FFAR-OCP Disruptive Fertilizer Technology Fellowship First Cohort 

The FFAR-OCP Disruptive Fertilizer Technology Fellows Program fosters disruptive innovation in the next generation of fertilizer research and development through a research challenge, whereby emerging young researchers can enhance their efforts in fertilizer efficiency research and technology development. These research projects address the need for increasing plant uptake of essential macronutrients and limiting the loss of inputs – which contribute largely to water and marine ecosystem damage – while boosting productivity.

Ohio State University Study Examines Soil Organic Carbon-Enhancing Practices 

Carbon farming optimizes carbon capture by implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in plant material or soil organic matter. To fill research gaps in soil sequestration practices, Ohio State University researchers are studying the potential of soil management practices to mitigate climate change.

Enabling African Scientists: The African Plant Breeding Academy CRISPR Course 

While Africa is abundant with crops, African farmers need crop breeding tools and training to be self-sustainable and achieve nutritional security. To advance crop breeding and mobilize innovation for regional crops, the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to create and deliver a CRISPR Course on gene editing through UC Davis’ African Plant Breeding Academy. The Course is training 80 African scientists to develop improved regional crop varieties with the characteristics required for successful crop production and nutrition.

Improving biological nitrogen fixation in wheat using the natural variation present in crop wild relatives 

Dr. Kanwardeep S. Rawale’s research aims to improve wheat’s biofertilizer use efficiency by identifying and transferring genes from wild wheat using their novel method of targeted alien gene transfer. This project has significant potential to transform biofertilizers into efficient chemical fertilizer alternatives for producers.

Green fertilizers for urban spaces: use of human urine to generate high value fertilizers 

Dr. Utsav Shashvatt ‘s research aims to recover nutrients in human waste to form two types of high value fertilizers, controlled release and liquid, to offset the use of conventional fertilizers. The increased use of waste-derived fertilizers will help reduce dependence on conventional fertilizers, which are generated using non-renewable resources.

Dairy, Soil & Water Regeneration Grant Promotes Integrated Research to Support Dairy Industry Commitment to Sustainability