Kansas, USA
January 26, 2010
What began as a small idea two years has become an entity with the potential of touching people across Kansas.
In July 2009, the KBA formalized, with a $4 million grant, the development of the Kansas Innovation Center for Advanced Plant Design.
A collaborative effort of Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, and private investors, the center recognizes that agriculture is a substantial economic engine in the state and that there is opportunity for Kansas to further develop its leadership position in the development of two important crops — wheat and sorghum. Kansas is the nation’s leading producer of wheat and a top three producer of sorghum.
The center of innovation will conduct groundbreaking research focused on discovering value-added traits and characteristics in these crops to realize significant increases in production and value, as well as viable commercial opportunities. Possible applications exist not only in the food industry, but also in energy, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
This has game-changing potential because wheat production has been used primarily for food grown domestically. Research is needed in the U.S. to explore additional uses for wheat, as has been done with soybeans and corn, to provide additional revenue opportunities for farmers. And this will touch all corners of the state since wheat is grown in every county, creating additional value for the crop, providing ancillary income for farmers, and generating additional tax revenues.
The center’s research will have international implications as well, as early efforts have yielded measurable gains in Australia and Canada, where wheat growing conditions are not nearly as good as those found in the U.S. Making the wheat seed impervious to plague-based rust and enabling it to flourish in drought conditions are the early goals.
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