Virginia state university's (VSU) agricultural research station (ARS) generates scientific information designed to expand knowledge that will help small, part-time and limited-resource farmers be…

Virginia state university's (VSU) agricultural research station (ARS) generates scientific information designed to expand knowledge that will help small, part-time and limited-resource farmers be profitable. The research focus includes developing production systems that conserve natural resources, improving the sustainability and profitability of indoor agricultural production, developing sustainable pest management systems for small-scale agriculture and identifying novel genes that can be used to improve crop tolerances to environmental stresses. The research also generates scientific information that improves the profitability and health of small ruminants. Scientists at ARS work to develop a resilient farming system that can cope with the adverse impacts of climate change, competitive and sustainable small-scale agricultural systems, and BIO-based energy production systems. They further aim to improve food safety and quality, and to generate scientific information on valueadded plant and animal products to improve the profitability of farms. Research is conducted on campus and at a nearby VSU farm to address the following critical issues: 1: agricultural viability, profitability and sustainability: develop low-input and profitable indoor agricultural production systems. Improve the sustainability and profitability of small ruminant production 2: biotechnology, biomaterials, and bioenergy: identify novel genes that can be used to improve crop tolerances to environmental stresses, especially drought, heat and metal toxicity. Use genetic and genome approaches for breeding new crops to address global climate change. 3: natural resources, environment and climate change: develop a resilient farming system that can cope with the adverse impacts of climate change. Minimize the effects of climate change on low income communities.