Key facts
- Two new research labs at Kansas State University will help address global food security needs.
- The Cereals Innovation Lab will focus on improving wheat, millet, sorghum, and rice to withstand environmental stressors.
- The SITAS Innovation Lab will work in eight countries to adapt and combine innovations suited to local farming needs.
- The labs received a combined $16.6 million in funding for the next two years.
Kansas State University has been awarded funding for two new Feed the Future Innovation Labs by the U.S. Department of State, totaling $16.6 million over two years. These initiatives aim to address global food security challenges by improving crop resilience and agricultural systems. The Cereals Innovation Lab will focus on advancing the breeding of wheat, millet, sorghum, and rice to withstand environmental stressors like heat and drought. The Sustainable Intensification of Targeted Agricultural Systems (SITAS) Innovation Lab will work in eight countries to adapt and scale innovations for local farming needs, strengthening agrifood systems and farmer productivity.