PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 24, 2026) – On National Agriculture Day, Prairie View A&M University is spotlighting a new investment in student success and the future of agriculture.
Ram Ray, Ph.D.
Dr. Ram Ray, a professor in PVAMU’s College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, has secured a nearly $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). The funding will support a new initiative to prepare students for careers in agricultural trade — how food and farm products move through global markets.
Dr. Ray is joined on the project by fellow PVAMU researchers, Drs. Kwaku Addo, Godlove Fonjweng, Aruna D. Weerasooriya, Gebrekidan Tefera, and Selamawit Woldesenbet.
The project blends research and hands-on learning to equip students with the skills to navigate today’s most pressing agricultural challenges, including food security, resource management, and international trade. With a strong emphasis on global exposure, students will gain insight into agricultural systems, research practices, and market dynamics around the world.
The initiative is expected to increase the number of career-ready graduates while strengthening recruitment and enrollment across PVAMU’s agriculture programs.
Aligned with the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the project also advances the University’s commitment to expanding research opportunities and preparing a highly skilled workforce for critical agricultural industries.
A modified version of this story was originally posted at pvamu.edu/research.
-PVAMU-