Washington, DC
September 16, 2008
U.S. Agriculture Under Secretary
Gale Buchanan today announced more than $9.4 million for
research, education and extension in the genomics of sunflower,
black cherry, peach, strawberry, apple, lettuce, potato and
tomato to researchers and educators at eight universities.
Valued at more than $49 billion, the U.S. specialty crop
industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy.
"These grants will create new knowledge, information, genomic
resources and seeds that may improve fruit quality, yield,
drought tolerance and disease resistance in specialty crops,"
said Gale Buchanan, USDA chief scientist and under secretary for
Research, Education and Economics. "This research is also
expected to create new educational, training and extension
avenues for students and the public in the area of fruit and
vegetable crop sciences."
These awards are part of the USDA's
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) National Research
Initiative Plant Genome Program and are in addition to grants
that will be made under the new Specialty Crop Research
Initiative that was created by the 2008 Farm Bill. The goal of
the plant genome program is to increase fundamental knowledge of
the structure, function and organization of plant genomes to
improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability; effective
integration of modern molecular breeding technologies and
classical breeding practice for U.S. crop improvement; and
improved U.S. varieties for agricultural growers and producers.
Michigan State University was awarded more than $5 million for a
Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) award to study specialty
crops within Solanaceae, including potato and tomato. The
Solanaceae CAP will integrate genetic research with extension to
ultimately develop improved varieties of potato and tomato with
high value traits, such as carbohydrate and vitamin content. CAP
projects combine significant funding over time and across
institutions to support discovery and applications and promote
communication leading to innovative science-based solutions to
critical and emerging national priorities and needs.
Total Fiscal Year 2008 grants of $150,000 to $5,439,591 were
awarded to:
| Institution
|
Grant Amount
|
| University of Arizona
|
$319,000
|
| University of California-Davis
|
$362,500
|
| University of California-Davis
|
$400,000
|
| University of Georgia
|
$400,000
|
| University of Georgia
|
$400,000
|
| Michigan State University
|
$5,439,591
|
| Michigan State University
|
$400,000
|
| University of New Hampshire
|
$383,000
|
| Pennsylvania State University
|
$362,500
|
| Virginia Tech
|
$400,000
|
| Washington State University
|
$400,000
|
| Washington State University
|
$150,000
|
Through federal funding and
leadership for research, education and extension programs,
CSREES focuses on investing in science and solving critical
issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future.
For more information, visit
www.csrees.usda.gov. |
|
