2017 Forever Green Projects

The MDA received $4 million of Clean Water Funds to support the Forever Gree0 Initiative at the University of Minnesota for fiscal years 2022-2023. Fourteen 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 fourteen projects selected for funding in 2022-2023 are listed below.

Project TitleRecipient
(University of Minnesota)

$$

Project Status
Developing winter pea as a profitable and environmentally friendly crop for MinnesotaRobert Stupar$350,000Active
Developing management guidelines and determining environmental outcomes for maize in kura clover living mulchJeff Strock$194,343Active
Protein blending: Impact on functionality, nutrition and flavor attributesBaraem Pam Ismail$349,958Active
Solid state microbial fermentation of camelina oilseed meal for better animal feedBo Hu$121,000Completed
Ensuring clean water, mitigating climate change, and optimizing yields through advanced fertility management of KernzaJessica Gutknecht$349,988Active
The role of annual and perennial winter crops rooting system on modulating crops water use and qualityAxel Garcia y Garcia$194,356Active
Understanding field-scale variability in Kernza and winter camelina to improve yield and carbon accountingJoshua Gamble$349,450Active
Develop soybean cyst nematode management strategies for pennycress as an oilseed cover crop in corn-soybean production systemsSenyu Chen$150,000Active
The continued development of a perennial sunflowerYaniv Brandvain$75,593Completed
Leveraging phenomics and root informatics to improve intermediate wheatgrass breeding germplasmPrabin Bajgain$175,138Active
Investigating functionality, end-use characteristics, and processing specifications of IWG grain across stand life and crop varietiesGeorge Amponsah Annor$349,399Active
Request for matching funds for the purchase of a TwinLab F 20/40 extruder with a barrel liner made of M390 Alloy and its accessories for research on ready-to-eat products from Forever Green Initiative (FGI)George Amponsah Annor$50,000Completed
Field pennycress breeding program supportJames A. Anderson$329,913Completed
Breeding winter camelina for early maturity and improved seed yield and proteinJames A. Anderson$200,000Completed