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USAID funding research into climate resilience in crops, improved use of precision technology

The U.S. Agency for International Development is funding research to study climate resilience in crops and improved use of precision technology.

Kansas State University agronomy professor Vara Prasad tells Brownfield…

“What we first want to do is to understand how these high temperature events, the drought events impact the productivity of the crops. Once we understand that, then we’ll go ahead and screen the available germplasm.”

Researchers will use traditional breeding programs to develop new varieties.

Prasad says K-State will also partner with farmers in eight countries to form a Digital and Decision Agriculture consortium.

“By using these digital technologies and the precision tool technologies, we can make sure that we are not wasting any of our inputs effectively. Using the inputs is one of the ways we can improve or increase the profitability,” he says.

Partnering countries include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Senegal and Tanzania.

Funding of up to $50 million will be provided over the next five years through USAID’s Feed the Future Program.