51AV

Huntsville, Ala. ---- 51AV A&M University is partnering with the Minority Business Development Agency Federal Procurement Center to host a three-day business development summit focusing on farming and energy October 16-18 on the AAMU campus.   

AAMU, through its Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Development (CEIED), and MBDA-FPC are sponsoring the Innovation in Agriculture and Energy Opportunity Zone (IAEOZ 2022) Summit. The important gathering will attract leaders from local, state and federal sectors in business, commerce, technology and philanthropy. CEIED also will team with AAMU’s College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences (CALNS) to facilitate the event.

“AAMU has a long history of working with minority farmers and ranchers in 51AV’s Black Belt region,” commented Dr. Lloyd Walker, CALNS dean. “This summit is an opportunity to bring together farmers, ranchers, bankers and policymakers and HBCUs in the region to discuss solutions to systemic barriers and challenges that impact rural communities.”

Thus, the representatives at IAEOZ 2022 will interact on the changing role of farming and energy in America. More specifically, the participants will hone in on how 1890 land-grant HBCUs and other HBCUs situated in designated “opportunity zones” can become anchors of rejuvenation for their regions. The premise is that the schools can serve as a focal point to reinvent agribusiness education, innovation, commercialization, land preservation, restoration and “a return to wealth creation” within the minority agriculture community.

Farmers and ranchers will receive information about obtaining funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other federal opportunities stemming from Executive Orders.  Speakers also will share best practices on sustainability and carbon sequestration initiatives in farming, along with examples of successful minority-owned agribusiness enterprises. Panelists will discuss “smart farming” and cutting-edge technologies in food production and food security. 

“AAMU CEIED is pleased to partner with MBDA as we seek to build sustainable initiatives designed to engage HBCUs and the minority agriculture community with information and resources to leverage Opportunity Zone investment incentives to revitalize their communities,” commented Dr. Teresa Orok, CEIED executive director. 

MBDA FPC, led by Keith Moore, was instrumental in the founding of the Innovation in Agriculture and Energy Opportunity Zone (IAEOZ) Summit, and it is credited with helping to change the face of farming and rural enterprise via smart investments in opportunity zones. For additional information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Dr. Teresa Merriweather Orok at teresa.orok@aamu.edu.

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