U.S. Department of Energy Investing $25.8M in Sorghum Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is investing $25.8 million to sorghum research focused on the dual issues of drought tolerance and nitrogen usage.

Thirteen institutions will be collaborating on two projects that will be the recipients of the funds – the first, to be headed by The University of California, Berkeley, will receive $12.3 million to study drought tolerance, and the second, to be led by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, will study the crop’s usage of nitrogen.

"The DOE has shown incredible vision in their commitment to sorghum," said Sorghum Checkoff CEO Tim Lust. "Sorghum producers need innovative and longer-term investments in their crop, and DOE has been a great partner in this."

This investment is the second significant investment committed by the DOE within the past six months in sorghum research, bringing the department’s total investment in the crop within the year to $55.8 million.

"DOE prides itself on investments that disrupt the technological status quo, and these projects will do that," Lust said. "They will also add significantly to the body of knowledge in two key areas of sorghum production."

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