By Ainur Aibyek
Morning light spills across rows of tiny green seedlings at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Research Farm.
These small plants hold huge promise for the future of agriculture. Cover crops — plants that enrich soil and hold it in place — are important tools for sustainable farming. Right now, most seeds for these crops are grown in the Willamette Valley in Oregon or purchased from overseas.
As demand for cover crops increases, Mizzou’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture is leading the National Cover Crop Variety Improvement and Seed Production Project, a $10 million effort to develop cover crop varieties and provide new markets for farmers nationwide.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to empower farmers to protect and improve their soil, laying the groundwork for a more resilient food system and thriving, stable farming businesses across the country,” Robert Myers, director of Mizzou’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture, said.
A collaborative home for research, education and extension efforts that support healthier land, the Center for Regenerative Agriculture currently administers a $45 million portfolio supporting cover crop adoption nationwide. Launched in 2023 through funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the USDA, the National Cover Crop Variety Improvement and Seed Production project is part of that broader mission.
At its core, the initiative centers on seed innovation. By integrating eight interconnected areas of work such as research, on-field trials, training and outreach, the program is paving the way towards a more reliable domestic cover crop seed supply.
Source : missouri.edu