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Developing CRISPR-Cpf1 Genome Editing Technologies for Crop Improvement 

Year Awarded  2018

FFAR award amount   $282,843

Total award amount   $565,686

Location   College Park, MD

Matching Funders   Syngenta

Grantee Institution   University of Maryland College Park

Plant genome editing can increase agricultural productivity and help agriculture adapt to climate change. University of Maryland-College Park researchers are developing CRISPR-Cas12a based plant genome editing systems with broadened targeting range and improved editing activity and specificity. If successful, these tools could accelerate plant breeding for generating high-productivity crops with stress resistance to climate change.

A Coupled Natural-Human System Approach to Solving Locust Plagues 

Year Awarded  2018

FFAR award amount   $298,835

Total award amount   $607,729

Location   Tempe, AZ

Matching Funders   ASU-Global Institute of Sustainability

Grantee Institution   Arizona State University

Locusts devastate agriculture globally, especially in subsistence farming communities. Locust outbreaks are unpredictable; however, sustainable land use can keep locusts at bay. Arizona State University researchers are exploring connections between land-use practices and locust outbreaks, while identifying and addressing barriers to sustainable locust management.

FFAR Awards $2.4 Million to Eight Early-Career Research Faculty Members for Innovative Research Projects 

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Congratulates Edward Buckler, First Recipient of the National Academy of Sciences Prize in Food and Agriculture Sciences 

In the Lab with NAS Prize Winner Ed Buckler 

Portrait of Edward Buckler.

Dr. Ed Buckler

FFAR Congratulates Edward Buckler, First Recipient of Prestigious NAS Prize for Extraordinary Contribution to Food and Agriculture 

FFAR Seeks Early Career Nominees for New Innovator in Food and Agriculture Research Award 

Using Active Organic Matter Tests to Help Predict Crop Nutrient Needs 

Year Awarded  2017

FFAR award amount   $221,541

Total award amount   $443,082

Location   Columbus, OH

Matching Funders   Ohio State University

Grantee Institution   Ohio State University

Standard soil testing can assess fertility in some fields but may fail in others. Soil organic matter, which provides a pivotal component of a healthy and functioning soil, is often neglected in fertility recommendations. Ohio State University researchers are bridging this gap by investigating three promising tests of soil active organic matter to provide insight into nutrient cycling and nutrient supply to crops. The project aims to alleviate some key obstacles that limit widespread soil health testing by farmers.

Plant-Nanoparticle Hybrids: Optimize Crop Engineering and Nutrient Delivery 

Year Awarded  2017

FFAR award amount   $300,000

Total award amount   $600,000

Location   Berkeley, CA

Matching Funders   The Regents of the University of California

Grantee Institution   University of California Berkely

Genome editing has revolutionized our ability to modify living systems and meet the growing demand for food. However, genetic engineering of mature plants remains a challenge. The Regents of the University of California, Berkeley are optimizing crop engineering and nutrient delivery tools to produce sustainable and high-yielding crops.

Improving Simulations of Water Dynamics and Crop Yield in the Corn Belt 

Year Awarded  2017

FFAR award amount   $300,000

Total award amount   $600,000

Location   Ames, IA

Matching Funders   Iowa Crop Improvement Association

Grantee Institution   Iowa State University

Currently, about 70 percent of crop yield losses in the Midwest are related to inefficient water use. Crop models help optimize water use and quality; however, today’s models do not account for groundwater. This important source of water can reduce the need for irrigation in dry years and enhance nitrogen and yield loss in wet years. Iowa State University researchers are improving simulation models that help farmers manage water use and predict impacts and design mitigation strategies that improve water quality, soil health and productivity.