USDA Investing in Small Rural Businesses Research and Development

The USDA has announced $7.4 million in grant given to 76 businesses for research on food safety, natural resources and agriculture issues.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said these kinds of investments is bringing growth in rural economies and population.

The money comes from the Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, program from the USDA which Vilsack said will offer options to these small companies.

“The assistance that we provide here will allow that idea and thought to potentially get up to scale, to get commercial sized and get out in the marketplace.”

In the Northwest, one Oregon company received money to help fight the coffee berry borer. Two Idaho companies received grants as well to find best practices for alfalfa leafcutting bees.