This agreement supports federal quarantine efforts to control and eradicate potato cyst nematodes in idaho by developing potato varieties that can resist them

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Cornell University a $116,631 Cooperative Agreement on August 1, 2026, to support federal quarantine efforts controlling and eradicating potato cyst nematodes in Idaho. The award funds development of potato varieties resistant to the nematode through two complementary activities: testing wild potato plants to identify new, long-lasting resistance traits, and integrating those traits into potato breeding programs operating in Idaho and New York to accelerate creation of nematode-resistant U.S. potato varieties. Performance runs through July 31, 2027, with work conducted nationwide.

IT also includes testing wild potato plants to find new, long-lasting resistance traits, which will then be added into breeding programs in idaho and new york to speed up the creation of stronger, nematode-resistant U.S. Potato varieties.