central kitchens where main dishes were prepared and chilled to be delivered for heating at the school level. Central kitchens also delivered the salads and sides (like chopped veggies, bread, cheese and fruit) and dressings.
In the small school kitchens, the salads were dressed, and the cheese and fruit were cut for service.
The central kitchens were also used in at least one city to prepare food for daycares and for seniors who were home-bound — something to consider for Canadian cities.
Centralizing kitchens can reduce costs and provide a way for high-quality food to be produced from basic ingredients without commercial kitchens in every school capable of preparing meals for hundreds of children at a time.
4) When designed with requirements for purchasing foods from local farmers and other Canadian producers, school food programs can benefit the agricultural sector and multiply their benefits to communities beyond direct school food jobs. In France, for example, there are specific percentages to be purchased from local and sustainable sources. Percentage requirements for local and sustainable purchasing should be enacted now in Canada as its program establishes itself, perhaps beginning with 20 per cent and growing over time.
I have many more reflections from my visits, both positive and negative, but the four I have discussed are important for Canada to learn from as it begins to design the National School Food Program to meet the needs of diverse communities from coast to coast to coast.
Rachel Engler-Stringer receives funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and received a University of Saskatchewan International Travel Award for program visits. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 11, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a funding bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in this appropriations bill, both through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and through the programmatic appropriations process.
“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s what these bipartisan funding bills do,” Duckworth said. “Appropriating federal funding is the primary role of Congress, and it’s critical this responsibility remains in the legislative branch. I’m proud I was able to help secure critical support for projects throughout Illinois that support our rural communities.”
“Congress is tasked with the critical responsibility to fund our government programs and agencies. While Congress has fulfilled this responsibility by routinely passing continuing resolutions, I hope that we can have a true bipartisan effort to pass appropriations bills in a timely, thoughtful process,” said Durbin. “And as the Trump Administration aims to gut our government, I will continue to push for the funding and resources for Illinoisans to thrive.”
The Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA funding bill includes the following Illinois priorities secured by Congressionally Directed Spending requests:
Health Clinic, LaHarpe: $1.38 million to Memorial Hospital Association to help construct an additional health clinic to expand access to health care in the Western Illinois community.
Hospital Infrastructure Improvements, Watseka, Illinois: $645,000 to the Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Resident Home to update aged and outdated facilities, including HVAC systems and flooring.
Intergenerational Center, Fairbury, Illinois: $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club of Livingston County to construct an intergenerational community center to provide programming and services to youth and seniors at the same site.
Laboratory Renovation, Pittsfield, Illinois: $1 million to the Blessing Care Corporation to update the laboratory department at Illini Community Hospital in order to modernize facilities that are more than 80 years old.
Medical Technology Upgrades, Lawrenceville, Illinois: $450,000 to provide essential technological upgrades at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, including improvements in diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring systems, and life-saving equipment.
Pre-K Expansion, Herrin: $263,000 to Herrin Community Unit School District No. 4 to help expand capacity at the district’s pre-K center.
Rural Health Clinic Expansion, West Frankfort, Illinois: $1 million to Southern Illinois Hospital Services to expand the Miners Memorial Rural Health Clinic to provide improvements in both patient rooms and provider workspace.
Teledentistry Initiative, Mattoon, Illinois: $110,000 to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center to expand rural telehealth efforts to include teledentistry with an emphasis on underserved children.
The Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA funding bill includes additional Illinois priorities secured through the programmatic appropriations process:
USDA
Bee Genome: $3 million, an increase of $750,000 from FY25, to continue sequencing the genome of more than 4,000 domestic bee species, including activities underway at the Peoria USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research and the University of Illinois.
Midwest Soybean Germplasm Lab: The President’s Budget Request proposes closing research labs in three states, including two operations at the University of Illinois—the National Soybean Germplasm Collection and the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center. The bill includes language to prohibit USDA laboratory and facility closures without USDA providing Congressional notification and approval.
Agricultural Research: $3.2 billion for basic food and agricultural research nationwide, including activities underway at the Peoria USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research and the University of Illinois.
Tracking Farm Exports by State: Includes report language requiring USDA to track and publish the top five farm commodities exported, or imported, by State, and the country of destination, or origin.
Plant Health, Tree and Wood Pests: $59 million to help identify and contain wood-boring pests threatening tree health across the country, 19 of which have been detected in the past decade, including the Emerald Ash Borer. This funding will allow for the identification and containment of Emerald Ash Borer infestations and increase public awareness of the threat posed by EAB in the 15 states that are battling this invasive species.
Animal Welfare: $27 million to implement and enforce provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including those governing facilities that previously have fallen out of compliance with the AWA.
Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program): $35 million to support loans and grants that facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas without sufficient broadband access.
