National Institute of Food and Agricluture reportedly invested more than $6 million in support of foundational knowledge of agricultural support systems, according to a March 23 news release.
The Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems program promotes "plant research to advance our knowledge for the wide range of agricultural production systems found across the rural-urban continuum, from conventional open-fields to protected built environments," the release reported.
According to the release, projects furthered by the Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems program deal with process-limiting factors that impact production systems using experimental means. The results are anticipated to lead to the development of innovative sustainable solutions to obstacles limiting or threatening the productivity, profitability and good stewardship of natural resources, environment and human capital.
According to the release, the program will finance Ohio State University to find plant growth promoting root bacteria that can help crop performance. This would aid in developing more sustainable production systems by increasing the availability and plant uptake of essential nutrients, thereby decreasing nutrient leaching and environmental pollution.
Additionally, Oklahoma State University will study the decreasing water table in the Ogallala Aquifer area. They will bring cotton into the traditional grain rotations and study the long-term environmental and economic changes caused by the new production system.
Pennsylvania State University will be investigating the effects of weather variability on agroecosystem processes and crop performance to help farmers develop management strategies.
