**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ONE OF HUMANITY'S MOST URGENT CHALLENGES IS TO PROVIDE FOOD, FEED, AND FIBER FOR A GLOBAL POPULATION OF 10 BILLION BY 2050. THIS CHALLENGE IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE WORLD'S CURRENT ANNUAL CROPS AND ANNUAL-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS ARE DETERIORATING THE ESSENTIAL NATURAL RESOURCE BASE NECESSARY FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY. IN CONTRAST, PERENNIAL CROPS CAN IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE THEIR EXTENSIVE ROOT SYSTEMS REDUCE SOIL EROSION, NUTRIENT RUNOFF, AND PESTICIDE REQUIREMENTS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING FARMER INCOMES DUE TO DECREASED ANNUAL INPUTS AND COSTS. THE DOMESTICATION OF THE WORLD'S FIRST COMMERCIAL-SCALE PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP (INTERMEDIATE WHEATGRASS) IS UNDERWAY IN THE US, AND THE PRODUCT IS TRADE NAMED KERNZA®. THIS PROJECT WILL LEVERAGE AND EXPAND A STRONG EXISTING COLLABORATIVE, CROSS-SECTOR TEAM OF RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, FARMERS, BUSINESSES, NON-PROFIT LEADERS, AND OTHERS. THIS TEAM WILL INTEGRATE RECENT EFFORTS AND ADVANCE NEW EFFORTS TO LAUNCH A NEW PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP ENTERPRISE BASED ON KERNZA. PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO ADVANCE BREEDING AND GENETICS, ENHANCE AGRONOMIC KNOWLEDGE, IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, ENGAGE EDUCATION, EXTENSION, AND POLICY, AND DEVELOP SUPPLY CHAINS AND ECONOMIC DRIVERS TO ACTIVATE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN AGRICULTURE THAT IMPROVES THE ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL PROSPERITY. OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE KERNZA VARIETY CANDIDATES FOR VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE US, BEST AGRONOMIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPTIMIZING YIELD, PROFITABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, EXPANDED ACREAGE IN ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER FROM NITRATE CONTAMINATION, NEW KERNZA SUPPLY CHAINS AND PRODUCTS, AND AN EDUCATION AND EXTENSION PORTFOLIO OF TOOLS AND EVENTS TO EDUCATE A BROAD RANGE OF STUDENTS AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS.

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