Agricultural Extension – Food Safety Outreach Program: $10 million to provide food safety training and tech assistance to owners and operators of small farms, small food processors, and small fruit and vegetable vendors affected by the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011.
Food for Peace: $1.5 billion to meet emergency food needs around the world, including due to the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, and conflict, displacement, poverty, and climate change exacerbating needs around the world, despite Trump’s efforts to eliminate the program.
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program: $240 million to support school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects around the world, particularly for girls, despite Trump’s efforts to eliminate the program.
Local and Regional Procurement: Continues support for the promotion of locally sourced agricultural products, which remain less costly and more accessible when compared to commodities sourced from the United States and shipped overseas.
FDA
Tobacco: Includes substantial bill language pertaining to FDA’s Tobacco Center to eliminate harmful provisions and ensure alignment with public health needs. The statutory language specifies $200 million for e-cigarette enforcement activities, out of the $712 million total for the FDA’s Tobacco Center—which will increase resources to investigate and stop illegally sold products. The language also enhances reporting to Congress, dedicates $2 million to the interagency task force between FDA, DOJ, and DHS, and provides statutory authority requested by FDA Commissioner Makary to enable FDA to detain and destroy seized illegal e-cigarettes at ports of entry. There also is report language ensuring that the FDA’s regulatory focus is on kid-friendly and flavored products, and balanced between unauthorized Chinese vapes and also-illegal, unauthorized domestic vapes (made by Altria, RJ Reynolds, JUUL).
ALS: Provides no less than $2.5 million for FDA to continue implementation of the ACT for ALS law to enable FDA to fund early stage clinical trials for new ALS therapies.
Food Safety: $1.17 billion for FDA’s Human Foods Program to oversee food and nutrition in the United States. Includes report language encouraging coordination between FDA, USDA, and CDC in better ensuring the safety of our nation’s foods.
Dietary Supplements: Includes report language calling on FDA to strengthen its enforcement actions against adulterated and misbranded dietary supplements.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 11, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a funding bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in this appropriations bill, both through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and through the programmatic appropriations process.
“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s what these bipartisan funding bills do,” Duckworth said. “Appropriating federal funding is the primary role of Congress, and it’s critical this responsibility remains in the legislative branch. I’m proud I was able to help secure critical support for projects throughout Illinois that support our rural communities.”
“Congress is tasked with the critical responsibility to fund our government programs and agencies. While Congress has fulfilled this responsibility by routinely passing continuing resolutions, I hope that we can have a true bipartisan effort to pass appropriations bills in a timely, thoughtful process,” said Durbin. “And as the Trump Administration aims to gut our government, I will continue to push for the funding and resources for Illinoisans to thrive.”
The Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA funding bill includes the following Illinois priorities secured by Congressionally Directed Spending requests:
Health Clinic, LaHarpe: $1.38 million to Memorial Hospital Association to help construct an additional health clinic to expand access to health care in the Western Illinois community.
Hospital Infrastructure Improvements, Watseka, Illinois: $645,000 to the Iroquois Memorial Hospital and Resident Home to update aged and outdated facilities, including HVAC systems and flooring.
Intergenerational Center, Fairbury, Illinois: $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club of Livingston County to construct an intergenerational community center to provide programming and services to youth and seniors at the same site.
Laboratory Renovation, Pittsfield, Illinois: $1 million to the Blessing Care Corporation to update the laboratory department at Illini Community Hospital in order to modernize facilities that are more than 80 years old.
Medical Technology Upgrades, Lawrenceville, Illinois: $450,000 to provide essential technological upgrades at Lawrence County Memorial Hospital, including improvements in diagnostic imaging, patient monitoring systems, and life-saving equipment.
Pre-K Expansion, Herrin: $263,000 to Herrin Community Unit School District No. 4 to help expand capacity at the district’s pre-K center.
Rural Health Clinic Expansion, West Frankfort, Illinois: $1 million to Southern Illinois Hospital Services to expand the Miners Memorial Rural Health Clinic to provide improvements in both patient rooms and provider workspace.
Teledentistry Initiative, Mattoon, Illinois: $110,000 to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center to expand rural telehealth efforts to include teledentistry with an emphasis on underserved children.
The Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA funding bill includes additional Illinois priorities secured through the programmatic appropriations process:
USDA
Bee Genome: $3 million, an increase of $750,000 from FY25, to continue sequencing the genome of more than 4,000 domestic bee species, including activities underway at the Peoria USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research and the University of Illinois.
Midwest Soybean Germplasm Lab: The President’s Budget Request proposes closing research labs in three states, including two operations at the University of Illinois—the National Soybean Germplasm Collection and the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center. The bill includes language to prohibit USDA laboratory and facility closures without USDA providing Congressional notification and approval.
