OSU part of national network creating 10-year ag research plan

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Media Contact: Alisa Boswell-Gore | Office of Communications & Marketing, OSU Agriculture | 405-744-7115 | alisa.gore@okstate

The national network of agricultural experiment stations at the nation’s land-grant universities, agInnovation, is launching a working 10-year Research Roadmap.

The plan was created by state agricultural experiment station directors nationwide, members of 1890 and 1994 land-grant universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Board on Agriculture Assembly. Oklahoma State University helped develop the organization’s roadmap as an agInnovation representative of the southern region.

Land-grant universities and other state and private institutions conduct 70% of publicly funded research and development, which delivers $20 of economic activity for every $1 invested. agInnovation’s roadmap outlines the need for additional research funding for its institutions over the next decade. The funding would support the organization’s core principles, including food security, economic prosperity, natural resource protection and improvement of the health and well-being of all Americans.

“Our experiment stations are an important part of the land-grant mission,” said Scott Senseman, associate vice president of OSU Ag Research and a member of the agInnovation Research Roadmap working group. “This research roadmap emphasizes the importance of what we do and clarifies the research directions that collectively represent our experiment stations nationwide.

“With this roadmap, representatives of the research mission can provide a long-term vision that will drive the strategic investments needed for long-term agricultural and natural resource advancements for our state and beyond,” he continued.

The federal Hatch Act of 1887 established the State Experiment Station System, providing funds for each state to develop research stations, particularly in the areas of soil minerals and plant growth. The Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station was established by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890. Two years later, the station’s first research building was constructed on the grounds of Oklahoma A&M College. OSU Ag Research has grown to encompass 16 research locations with over 40 facilities statewide.

“Since the enactment of the Hatch Act, agricultural research has been a foundation for productivity, food security and sustainability,” said Doug Steele, vice president of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources for the APLU. “The creation of a new research roadmap will assist in directing a national research agenda that will continue to keep U.S. agriculture a world leader in addressing the issues of today while adapting to the needs of tomorrow.”

agInnovation’s funding request attached to the roadmap amounts to just 1% of the federal research and development budget, which is $1.9 billion annually.

The roadmap emphasizes water resiliency, climate solutions and sustainable food systems. The plan also proposes workforce development by designating resources for training an additional 20,000 students annually in food, agriculture and renewable natural resources.

agInnovation is also committed to diversifying research and education, a commitment that is echoed in tactics identified at OSU.

“One of OSU Agriculture’s key priorities is to increase agricultural productivity by creating new technologies and crop varieties, exploring new management of farming and ranching systems, and getting new information into the hands of farmers and ranchers,” said Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “A more productive agricultural system is more sustainable, enabling more food and fiber production from fewer resources.”

Climate solutions

The roadmap describes climate objectives that can be accomplished by reducing barriers among communities, researchers, farmers and policymakers and by employing the following new technologies:

• Improving yield stability and soil health through carbon sequestration, reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture by 40%.
• Improving nitrogen use efficiency and minimizing nutrient runoff while reducing the cost of production for farmers and related greenhouse gas emissions by 35%.
• Fostering new forestry land management, land cover and harvesting practices that promote fire resiliency in forests and prevent other extreme weather events while aiding in the uptake of 30% of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
• Improving adaptation of climate-smart practices and enhancing the resilience of agriculture, rangeland and forest ecosystems. This could reduce federal crop insurance payments by 25%, which equals $3.5 billion annually.

Water resiliency

Using novel agricultural applications of technology, such as AI-driven irrigation systems and drought-resistant crops, the roadmap’s goals in this area include:

• Increasing water-use efficiency by 50% across food and agriculture systems.
• Enhancing the health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency compliance of U.S. coastal waters, groundwater, lakes, rivers and streams by reducing water quality impairment within agricultural watersheds by 40%.
• Enhancing agricultural system resiliency by reducing production losses to drought, flooding and waterlogging by 50%.

Sustainable food systems

The roadmap highlights opportunities to ensure a nutritious and safe food supply grown sustainably for future generations. Cost-benefit analyses, environmental impact surveys, and the development of diverse crop and livestock genetics to improve disease and pest resiliency support these objectives:

• Producing 95% of food domestically, increasing local and regional farm revenues by 20% and reducing food waste by 50%.
• Strengthening the supply chain by helping local and regional markets meet between 15% to 25% of local demand, while reducing the carbon footprint of food transportation by 25%.
• Reducing food insecurity and decreasing diet-related diseases by 40%.
• Increasing food’s nutritional value and protecting the food supply from foodborne contaminants and plant and animal disease outbreaks during production, processing, retail and transportation.

Input from a variety of stakeholders, including federal science agencies, producers and nongovernmental organizations, is being collected through Nov. 1 to complete and implement the agInnovation stakeholder-informed plan in early 2025.

“There is substantial evidence that investments in agricultural research result in high rates of return to society in the form of higher profits for farmers and a more abundant food supply for consumers,” Lusk said. “For every $1 invested in agricultural research, $32 in benefits are created for farmers and consumers.” 

For more information about agInnovation and the 10-Year Research Roadmap, visit agInnovation.info.

agInnovation is a nationwide system of agricultural research stations operated under the auspices of the nation's land-grant universities that is dedicated to the science that feeds the world.