Washington, DC
October 11, 2007
USDA's
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) today announced
more than $4.7 million in grants to 13 universities and research
laboratories for tomato and potato specialty crops genetic
research that may lead to improved fruit quality, yield, stress
tolerance and disease resistance.
"Specialty crops are a major contributor to U.S. agriculture and
are valued at $53 billion in sales annually," said Gale
Buchanan, USDA under secretary for Research, Education and
Economics. "New knowledge is needed to develop plants with
enhanced economic value, which will ultimately allow the
specialty crop industry to remain competitive in the global
environment and contribute to the U.S. economy."
The goal of the research program is to increase fundamental
knowledge of the structure, function and organization of plant
genomes to improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability;
effectively integrate modern molecular breeding technologies and
classical breeding practice for U.S. crop improvement; and
improve U.S. varieties for agricultural growers and producers.
The President's 2007 Farm Bill proposal calls for a $100 million
investment in specialty crop research to address the critical
needs of the industry. These grants support the goal of
conducting fundamental work in plant breeding, genetics and
genomics to improve crop characteristics, such as product
appearance, environmental responses and tolerances, nutrient
management, pest and disease management, as well as safety,
quality, yield, taste and shelf life.
Total Fiscal Year 2007 grants of $125,000 to $399,500 were
awarded to:
- Cornell University,
$399,000
- Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center, St. Louis, $398,000
- Michigan State University,
$398,500
- Ohio State University,
$125,000
- University of
California-Davis, $399,500
- University of
California-Davis, $396,500
- University of
California-Riverside, $394,500
- University of Florida,
$399,000
- University of Minnesota,
$386,500
- University of Nebraska,
$301,000
- Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, $399,500
- USDA-Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) Vegetable Crops Research Unit, University of
Wisconsin, $399,500
- USDA-ARS Plant, Soil and
Nutrition Laboratory, Cornell University, $399,500
The awards are funded through the
CSREES National Research Initiative Plant Genome Program. CSREES
advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human
health and well-being, and communities by supporting research,
education and extension programs in the Land-Grant University
System.
For more information, visit
http://www.csrees.usda.gov. |
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