Grants to support research in plant genetics and breeding, agronomy, ecology, soil science, plant pathology and related fields

Up to a maximum of $9,000

Annual week-long workshop

Possibility of renewal in subsequent years

Follow the arrows at the bottom of each screen for a complete review of the program information or click on the following links to jump to specific areas of interest.

• Program Overview
• Objectives
• Background
• Eligibility
• Use of Research Funds
• Priority Issues
• Fellows Research Abstracts

Objectives of the Fellows Program:

1.       Support graduate-level research providing technical information useful to development of diverse perennial grain cropping systems.

2.       Connect like-minded graduate students with one another and bring them into contact with accomplished scientists and scholars from around the world.

3.       Promote the development of an interdisciplinary network of research groups interested in the long-term transformation of agriculture.

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Background:

The Land Institute inaugurated its Graduate Research Fellowship Program in 1998 to connect with and support graduate students whose work advances the development of diverse perennial crops and farming practices. Before agriculture, mixtures of perennial plant species dominated essentially all of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystems. Since agriculture began, humans have converted many of those natural ecosystems to monocultures of annual grains. Poor soil and water quality and greatly reduced biodiversity are the consequence. This old problem has become acute since the last two doublings of population, requiring unprecedented action.

From the tropics to temperate zones, diverse perennial farm fields will sustainably produce nutritious food for humanity and return natural ecosystem processes to our farm landscapes. Pressure to encroach on wild ecosystems will ease as we maintain the quality of existing croplands. Wildlife and native vegetation will more likely thrive as the damaging downstream effects from farms decline.

The focus of our work is two-fold:

1.       Perennialization of the major grain crops and the domestication of wild herbaceous perennials for seed production. (Currently, cereal, oil and legume crops, all of which are annual, provide 70 - 80 percent of humanity's calories and occupy nearly two thirds of global cropland. Despite their essential importance to humans, these crops pose some of the greatest environmental threats to the planet's ecosystems.)

2.       Determine how to best use diversity for more efficient nutrient and water use, productivity and pest and disease management — from the micro-scale of genetic diversity within crop species, to the macro-scale of crop mixtures in the field, and to the landscape scale of the farm and region.

Such an ambitious research agenda requires work on many agricultural and ecological fronts. Plant breeders work to perennialize our major grain crops and domesticate wild perennials. Soil scientists investigate shifts in microbial populations in perennial systems and determine their influence on nutrient cycling. There are roles for geneticists who may seldom leave the laboratory, agronomists with a passion for fieldwork and ecologists bringing their expertise to inform the decisions of both, since diversity is a necessary feature.

Each year The Land Institute supports some 20 fellows with 5-8 new fellows (except in 2008) entering each year. Many fellowships are renewed for 2 to 4 years.

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Eligibility:

Students are eligible if currently enrolled in a M.S. or Ph.D. program in a discipline such as: Plant Breeding, Agronomy, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Entomology, Pathology, Microbiology, Animal Science, Soil Science, and Landscape Ecology.

Successful candidates will have strong academic records, some research experience, an interest in agroecology and a commitment to environmental protection and sustainable agriculture. Research may be carried out at the student's university and/or at The Land Institute.

Each fellow commits to attending an expenses-paid workshop in which fellows, Land Institute scientists, and invited scholars will study and discuss research and the intersection of ecology, agriculture and society.

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Use of Research Funds:

The maximum award will be $9,000 per year. Grants will be made through a faculty member for administration and accountability purposes. The award is intended to support the student and his or her research. Indirect costs are not an allowable expense.

Grant funds may be used for research equipment and consumables; field, growth chamber or greenhouse fees; and travel to field sites. Funds may not be used for computers or textbooks. Funds may also be allocated for salary during months when the applicant is working on his/her research project.

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Priority Issues:

We have historically funded diverse projects each year. We will continue to give careful consideration to all relevant projects. However, extra consideration will be given to projects which address one or more of the following priority issues:

Genetics of the perennial habit

• How is the perenniality trait inherited in grasses, legumes and composites?
• Where are the genes affecting perenniality and related traits located on genetic maps or physical chromosomes?
• How can we best select for perenniality in populations derived from crosses between annual crop plants and perennial relatives?

Breeding perennial grain crops. Three approaches:

• selection for yield improvement of existing amphiploids (perennial rye, wheat, triticale and sorghum);
• making new interspecific crosses between domestic grain crops and wild perennial species;
• domestication of promising wild perennials

Comparisons between annual crop and diverse perennial ecosystems

• How do the nutrient cycles within these systems compare?
• How does net primary productivity compare?
• How is soil quality influenced by these systems?

Managing perennials for sustained grain yield

• Yields of stands of perennial grains typically decline several years after establishment. Is this due to disease or pest build-up?
• Is it part of the normal life-history pattern for perennial plants?
• Is a disturbance regime, such as fire, grazing or light tillage, necessary for sustaining yield?

Proposals will also be given special consideration if some or all of the proposed work will be done at The Land Institute.

Research resources available at TLI include:

• replicated long-term agroecology research plots with annual crop, perennial crop, and restored prairie treatments
• replicated native tall-grass prairie and no-till annual crop plots (never tilled)
• arable bottomland (165 acres) and never-plowed prairie (80 acres)
• large greenhouse and controlled temperature facilities
• cytogenetics lab
• seed threshers and cleaners
• standard agricultural equipment (tractors, harvesters, etc.).

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NOTICE: No new fellowships will be offered in 2008.  This page provides general information about the program. Application information for 2009 will be posted by December, 2008.