GGrantIndex
← Search

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** EFFICIENT AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ARE NEEDED TO MEET NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY. NITROGEN (N) AND PHOSPHORUS (P) FERTILIZATION ARE CURRENTLY INDISPENSABLE FOR HIGH CROP YIELD. HOWEVER, INDUSTRIAL AMMONIA PRODUCTION IS AN ENERGY-INTENSIVE PROCESS, CONSUMING ~2% OF THE WORLD'S ENERGY AND PRODUCING ~1% OF ATMOSPHERIC CO2. A MAJORITY OF P COMES FROM MINED ROCK PHOSPHATE; A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE THAT HAS SEVERAL MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACTS, INCLUDING SCARCE RESOURCE DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, AND GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY. OVERUSE OF N AND P FERTILIZERS, WHEN MANY CROPS HAVE LOW N UPTAKE EFFICIENCY (NUE) AND P UPTAKE EFFICIENCY (PUE), LEADS TO ENVIRONMENTAL DETERIORATION THROUGH LEACHING AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AS N2O THROUGH MICROBIAL MEDIATED N CYCLING. THIS RESULTS IN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION, SURFACE WATER EUTROPHICATION, AND AIR POLLUTION. THESE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO COST >$2.2 BILLION ANNUALLY IN THE US ALONE, AND WE CURRENTLY LACK SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO ENHANCE PLANT N AND P UPTAKE FOR HIGH YIELD CROP PRODUCTION. IF THE APPLICATION OF THESE FERTILIZERS CAN BE CONTROLLED (SUPPLIED AT RATE OF PLANT'S NEED) OR CIRCUMVENTED, SMALLER AMOUNTS COULD BE APPLIED TO ACHIEVE THE SAME YIELDS, OR PLANTS MAY BE ABLE TO GROW ON MARGINAL SOILS, EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF CROP PRODUCTION. IN ADDITION TO THE FERTILIZER CRISIS, DROUGHT EVENTS ARE THREATENING THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN BECAUSE THE DEPLETION OF WATER AVAILABILITY IN SOIL HAS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CROP GROWTH. CURRENTLY, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF GLOBAL WATER USE AND ABOUT 40% OF THAT IS LOST DUE TO SEEPAGE AND EVAPORATION. THE INCREASE IN DROUGHT OCCURRENCES ALSO TAXES WATER SYSTEMS TO MEET THE DEMAND OF AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION. IT BECOMES ESSENTIAL TO FIND SUSTAINABLE FERTILIZER ALTERNATIVES AND INCREASE THE WATER RETENTION IN SOILS.

$849,392FY2023National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

View source on USAspending →
** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** EFFICIENT AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ARE NEEDED TO MEET NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY. NITROGEN (N) AND PHOSPHORUS (P) FERTILIZATION ARE CURRENTLY INDISPENSABLE FOR HIGH CROP YIELD. HOWEVER, INDUSTRIAL AMMONIA PRODUCTION IS AN ENERGY-INTENSIVE PROCESS, CONSUMING ~2% OF THE WORLD'S ENERGY AND PRODUCING ~1% OF ATMOSPHERIC CO2. A MAJORITY OF P COMES FROM MINED ROCK PHOSPHATE; A NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCE THAT HAS SEVERAL MAJOR NEGATIVE IMPACTS, INCLUDING SCARCE RESOURCE DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, AND GEOPOLITICAL INSTABILITY. OVERUSE OF N AND P FERTILIZERS, WHEN MANY CROPS HAVE LOW N UPTAKE EFFICIENCY (NUE) AND P UPTAKE EFFICIENCY (PUE), LEADS TO ENVIRONMENTAL DETERIORATION THROUGH LEACHING AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AS N2O THROUGH MICROBIAL MEDIATED N CYCLING. THIS RESULTS IN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION, SURFACE WATER EUTROPHICATION, AND AIR POLLUTION. THESE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED TO COST >$2.2 BILLION ANNUALLY IN THE US ALONE, AND WE CURRENTLY LACK SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO ENHANCE PLANT N AND P UPTAKE FOR HIGH YIELD CROP PRODUCTION. IF THE APPLICATION OF THESE FERTILIZERS CAN BE CONTROLLED (SUPPLIED AT RATE OF PLANT'S NEED) OR CIRCUMVENTED, SMALLER AMOUNTS COULD BE APPLIED TO ACHIEVE THE SAME YIELDS, OR PLANTS MAY BE ABLE TO GROW ON MARGINAL SOILS, EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF CROP PRODUCTION. IN ADDITION TO THE FERTILIZER CRISIS, DROUGHT EVENTS ARE THREATENING THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN BECAUSE THE DEPLETION OF WATER AVAILABILITY IN SOIL HAS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CROP GROWTH. CURRENTLY, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF GLOBAL WATER USE AND ABOUT 40% OF THAT IS LOST DUE TO SEEPAGE AND EVAPORATION. THE INCREASE IN DROUGHT OCCURRENCES ALSO TAXES WATER SYSTEMS TO MEET THE DEMAND OF AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION. IT BECOMES ESSENTIAL TO FIND SUSTAINABLE FERTILIZER ALTERNATIVES AND INCREASE THE WATER RETENTION IN SOILS. · GrantIndex