USDA distributes $5.6 million for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will receive $5.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program to improve food supply chain operations and strengthen local food systems in the state.

Eligible entities include agricultural producers, processors, nonprofit organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and institutions.

The RFSI program will focus on funding activities that improve the middle of the supply chain operations, expand capacity for processing, aggregation, and distribution of agricultural products to create more and better markets for producers. It will also focus on efforts to modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems.

Enhanced worker safety through the adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements will also be considered along with effort to improve the capacity of entities to comply with federal, state, and local food safety requirements and improve operations through training opportunities.

Funds could be made available to support the construction of a new facility or modernize or expand an existing facility –including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and/or construction of new buildings at existing facilities.

The money could also be used to support the construction of wastewater management structures, modernize processing and manufacturing equipment, and develop, customize, or install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals.

The state Agriculture Department is developing an Arkansas plan to establish the priorities for this funding and is seeking feedback from the public for the development of this plan.