Goal: 

By 2021, Cooperative Extension will have strengthened Rhode Island’s food and agricultural system by increasing RI’s capacity to produce, process and provide safe and nutritious food. 

Sub-goals: 

1. Designed, demonstrated, and evaluated agriculture and aquaculture techniques on university farms and facilities that support environmentally sustainable and profitable food production practices, especially those techniques focused on season extension (fruits and vegetables) and on aquaculture in coordination with Sea Grant,
2. Expanded RI’s capacity to produce food in developed environments including school and community gardens and urban farms,
3. Provided growers with information and technical assistance on crop diversification and innovation with special emphasis on helping new farmers expand opportunities to achieve commercial viability,
4. Provided the RI food production, processing and service sectors with information and technical assistance to improve food safety practices and to meet federal and state regulatory expectations,
5. Expanded educational opportunities to RI consumers and youth regarding food and agriculture to increase understanding of food production, safe food handling, gardening and ecosystem value, and
6. Partnered with other organizations to coordinate services for farmers and other food- and agriculture-related businesses.