870 million people worldwide lack sufficient access to safe, nutritious food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Two newly announced research labs at Kansas State University will help to address these needs.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the U.S. Department of State announced funding for eight new innovation labs across the country to advance global food security. K-State is the home to two of these vital initiatives: the Feed the Future Cereals Innovation Lab and the Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification of Targeted Agricultural Systems, or SITAS, Innovation Lab.
Both labs build on K-State's strengths in global food security and biosecurity, advanced and innovative technologies, and sustainability. Combined, the labs have received $16.6 million in funding for the next two years.
Securing the world’s top crops
The Cereals Innovation Lab will focus on fortifying global cereal crops by advancing the breeding of wheat, millet, sorghum and rice to withstand environmental stressors and increase cereal grain resilience. These crops account for nearly half of the world's caloric intake.
The lab is an ambitious upstream research and development program that advances plant breeding by identifying and leveraging genetic variation to improve crop performance under stressors — including heat, drought, cold and disease — and by increasing global capacity to harness emerging plant breeding methods.
Source : k-state.edu