Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

We asked, and researchers responded. To celebrate our first 10 years of supporting novel #food & #agriculture #research, we asked researchers to record themselves explaining how FFAR has impacted them. These are some of their insights...

The current H5N1 virus has spread for the first time to dairy cows, with no preventative measures available to protect U.S. herds. With a FFAR Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research grant, Genvax is developing an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cows. They will also use diagnostic tools to differentiate between infected and vaccinated cows and conduct experiments to confirm that these diagnostic tools are effective in calves. Learn more in the link in comments.

Just wrapped up an incredible week in Raleigh, NC with a group of exceptionally talented scientists and future leaders. I'm honored to be part of the 2024–2027 Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellowship cohort. It was a productive and inspiring trip—our cohort sharpened leadership and team-building skills, reflected on our individual strengths, and had the opportunity to tour BASF Agricultural Solutions headquarters in the Research Triangle. I highly encourage current and future PhD students in agriculture to consider applying for the FFAR Fellowship. It’s a fantastic opportunity for personal and professional growth. I want to thank Muthukumar Bagavathiannan, Gaylon Morgan, Rebecca Dunning, Texas A&M AgriLife, & Cotton Incorporated for this opportunity!

Soybean farmers' operations are being threatened by red crown rot, an increasingly prevalent and highly destructive pathogen. Infected soybean plants produce 50% fewer pods and seeds than healthy plants, reducing overall yields by an estimated 30%. FFAR's Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) program provided Michigan State University researchers rapid funding to develop detection tools and control options for the disease. Slowing this disease will protect our farmers and the $124 billion soybean industry in the U.S.

Last week Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Director of Grants Management Magda Galindo & Communications Officer Michelle Olgers presented “From Pre-Application to Final Report: ‘Stacking the Deck’ for a FFAR Grant” at the annual National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference (NERAOC) in Reno, NV. Approximately 50 land-grant university college of agriculture staff & faculty, mostly representing grants management departments, attended the session to learn more about FFAR and how our grants management process has evolved to make applying for and managing a FFAR award easier. Participants actively asked questions and gave personal testimonies about working with FFAR throughout the presentation. #2025NERAOC

Internship Opportunity! FFAR is seeking an intern to support our Partnerships & Development Team. The Partnerships & Development Research Intern works to further FFAR’s mission by assisting with strategy development, implementation planning and additional supporting activities. This role reports to the Partnerships & Development Vice President. Click the link in the comments to view the duties, responsibilities and qualifications and to apply for this role.

Controlled drainage is a method for managing water levels in fields. It is a key component of conservation drainage—a set of water management practices that help farmers cope with water variability caused by floods and droughts, allowing them to maintain effective crop production and farm profitability. However, less than one percent of drainage installations use controlled drainage technology, meaning many are missing out on the efficiency and profit benefits. FFAR’s Agroecosystems research is uncovering ways to promote controlled drainage adoption. FFAR thanks Alleghany Services for touring us around Delaware’s Breeding Farm last week to explore the benefits of conserving water resources through controlled drainage management strategies. FFAR staff was thrilled to join producers, NRCS agents, water engineering experts and other community leaders to discuss innovative practices for managing and conserving drainage water. Thanks to Chris Breeder, farm owner/operator; Chad K. and Patrick Clark of Alleghany Services; Timothy Rosen of ShoreRivers; Hemendra Kumar, PhD from the University of Maryland; Brian Jennings from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); and Chase Colmorgan of Ducks Unlimited for their insightful presentations, as well as to all participants for a great day on the farm!

New Evaluation Opportunity! FFAR seeks to evaluate our SMART Broiler program, which aims to provide objective and comprehensive information about broiler welfare across the supply chain. The evaluation will assess program outcomes and impact. Check out the RFP for more information. Proposals are due April 30th by 5 p.m. PT. https://bit.ly/4jbXYZG

A great article from @IowaStateU about the importance of collaboration when it comes to water quality research. In the article, FFAR Scientific Program Manager Dr. Sarah Lyons notes that FFAR "brings together the top scientists and stakeholders in their fields to share knowledge, solve problems and benefit farmers." https://lnkd.in/e6eBWjtV

Looking for some World Water Day reading? Check out the "Developing an Extensive Database of US Groundwater Wells" Breakthrough from FFAR New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research awardee Dr. Landon Marston of Virginia Tech. Although groundwater wells are critical to our agricultural system, effective water management in the U.S. is hampered by the lack of a comprehensive, standardized database of these key resources. To fill this gap, Marston and his research team created the Database of Groundwater Wells in the United States, a crucial decision-support tool to improve groundwater management throughout the country. Read more through the link in the comments.