The MDA received $1.5 million of Clean Water Funds to support the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota for fiscal years 2018-2019. Thirteen research projects which focus on incorporating perennial and winter annual crops into existing agricultural practices were selected through a request for proposal process administered by the University. The MDA oversees the distribution of funds and coordinates reporting on progress results and outcomes.
The thirteen projects selected for funding in 2018-2019 are listed below.
| Project Title | Recipient | $$ | Project Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring intermediate wheatgrass root growth and morphology to enhance ecosystem services, prolong grain yield, and inform plant breeding | Jacob Jungers | $137,000 | Completed |
| Perennial sunflower Forever Green Initiative | Robert Stupar | $139,000 | Completed |
| Enhancing wither hardiness of winter barley for end-user and environmental benefit: a blueprint for winter-hardy Forever Green crops | Walid Sadok | $139,000 | Completed |
| Evaluating pennycress oilseeds for food application | Baraem Pam Ismael | $139,500 | Completed |
| Optimizing the use of intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) for the baking and brewery industries | George Annor | $139,500 | Completed |
| Programmable freezer for improving the winter survival of perennial crops | Eric Watkins | $26,500 | Completed |
| Field pennycress breeding project support | James Anderson | $137,250 | Completed |
| Allelic diversity of kernel hardness in intermediate wheatgrass and associated variation in the protein profile | James Anderson | $63,700 | Completed |
| Breeding perennial flax for unique ecosystem and high value crop services for Minnesota producers | Neil Anderson | $139,500 | Completed |
| Overcoming the barriers to root initiation in hazelnut | Jerry Cohen | $133,000 | Completed |
| Improving harvestable yield and production value of silphium through crop management and seed processing | Kevin Smith | $139,000 | Completed |
| Soil temperature effects on SCN development in pennycress and resistance discovery | Senyu Chen | $136,800 | Completed |
| Program continuation | Don Wyse | $30,000 | Completed |
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