WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye is pleased to announce that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nine grants, totaling $97,000 to investigate and demonstrate creative ways to reduce human health and environmental risks from farming practices while maintaining or improving the viability of diversified agriculture, including vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and turf. The grants are unique in that they are collaborative efforts between commercial growers and the research community and also contains specific provisions to ensure that the findings are disseminated in a timely manner and in meaningful ways.

"I am optimistic that this program will demonstrate that a viable diversified agriculture can be consistent with sound environmental stewardship and high standards for human health," Inouye said. The Senator also noted that he remains a strong supporter of agricultural research efforts that explicitly include collaboration between growers and researchers.

Grants were awarded to projects in Hawaii and the Western Pacific. Grower-cooperators include both large and small farms and researchers are from the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, and the Northern Marianas College.