Tanmaie Kalapala, poultry science Ph.D. student, has been awarded a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education 2025 Graduate Student Grant. This grant is awarded to graduate students at accredited institutions across the Southern region to conduct research projects on a wide variety of sustainable agriculture production, marketing and social science topics.

In collaboration with Tomi Obe, assistant professor of poultry science, Kalapala submitted the grant proposal titled, "Frass Forward: Transforming Waste into Sustainable Feed and Fertilizer." The grant was reviewed and selected for funding. This project aims to develop strategies for ensuring the safety of insect frass application as both a fertilizer and as a poultry feed ingredient, thereby enhancing food and environmental safety while supporting sustainable agriculture.

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About the Department of Poultry Science: The Department of Poultry Science in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, is part of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. The department provides comprehensive programs in research and teaching dedicated to improving the lives of people associated with all components of the poultry industry by generating knowledge through research and putting that knowledge to use through education. 

The Department of Poultry Science offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D degrees in poultry science. Graduates with this degree receive a broad education in the science and business of animal agriculture, focusing on poultry. They are prepared to enter a variety of careers in either the public or private sector and many students are also ready to apply to a professional school in medicine, dental, pharmaceutical or the veterinary sciences. 

All professors are members of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences faculty, as well as researchers and scientists with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the UA System Division of Agriculture.

About the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education: Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants and outreach program. The overall objective of SARE is to position agricultural communities so the most sustainable approaches available permeate U.S. agriculture. The SARE program is a decentralized competitive grants and education program operating in every state and territory. Southern SARE offers competitive grants and educational opportunities for producers, researchers, educators, institutions, organizations and others exploring sustainable agriculture in America's South, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.