The Rhode Island Food Center at URI can help connect you with several resources at the University and across the region. This can include funding opportunities, food production guides, finding laboratories for soil testing, and pest and disease forecasting.
Cooperative Extension provides non-formal education and learning opportunities to both youth and adults throughout the United States — to farmers and families of rural communities, as well as to people living in suburban and urban areas. Cooperative Extension programming emphasizes taking knowledge gained through research and education and applying it to their everyday lives. All universities engage in research and teaching, but the nation’s more than 100 land-grant colleges and universities have a third, critical mission — extension. The University of Rhode Island is one of these land-grant institutions and through Cooperative Extension in RI, we bring vital, practical information to agricultural producers, small business owners, communities, consumers, families, and young people. We pride ourselves on our role in translating science for practical application, and are always looking to identify emerging research questions to which we find answers and encourage application of science and technology to improve agricultural, environmental, economic and social conditions.
New England Management Guides
Developed with the support of all New England Cooperative Extension Programs, these guides provide commercial farmers with useful information on pest management practices.
Pest and Disease Forecasting
- Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting
- Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) Pest Forecast Tools
Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratories
- University of Connecticut Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
- University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory
- University of Maine Analytical Lab and Main Soil Testing Service
- Agro-One
Regional Conferences
Funding Opportunities
- Innovation Voucher Program: Supported through the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (CommerceRI), the Innovation Voucher programs allows small Rhode Island businesses (500 employees or less) to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to fund research and development assistance from a Rhode Island university, research center, or medical center.
- USDA Rural Development: USDA Rural Development provides loans, grants, and loan guarantees to support services for rural Americans and economic development.
Contact Us
Please contact Katharine Flynn to learn more about the Food Center at khflynn@uri.edu.