Agricultural Research: $3.2 billion for basic food and agricultural research nationwide, including activities underway at the Peoria USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research and the University of Illinois.
Tracking Farm Exports by State: Includes report language requiring USDA to track and publish the top five farm commodities exported, or imported, by State, and the country of destination, or origin.
Plant Health, Tree and Wood Pests: $59 million to help identify and contain wood-boring pests threatening tree health across the country, 19 of which have been detected in the past decade, including the Emerald Ash Borer. This funding will allow for the identification and containment of Emerald Ash Borer infestations and increase public awareness of the threat posed by EAB in the 15 states that are battling this invasive species.
Animal Welfare: $27 million to implement and enforce provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including those governing facilities that previously have fallen out of compliance with the AWA.
Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program): $35 million to support loans and grants that facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas without sufficient broadband access.
Agricultural Extension – Food Safety Outreach Program: $10 million to provide food safety training and tech assistance to owners and operators of small farms, small food processors, and small fruit and vegetable vendors affected by the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011.
Food for Peace: $1.5 billion to meet emergency food needs around the world, including due to the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, and conflict, displacement, poverty, and climate change exacerbating needs around the world, despite Trump’s efforts to eliminate the program.
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program: $240 million to support school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects around the world, particularly for girls, despite Trump’s efforts to eliminate the program.
Local and Regional Procurement: Continues support for the promotion of locally sourced agricultural products, which remain less costly and more accessible when compared to commodities sourced from the United States and shipped overseas.
FDA
Tobacco: Includes substantial bill language pertaining to FDA’s Tobacco Center to eliminate harmful provisions and ensure alignment with public health needs. The statutory language specifies $200 million for e-cigarette enforcement activities, out of the $712 million total for the FDA’s Tobacco Center—which will increase resources to investigate and stop illegally sold products. The language also enhances reporting to Congress, dedicates $2 million to the interagency task force between FDA, DOJ, and DHS, and provides statutory authority requested by FDA Commissioner Makary to enable FDA to detain and destroy seized illegal e-cigarettes at ports of entry. There also is report language ensuring that the FDA’s regulatory focus is on kid-friendly and flavored products, and balanced between unauthorized Chinese vapes and also-illegal, unauthorized domestic vapes (made by Altria, RJ Reynolds, JUUL).
ALS: Provides no less than $2.5 million for FDA to continue implementation of the ACT for ALS law to enable FDA to fund early stage clinical trials for new ALS therapies.
Food Safety: $1.17 billion for FDA’s Human Foods Program to oversee food and nutrition in the United States. Includes report language encouraging coordination between FDA, USDA, and CDC in better ensuring the safety of our nation’s foods.
Dietary Supplements: Includes report language calling on FDA to strengthen its enforcement actions against adulterated and misbranded dietary supplements.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today and apprised him of the ongoing development works and key upcoming projects in the state.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Dhami presented the Prime Minister with a replica of the Shri Kartik Swami Temple located in Rudraprayag district. He briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the Char Dham Yatra, Adi Kailash Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, Nanda Raj Jat Yatra and preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in 2027.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister about the achievements under the Jal Jeevan Mission and discussed the current status of the scheme in the state.
CM Dhami urged the Prime Minister to consider extending the Delhi–Meerut (Modipuram) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) up to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also requested financial assistance of ₹3,500 crore for the successful organisation of the Haridwar Kumbh 2027 and ₹400 crore for the smooth conduct of the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra in 2026.
He sought the Prime Minister’s support for including the river-linking project under a special scheme and requested directions to the concerned ministry for CSR funding for the Haridwar–Rishikesh Ganga Corridor and Sharda Corridor projects. The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to approve five previously recommended hydropower projects and sought support for setting up a semiconductor industry at NEPA Farm in Udham Singh Nagar district.
The Chief Minister further requested the Prime Minister’s intervention to approve the ₹1,015.11 crore DPR under the RDSS scheme for undergrounding HT/LT lines and automating the power system in Rishikesh and Haridwar to enhance their aesthetic appeal. He also urged for the necessary clearances from the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee to restore and develop Chaurasi Kutiya in Rishikesh.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma also called on Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi today. During the meeting, Chief Minister Lalduhoma discussed key development issues pertaining to Mizoram and sought the Centre’s continued support for the state’s progress.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today and apprised him of the ongoing development works and key upcoming projects in the state.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Dhami presented the Prime Minister with a replica of the Shri Kartik Swami Temple located in Rudraprayag district. He briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the Char Dham Yatra, Adi Kailash Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, Nanda Raj Jat Yatra and preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in 2027.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister about the achievements under the Jal Jeevan Mission and discussed the current status of the scheme in the state.
