Mission

A portion of the Kentucky State University Mission Statement (1993) reads: "Kentucky State University, as the 1890 land-grant institution in the system, shall carry out its responsibilities under federal law and participate fully in the appropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, in accord with the mission of the University." The research portion of the Land-Grant Program is called the Community Research Service (CRS). The name reflects the mission of the program, which is to help resolve agricultural, educational, economic, and social problems of the people of Kentucky, especially those with limited resources living in rural communities. The focus is on the sustainability of small farms. Efforts are centered on three areas: (1) new crop development and new uses for existing crops; (2) sustainable production practices with reduced chemical inputs; and (3) human nutrition, health, and food safety.

Program Areas

CRS fulfills its mission by conducting applied and basic research in the following program areas: Human Nutrition and Health and Plant and Soil Science. Personnel and resources are distributed among the program areas to achieve the best balance of addressing the perceived research needs of the state and nation, while making maximum use of available facilities. Student involvement is a priority of the research program. High school, undergraduate, and graduate students, especially minority students, are provided opportunities for practical experience in the food and agricultural sciences.

Facilities

The Atwood Agricultural Research Facility (1986) houses the offices and principal laboratories of CRS, and serves as the hub for program activities. Augmenting this facility is the 203-acre Research and Demonstration Farm (1986). A field laboratory and meeting facility was added to the farm in 1989, and the greenhouse was completed in 1993. The farm is designed to test theoretical laboratory work under practical conditions, and to serve as a demonstration site for educational programs.

Administrative staff

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