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FFAR Grant Quantifies Organic Carbon to Improve Agricultural Productivity 

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $1,000,000

Total award amount   $2,070,000

Location   Urbana-Champaign, IL

Program   Seeding Solutions

Matching Funders   University of Illinois , the University of Minnesota and Ag Air Imaging, LLC

Grantee Institution   University of Illinois, University of Minnesota

While also providing environmental benefits, carbon retention in the soil is critical for effective water retention, nutrient absorption and root development. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $1 million grant to the University of Illinois and the University of Minnesota to develop an integrated technique to monitor soil organic carbon, a measurable component of soil organic matter, in the U.S. Corn Belt.

FFAR Announces New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Awardees 

Food and Agricultural Vulnerability Index 

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $221,743

Total award amount   $506,743

Location   West Lafayette, IN

Matching Funders   Microsoft

Grantee Institution   Purdue University

Purdue University researchers are creating a series of open-access online dashboards that help quantify and illustrate potential disruptions to the food supply chain. The dashboards will focus on COVID-19 but have the flexibility to be tailored to suit future market disruptions.

FFAR Grant Supports Climate Smart Beef and Dairy Production 

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $200,000

Total award amount   $603,500

Location   Greenfield, MA

Matching Funders   Australis Aquaculture

Grantee Institution   Greener Grazing

Methane is a potent climate pollutant that has more than 40 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere. Ruminants, such as sheep, goats and cattle, release enteric methane from normal digestive processes primarily through “burps.” Previous research has shown that feeding a red seaweed, Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT), to cattle can dramatically reduce enteric methane emissions; however, AT is not readily available in large quantities for livestock. To address this challenge, the we awarded a $200,000 grant to Greener Grazing, LLC, a subsidiary of Australis Aquaculture, LLC, to develop the world’s first seed bank and ocean cultivation techniques for AT.

FFAR Grant Addresses Wheat Crop Disease Using Gene Editing 

FFAR and AAVMC Announce 2020 Vet Fellows 

Using novel genes from wild germplasm to boost protein content in cultivated chickpea 

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $500,000

Total award amount   $1,000,000

Location   Davis, CA

Program   Plant Protein Enhancement Project

Matching Funders   Open Philanthropy

Grantee Institution   NuCicer

The future of agriculture requires producing more food on less land in an environmentally sustainable manner. Ensuring global nutritional security depends in large part on plants that are more efficient at producing calories and protein than livestock. However, centuries of crop domestication have limited the genetic capacity to improve widely consumed crops to meet these needs. NuCicer is introducing greater genetic diversity into chickpea varieties. This research is increasing protein content and quality and developing other desirable agronomic traits in chickpeas.

Ben Noble Joins FFAR Board of Directors 

Field-deployable biosensors for managing animal health 

Year Awarded  2020

FFAR award amount   $450,000

Total award amount   $950,000

Location   West Lafayette, IN

Matching Funders   Purdue University

Grantee Institution   Purdue University

Bovine respiratory disease is an ailment that causes annual losses of almost $1 billion dollars to the beef cattle industry. Dr. Mohit Verma’s research is producing a rapid biosensor diagnostic test that detects viruses that cause bovine respiratory disease, delivering these results in less than 30 minutes. This test will guide veterinarians and cattle producers to the best methods for prevention and treatment of the disease. Results of the research will include less use of antibiotics, reduced losses from the disease, increased quality and productivity of beef cattle and improved animal welfare.

An Integrative Approach to Biofortification of Staple Crops 

Year Awarded  2020

Total award amount   $444,444

Location   Ft. Collins, CO

Grantee Institution   Colarado State University

Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide and is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children under the age of five. Dr. Davina Rhodes’ research is integrating plant breeding, cereal chemistry and nutrition to develop sorghum grain with high concentrations of carotenoid, plant chemicals that help combat vitamin A deficiency. This approach could be used as a model for biofortification efforts in a broad range of nutrients and crops.