This Project Grant award from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program (CFDA 10.216) provides $299,933 to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to conduct research aimed at harnessing soil microbial resources to enhance the productivity and sustainability of food and energy crops.
The key objectives of the project are to: (i) characterize the microbial communities associated with switchgrass and miscanthus, (ii) identify plant growth-promoting microorganisms from the switchgrass microbiome, (iii) explore how different switchgrass genotypes recruit distinct microbial communities under various climatic conditions, (iv) investigate the role of microbiota reconstitution in switchgrass plant fitness, and (v) develop an educational and community engagement program. The goal is to develop innovative approaches to increase agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental tradeoffs, in response to the rising global demands for both food and bioenergy. The award period runs from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027.
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