ARS researchers throughout the United States are helping growers innovate corn agriculture to boost yields, lower costs, and reduce environmental impacts. U.S. grain farms are the most productive agricultural systems on earth, generating over $130 billion in annual revenue. However, even these high-performing systems face challenges—including a heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen is essential for photosynthesis and crop yield, making it both biologically vital and the most-costly input in corn production. However, much of the applied nitrogen is not recycled within the system. Instead, it escapes into the environment, reducing farm profitability and contributing to water and air pollution.
Through the CERCA (Circular Economy that Reimagines Corn Agriculture) initiative, ARS researchers have integrated advanced modeling of plant biology, farm systems, livestock feed, environmental dynamics, and economic outcomes to develop an important new breeding plan. This strategy will reduce grain nitrogen demand, enhance photosynthesis in the spring and fall, and improve nitrogen recycling—potentially radically transforming how corn is produced today. By leveraging the natural genetic diversity from wild corn relatives, modern genomics, artificial intelligence, and genome editing, the CERCA team is developing next-generation traits for cold tolerance and nutrient recycling. Over time, these innovations are expected to improve yield by over 20%, reduce fertilizer use by 25%, and improve nitrogen-use efficiency by 60%.
Source : usda.gov