CM Dhami urged the Prime Minister to consider extending the Delhi–Meerut (Modipuram) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) up to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also requested financial assistance of ₹3,500 crore for the successful organisation of the Haridwar Kumbh 2027 and ₹400 crore for the smooth conduct of the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra in 2026.
He sought the Prime Minister’s support for including the river-linking project under a special scheme and requested directions to the concerned ministry for CSR funding for the Haridwar–Rishikesh Ganga Corridor and Sharda Corridor projects. The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to approve five previously recommended hydropower projects and sought support for setting up a semiconductor industry at NEPA Farm in Udham Singh Nagar district.
The Chief Minister further requested the Prime Minister’s intervention to approve the ₹1,015.11 crore DPR under the RDSS scheme for undergrounding HT/LT lines and automating the power system in Rishikesh and Haridwar to enhance their aesthetic appeal. He also urged for the necessary clearances from the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee to restore and develop Chaurasi Kutiya in Rishikesh.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma also called on Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi today. During the meeting, Chief Minister Lalduhoma discussed key development issues pertaining to Mizoram and sought the Centre’s continued support for the state’s progress.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today and apprised him of the ongoing development works and key upcoming projects in the state.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Dhami presented the Prime Minister with a replica of the Shri Kartik Swami Temple located in Rudraprayag district. He briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the Char Dham Yatra, Adi Kailash Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, Nanda Raj Jat Yatra and preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in 2027.
The Chief Minister also informed the Prime Minister about the achievements under the Jal Jeevan Mission and discussed the current status of the scheme in the state.
CM Dhami urged the Prime Minister to consider extending the Delhi–Meerut (Modipuram) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) up to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also requested financial assistance of ₹3,500 crore for the successful organisation of the Haridwar Kumbh 2027 and ₹400 crore for the smooth conduct of the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra in 2026.
He sought the Prime Minister’s support for including the river-linking project under a special scheme and requested directions to the concerned ministry for CSR funding for the Haridwar–Rishikesh Ganga Corridor and Sharda Corridor projects. The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to approve five previously recommended hydropower projects and sought support for setting up a semiconductor industry at NEPA Farm in Udham Singh Nagar district.
The Chief Minister further requested the Prime Minister’s intervention to approve the ₹1,015.11 crore DPR under the RDSS scheme for undergrounding HT/LT lines and automating the power system in Rishikesh and Haridwar to enhance their aesthetic appeal. He also urged for the necessary clearances from the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee to restore and develop Chaurasi Kutiya in Rishikesh.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma also called on Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi today. During the meeting, Chief Minister Lalduhoma discussed key development issues pertaining to Mizoram and sought the Centre’s continued support for the state’s progress.
ADVISORY – ALLEGHENY COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick Off 2025 Urban Agriculture Tour, Highlighting Investments in Innovation, Equity, and Opportunity Feeding Progress in Urban Communities
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Secretary Carrie Rowe will kick off the Shapiro Administration’s 2025 Urban Agriculture Tour at Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh, where a high-tech greenhouse expansion funded through a historic Agricultural Innovation Grant is underway, and urban students are training for in-demand culinary and horticulture careers.
The weeklong tour will feature projects supported by PA Farm Bill Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants, Agriculture Innovation Grants, Fresh Food Financing Grants and other Shapiro Administration investments to increase economic opportunities and help meet pressing challenges to expanding fresh food access in urban communities.
Tour stops throughout the week will introduce dynamic Pennsylvanians working to increase fresh food access in areas where it is scarce; break down racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic barriers; and overcome historical inequities to grow opportunities for their urban neighborhoods to thrive. The tour will include stops in Johnstown on Tuesday, Carlisle on Wednesday, Philadelphia on Thursday, and the Lehigh Valley on Friday. (Separate advisories will be issued for each day.)
WHO: Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe State Representative Emily Kinkead Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Bidwell Training Center Sr. Dir. of Horticulture and Agriculture Technology Ryan Gott
WHEN: Monday, July 14 at 1:15 p.m. (kickoff press conference)
WHERE: Bidwell Training Center, Drew Mathieson Greenhouse – 1815 Metropolitan St, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
RSVP: Please email aginfo@pa.gov if you would like to attend and include location.
WHAT: Pittsburgh Food Policy Council will lead a brief tour of an organic, North Side neighborhood farm where families grow food for their homes and donation to area food pantries.
WHEN: Monday, July 14 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Blackberry Meadows Farm, 7115 Ridge Road, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
WHAT: Secretary Redding will tour a farm that hosts farm stays, and supplies fresh produce and pasture-raised pork to Pittsburgh-area farm markets. The farm has received significant state investments in measures to improve soil and water quality.
WHEN: Monday, July 14 at 4:30
WHERE: Jerry’s Custard, 2705 7th Street Road, Lower Burrell, PA 15068
WHAT: Secretary Redding will tour a stop on PA Preferred® and Pennsylvania Tourism’s Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail)
Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the Crow Tribe of Montana of the Aug. 14, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storm and straight-line winds occurring Aug. 6, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the Crow Tribe of Montana as well as the Montana counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, and Yellowstone and the Wyoming counties of Big Horn and Sheridan.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than Aug. 14.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
HOUSTON – A 52-year-old year-old resident of Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged with multiple counts related to a conspiracy to commit arson against a property used in interstate or foreign commerce resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Authorities arrested Mario Raynard Roberson in the Houston area. He is now making his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray.
A federal grand jury in Houston returned the 12-count indictment July 1. It alleges Roberson was responsible for a Huntsville house fire June 14, 2023, which killed two people.
According to the charges, Roberson held a State Farm Insurance policy on the home and recruited others to set it on fire to file a fraudulent insurance claim. The indictment alleges the two individuals died while igniting the blaze at Roberson’s residence.
“The defendant is alleged to have orchestrated a scheme to collect an insurance payout through a purported racially-motivated arson, which led to two deaths,” said Ganjei. “Now that he is in federal custody he will answer these charges, and, if found guilty, be held accountable for the death of these two men.”
Roberson is charged with conspiracy to commit arson against a property used in interstate or foreign commerce resulting in death which carries a possible life sentence, if convicted.
He is also facing nine counts of wire fraud for attempting to defraud the insurance company; conspiracy to violate the Travel Act related to the use of an interstate facility, the telephone, to commit arson; and with conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a federal felony offense. Each of those charges have varying possible prison terms up to a maximum of 20 years. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.
FBI – Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Zenón-Matos, Byron Black and Alexander Alum are prosecuting this case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)
U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) joined the Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser to talk about the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4, 2025.
Rep. Estes spoke about provisions within the OBBBA that will improve the lives of Americans through tax cuts, economic growth and the promotion of American innovation. He also spoke about border security funding and the creation of a Golden Dome to strengthen our national security.
Listen to the interview here.
On passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
“…It was a monumental thing just because of the amount of work that we had to go through. In fact, we started this years ago. We knew after we passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017 that there were provisions that were going to expire. Some of them already have expired and we’ve seen some slowdown in the economy because of that. Others are expiring this year and so we wanted to make sure that we address those provisions and we looked at the future and how do we move forward from here. And so it was a lot of heavy lifting in terms of a lot of work and how do you sort through that process.
“I said in a lot of cases, it’s one step at a time. The first step was to get the Republicans elected in the majority in the House and the Senate and President Trump elected in the White House. That was the first thing we had to do to make this happen. It’s just been a series of steps since then.”
On how the One Big, Beautiful Bill will grow the economy:
“…We’ve seen over and over again the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, has missed on scoring. In fact, they scored that the Inflation Act was not going to increase the deficit when as soon as the act was passed by the Democrats, then it showed, well now it’s really going to cost hundreds of billions of dollars more than what was described. We really have to come up with some better guestimates in terms of the decisions we make because we’re making trillion-dollar decisions. We’ve got to do that.
“When we look at the One Big, Beautiful Bill on paper, in a static world, they’re saying it costs over $3 trillion dollars. But that’s if you say, somebody gets a tax cut or they don’t get a tax increase, because that’s really a lot of cases what it was, that their behavior wouldn’t change.
“And I would say the argument is that if we raise taxes on people, they don’t have the money to invest. Businesses don’t have the money to invest. Individuals don’t have the money to go out and buy the new car, to go out and do the other decisions that they want to make for their family.
“And so when we were going through this on the Budget Committee, we were looking at, you know, even if the economic growth went from roughly 1.8%, 1.9%, where CBO was project it, up by less than 1%, that would raise almost $3 trillion in extra tax revenue over 10 years. Yet that’s not included in some of these numbers that are being reported about what the true cost of that is.
“We really wanted to focus on, how do we make good economic growth? How do we put as much as we could permanent, whether it was for small businesses … or whether it’s things like research and development, which Americans have led the innovation across the world for years. And I’ve been a big advocate that when you invest money on research and development or new ideas, that you can deduct that off your taxes in the year that incurs. And that’s one of those provisions that expired three years ago, and we’ve seen a slowdown in research and development spending.
“In fact, we’ve seen … after 2017, it increased by 18%. And now, it has dropped. And the important thing about that is three-fourths of that money goes to jobs. And then those research and development jobs lead to more manufacturing work in the United States. So for over a longer period of time, it is a jobs program. And we need to make sure that those provisions, and that was a big piece of what we wanted to make sure were permanent in the bill, to help make sure that the economy continued to grow and people had more money in their pocket and paid less in taxes.”
On Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holding up the vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
“Here’s what he was trying to advocate for. He was trying to advocate that able-bodied adults without children should be entitled to Medicaid and not have to go look for a job. Americans want to, we’re beneficial people, we’re charitable. We want to give hand ups to people. But we also expect that you should do your own part and have the responsibility.
“Basically, the Democrat position was, ‘No these people shouldn’t have to go look for a job.’Their argument was that illegal aliens should be entitled to getting free Medicaid. And this bill is going to prohibit that. And this bill is also going to prohibit people who maybe they qualified one year, but their income’s gone up this year because they have gone to work, but states weren’t required to certify that their income is as low as it was. Therefore, they were automatically re-enrolled.
“We’re saying, ‘Let’s go make sure that these processes work. Let’s go make sure that the money’s saved on people that shouldn’t be receiving Medicaid so that we have the money available for the disabled and the low income.’”
On improving national security at home and abroad:
“We need to make sure that we clean up the mess that President Biden left the country in. Looking at new things on the defense side. You know, the world’s a dangerous place as we see now with Iran and North Korea and China and even Russia, in some of the things they’re doing. And [we] need to make sure that we have the next generation of technology out there to help with the sport. That we look at the Golden Dome process.”
“I’ve been amazed going to Israel and seeing the Iron Dome and seeing that work. Seeing the interaction of technology to be able to detect a missile launch and track it and determine where it’s going and determine is it going to land in a field or is it going to land in a populated area? And then, how do you fire a missile to stop it? And to be successful at that and to make that process work. It’s great technology, great interaction there. It’s the type of thought process that we need to have to protect our country going forward.”
On the United States investing in a strong military and national defense:
“One, we’ve seen, ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, we saw a huge decline in the 1990s, the so-called peace dividend. And that really led into, there was a slight buildup with the fighting Al-Qaeda after 2001. And 9/11 results out of that. But then after that, there started to be a wind down again in terms of that.
“We’re at an inflection point now and we’ve seen it both in Israel, and we’ve seen it in Ukraine. We’re at a point where some of the old technology or some of the things that may not be the right answers going forward.
“For example, we can shoot down a lot of the missiles that are fired at Israel but if you take a million dollar missile to shoot down a $50,000 drone that’s being fired at it, that’s not a smart use of resources. So we’ve got to look at some of those new technologies and things that we do going forward.”
On the budget reconciliation process:
Basically the reconciliation process is driven off of the budget process. And you want to prepare a budget each year, each fiscal year. This was off of the 2025 fiscal year budget … We’re now working on the 2026 fiscal year budget, and we’ll also have to work on the 2027 fiscal year before the end of next year.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of work to do. I mean, we made some great strides in this One Big, Beautiful Bill. One of the things we want to really push on is, let’s get as much done as we could, knowing that we couldn’t get everything done.
“So we’ve got a lot more to do, and we still have a whole lot of work we have to do to actually address some of the things with the spending at the federal level and making sure we address the budget and making sure, how do we make the United States stronger again.”
On working towards a balanced budget:
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do in that regards. I mean, we’re borrowing one out five dollars that the federal government is spending. So, it’s a terrible place to be in. It’s something that … our predecessors should not have gotten into that situation. And, it’s not something that we want to leave to our kids and grandkids. And really, that debt’s mostly being spent on today’s lifestyle. That’s the bad part about it.
“It’s not like it’s investing in a whole lot more infrastructure and other things. It’s today’s preferences that [it] is being spent on. So we’ve got to focus on both the discretionary side, which is the smallest piece of the budget, it’s really about 25% of it. And that’s what we’ll look at on the 2026 appropriations.
“But then we’ve got some big mandatory spending projects we’ve got to work on now. And those are the ones that are growing the fastest. Part of it’s the Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, … we put money into Social Security and Medicare, but it’s not enough for what’s being spent out of those programs.
“The SNAP food stamp program, which got some improvements now, obviously that’s growing. And that’s what, 80% of the Farm Bill? We really should be calling it the Farm and Food Stamp Bill. And so we’ve got a lot of work as we focus on that.
On drafting the FY2026 budget:
“Technically for 2026 we’ve already missed the date in terms of what we wanted to do. But with the discussion now that we’ve passed, and part of that was because we focused so much on the One Big, Beautiful Bill. We knew we had to get that done. There are some things we needed to get done in July. There are some things we wanted to get done now instead of waiting until December so that people could start making decisions about, because they know what their tax bill is going to be next year through that process. That’s good. Now let’s go focus on the 2026 budget and how that’s going to drive reconciliation. At the parallel process, which we’re working on appropriations for the discretionary pieces, and we can attack them both directions in terms of the problems that we’re trying to face.”
The public is being asked to give its views on the future of the Cowes/East Cowes floating bridge.
