Plant Adaptation
Improving plant adaptation to meet society’s need for more productive, sustainable and resilient agriculture.
The Institute for Plant Adaptation is a new initiative under development at Colorado State University, aligning the best academic plant science with industry priorities in a positive feedback loop. The collective experience of our scientists spans traits such as drought adaptation, carbon sequestration, nitrogen use efficiency, vitamin biofortification, food quality, and pest and disease resistance.
Vision Talks
Plant adaptation research serves applications like crop breeding, conservation, and invasive species management. With a growing population and changing climate, understanding and utilizing plant adaptation is more important than ever.
To spark discussion and catalyze connections, the Cargill Crop Innovation Center has generously provided funding for CSU to host global thought leaders who are using innovative approaches.
Connecting sequences to functions and selection: opportunities & challenges
Shin-Han Shiu, Michigan State University
January 31, 2024 – 3:00pm – Scott 101
Symbiosis as an extended phenotype: The evolution and genetics of microbially-mediated plant traits
Katy Heath, University of Illinois
February 14, 2024 – 3:00pm – Scott 101
Soil organic carbon sequestration in climate change mitigation: is the glass half empty or half full?
Johannes Lehmann, Cornell University
February 28, 2024 – 3:00pm – Scott 101
Exploiting evolution to identify genetic targets for engineering crops adapted to future climates
Sarah Hearne, International Center for Maize and Wheat
April 3, 2024 – 3:00pm – Scott 101
Achievements
Recruitment
We have recruited a core set of founding faculty members across Colleges and Departments, each of whom will lead an IPA initiative that plays to their core strengths.
Engagement
We have initiated engagement with key stakeholders in Industry that can both provide critical feedback on the IPA mission and deliverables and serve as strategic collaborators.
Program Development
We are taking initial steps to develop a graduate program by pursuing a cluster hire for new faculty positions that can help create innovative curriculum.
Impacts
- Our work increases profitability for growers, spurs economic development of rural communities, and improves sustainability and health in the rural environment.
- Rapidly testing the adaptive value of new traits and genetics allows farmers in Colorado, the US and the developing world to take advantage of new varieties that have higher nutritional value, greater ROI per hectare and can be produced more sustainably.