East Lansing, Michigan
April 8, 2009
Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have been
awarded more than $2 million for research and outreach projects
to continue growing Michigan’s $71.3 billion agri-food and
agri-energy industries.
Eighty-eight plant agriculture research projects will receive
$2.08 million in grant funding from Project GREEEN (Generating
Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental
Needs), Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative at MSU, for
fiscal year 2009.
Doug Buhler, Project GREEEN coordinator and associate director
of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, said this
year’s cycle was the most competitive in GREEEN’s 12 years of
funding projects and programs to meet plant agriculture industry
challenges.
“Our review panels worked harder than ever to make sure every
dollar of Project GREEEN money is well spent,” Buhler said. “So
though our funding acceptance rate was at a historic low of 40
percent, I am confident that we have a historically high-quality
pool of projects.”
Project GREEEN is a cooperative effort between plant-based
commodities and businesses together with the Michigan
Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan
Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan’s economy through
its plant-based agriculture.
“These grants provide Michigan’s budding agri-business
entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals opportunities to build
upon the growth trend in the state’s second largest economic
driver,” said Don Koivisto, Michigan Department of Agriculture
director. “It’s this type of teamwork between business,
government, and universities that will be critical to
diversifying Michigan’s economy while addressing the needs and
challenges of the modern agriculture industry.”
A total of 101 new project proposals requesting more than $3
million were received for consideration in this year’s selection
process. Fifty-two continuation proposals seeking $1.2 million
were received for projects begun in 2007 or 2008.
New projects were funded across the spectrum of Michigan’s plant
agriculture industries, on topics ranging from a comprehensive
fruitworm management program for Michigan blueberries and
optimal storage of Honeycrisp apples to developing sustainable
water management guidelines for Fraser fir Christmas trees to
demonstrating how to improve Michigan wine quality and
developing business plans for hoop houses.
“GREEEN is uniquely positioned to stay at the forefront of plant
agricultural research and Extension by surveying the industry
about its challenges and identifying projects that will address
them,” Buhler said. “The research and outreach projects selected
for Project GREEEN funding address industry-identified
priorities and have met the rigors of scientific peer review.”
A complete listing of 2009 newly funded and continuing Project
GREEEN research and Extension projects is at
http://www.greeen.msu.edu.
Founded in 1997, Project GREEEN is a cooperative effort
between plant-based commodities and businesses together with the
Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the
Michigan Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan’s economy
through its plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop
research and educational programs in response to industry needs,
ensure and improve food safety, and protect and preserve the
quality of the environment. |
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