A series of engagement opportunities including public drop-in information sessions is being launched by the Isle of Wight Council following a decision by its Cabinet last year to replace the current chain ferry.
The Cabinet also agreed to commission a River Medina Crossing Strategy with an updated business case, options appraisal, output specification and procurement strategy so that any such purchase could ensure best value for council tax-payers.
In recent months, transport experts have been reviewing all available options, against a range of criteria including affordability, sustainability, value for money, reliability and the need to minimise traffic congestion on the local road network.
Following detailed analysis and initial consultation with key stakeholders including Cowes and East Cowes town councils, Cowes Harbour Commission and elected Isle of Wight Council members from both sides of the river, the most viable possibilities are being put forward for further consideration.
These options are:
New vessel: Replacement of the existing floating bridge with a new floating bridge (FB7).
Modify existing vessel and/or the operational environment option: through a phased approach involving additional control chains and/or tidal flow reduction and/or adding flush thrusters to the existing vessel.
Do minimum: Maintain and operate the existing floating bridge with the continued use of the push boat.
Options ruled out include a new Medina bridge, a tunnel, a new type of vessel to make the crossing and also the option of discontinuing a service.
During the forthcoming engagement, the public will be given the chance to air their views in a number of ways including a survey on the council’s website and drop-in sessions where people can speak to industry experts and council representatives, including those directly responsible for operating the floating bridge.
The drop-in sessions will be between 3-7pm at East Cowes Town Hall on July 22, Northwood House, Cowes, on July 23 and The Riverside Centre, Newport on July 31. The online sessions will take place on 7 August 12-1.30pm and 12 August 6-7.30pm
There will also be online sessions for anyone unable to make these events.
The consultation is being publicised Island-wide and directly to floating bridge users and ends on 22 August 2025.
The Isle of Wight Council, Trading Standards Service and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary are warning Island consumers and businesses of rogue traders cold calling claiming to be working with the Council/Island Roads and having a surplus of tarmac that they need to use up, which is not the case. Reports have been received from the Newport and Cowes areas.
These rogue traders often call on vulnerable and elderly residents, but we are warning businesses to be vigilant as well due to some work being carried out at business premises. Commonly, cold callers are unqualified conmen who charge extortionate amounts of money for little or no work done at all along with the prices being very misleading and demanding immediate payment.
Trading Standards is warning residents to be aware that these businesses are operating on the Island, and to be extremely careful before even discussing any work that the trader may suggest requires doing.
Trading Standards & Community Safety Manager, James Potter said: “Island residents should always be very wary of rogue traders who will cold call, as in our experience they are often unqualified conmen who will overcharge for unnecessary repairs/services which will be of poor quality.
“Legislation protecting consumers requires cold callers to give consumers a ‘Cancellation Notice’ giving them 14 days to cancel the contract made for over £42.”
“Failure to issue a cancellation notice in the correct manner is a criminal offence.”
These conmen offer services including gardening work, house maintenance, driveways, jet washing roofs, to name a few. Never engage with cold callers, and if you require work doing to your home always try to obtain at least two written quotes. Trading Standards run a trader approval scheme where local traders are vetted for compliance with consumer legislation.
For further information on our Scheme, please contact 823000 or look at our website (www.iwight.com/tas). Please be vigilant if you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours and report your concerns to the Police or the Trading Standards Service. We are committed, with the support of the Police, to protect Island residents and will take enforcement action, including prosecution, against rogue traders.
Michelle Love, Service Director for Highways and Community Protection said: “Island Roads does not ‘doorstep sell’.”
“Any materials used on the Island’s roads is carefully accounted for and used solely across the scope of our work.”
“If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of anyone claiming to work for or with us, please contact our call centre immediately on 822440 or, alternatively, contact Trading Standards on 823371.”
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.
Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.
“Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”
“While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.
He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.
One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.
“AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”
Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..
“Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”
Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. — Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA
Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.
“Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”
Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”
He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.
“AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”
Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.
“We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”
AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.
Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. — Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student
“We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”
Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.
“It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”
Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.
“AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”
He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.
“In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”
Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.
“AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.
AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. — Del Siegle
Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.
“Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.
AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.
“AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.
Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.
“Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.
Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.
Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.
“Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”
“While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.
He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.
One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.
“AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”
Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..
“Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”
Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. — Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA
Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.
“Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”
Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”
He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.
“AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”
Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.
“We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”
AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.
Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. — Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student
“We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”
Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.
“It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”
Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.
“AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”
He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.
“In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”
Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.
“AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.
AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. — Del Siegle
Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.
“Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.
AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.
“AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.
Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.
“Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.
Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced actions to assess cost increases and supply chain disruptions caused by the Trump Administration’s destructive tariff policies. At the Governor’s direction, Director of State Operations Kathryn Garcia sent a memo to State agencies, requiring them to compile key data and information regarding tariff impacts. By September 30, State agencies will provide data on the specific impacts of Trump’s tariffs on New York consumers, small businesses, farmers, construction, tourism and other sectors of the state’s economy. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) and the Office of General Services (OGS) will then use the data provided by each agency to develop a statewide tariff economic impact report by October 31. Additionally, Governor Hochul launched a tariff resource guide to help New Yorkers navigate the chaos caused by Trump’s tariffs and provide resources on programs available to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.
“Trump’s tariffs are already inflicting pain and uncertainty on New York families and businesses — and that same economic chaos is being felt by millions more nationwide,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why we’re taking action to closely monitor and report on the impacts of these disastrous tariffs — and it’s why I’ll never stop fighting to put more money back in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers.”
Over the past six months, the Trump Administration has announced and imposed significant tariffs on imports of goods to the United States. These tariffs, including major trading partners, have been announced, implemented, paused and resumed haphazardly, creating uncertainty for families and business owners across the state.
The tariffs have increased prices for household goods, automobiles and housing, with the costs passed on to consumers. Such tariffs have also led to supply chain disruptions with increased costs for manufacturing industries, raising the price of supplies for small and large businesses across the state.
The Trump Administration’s tariff policy has increased costs for New York’s agriculture sector, including for our more than 30,000 family farms, while simultaneously reducing access to international markets for New York-grown and manufactured food products. Trump’s tariff policies have also caused a negative impact on U.S. to Canada trade and tourism, including a 25 percent decline in vehicular border crossings between Canada and New York State in May 2025, compared to the prior year.
To take action, the State will collect and report on key economic and social indicators to New York caused by Trump’s tariff policies. State agencies are encouraged to assess and submit information regarding tariff impacts on an ongoing basis. Additionally, Governor Hochul announced a tariff resource guide to keep New Yorkers up-to-date on programs available for small businesses that have been impacted by the tariffs.
In the early morning, the fields stretch as far as the eye can see, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun. In Kwilu, Kasai, and Tshopo provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rural communities are reclaiming their land with renewed energy. Here, every furrow in the earth tells a story of resilience and hope.
These fertile lands have long been trapped in a vicious circle of poor-quality seed, limited access to fertilizers, outdated farming techniques, low yields, and unstable incomes. A tradition of subsistence farming has confined families to day-to-day survival, leaving them vulnerable to climate shocks and food crises.
That has changed thanks to the deployment of the Emergency Food Production Project (https://apo-opa.co/3TDmJmU) (PURPA in the French acronym), which is being implemented by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) as part of the African Emergency Food Production Facility (https://apo-opa.co/4kAFbr2). The project aims to restore food production in the most vulnerable rural areas of the DRC as rapidly as possible.
Large-scale distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs lies at the heart of the project and has delivered a decisive impact:
More than 325 tonnes of rice, 388 tonnes of maize and 1.4 million linear metres of cassava cuttings have been distributed, far exceeding initial forecasts.
49,749 farming households have been reached, primarily women, who are often on the front line in the battle to feed their families.
Villagers in the communities covered by the project are enthusiastic, reflecting a rebirth of hope as the fields come back to life. The seed is in the ground and local people believe the harvest should be sufficient to meet their families’ needs while leaving a surplus for sale on the market.
Beyond the distributions, PURPA has strengthened the capacities of agricultural research stations such as the one at Kiyaka in Kwilu province in the centre of the country, enabling local production of improved maize and rice seeds. Over 100 tonnes of maize seed, 33 tonnes of rice and 2.55 million cassava cuttings have been produced. The distribution of 334 tonnes of fertilizer also offers a guarantee of suitable and affordable seeds for future seasons.
Targeted training programmes have also been launched. The Project financed the training of 300 managers and administrative staff, 30% of whom were women, using the “farmers’ field-school” approach with a focus on seed production and technical itineraries. These initiatives not only improve yields but also strengthen the capacities of women and agricultural cooperatives.
A final push to distribute fertilizer and seed produced by the research centres is scheduled for the coming months. Multiple outcomes are expected: increased farm incomes through the sale of surpluses; the creation of new economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people; significant improvement in food security with a reduction of lean periods; and the development of more autonomous agriculture that is less dependent on external aid.
Local authorities in several provinces are also observing a reduction in rural exodus as young people return to their towns to participate in this new-style agriculture, attracted by more promising prospects.
For these communities, the Emergency Food Production Project is not just a response to the global food crisis. It is a veritable “school of resilience” where solidarity, local know-how and agricultural innovation support and encourage each other.
In these regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, farming is no longer just about survival. In these newly seeded fields, it has become a means of development, investment, and heritage. Much remains to be done, but the transformation is underway. In these once fragile rural lands, a conviction is taking root: change, from now on, comes from here.
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).