** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SOUTHEASTERN FARMERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A GLOBAL PEANUT OIL MARKET FOR SUSTAINABLE PROFITABILITY. THE APPROACH INCLUDES THE USE OF ADVANCED BREEDING TECHNIQUES, CONSIDERATION OF OIL PRODUCTION FROM BOTH HIGH OIL AND EDIBLE VARIETIES WITH AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION, AND FIELD, GREENHOUSE AND LABORATORY STUDIES. THE PROJECT IS IN RESPONSE TO INTEREST EXPRESSED BY GROWERS FOR EXPANDED MARKETING OPTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH AFLATOXIN YEARS. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:1) SCREENING HIGH OIL GERMPLASM FOR SUITABILITY IN SE DRYLAND AND IRRIGATED CONDITIONS, MAKING HYBRIDIZATIONS TO DEVELOP GERMPLASM WITH INCREASED OIL, 2) QUANTIFY OIL ACQUISITION DURING POD DEVELOPMENT, 3) DETERMINE AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES TO INCREASE OIL YIELD FROM NEWLY IDENTIFIED AND EXISTING EDIBLE PEANUT VARIETIES, AND 4) UTILIZE DATA FROM OBJECTIVES 1-3 TO PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF PROFITABILITY UNDER VARIOUS DROUGHT AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION SCENARIOS AND THE FEASIBILITY OF OIL VERSUS EDIBLE MARKET PRODUCTION.THE COMBINATION OF ADVANCING HIGH OIL CONCENTRATION PEANUT BREEDING LINES, DETERMINING THE POINT AT WHICH OIL CONCENTRATION IS MAXIMIZED IN KERNEL DEVELOPMENT, AND FINDING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT WILL ALLOW CROP MATURITY TO MATCH THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF PODS AT MAXIMUM OIL CONCENTRATION WILL AID IN US PEANUTS BEING MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE VAST GLOBAL PEANUT OIL MARKET. BIODIESEL AND MEAL PRODUCTION COSTS AND VALUE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS.