Recognized as an international leader in agriculture technology, a groundbreaking coalition of five North Dakota entities today was named as an award winner for up to $15 million over the next two years with potential to receive up to $160 million over 10 years as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program. The competitive award will fund programs that help solve food insecurity and expand economic opportunities for not only more people and organizations, but for increasing the growth of existing crops and introducing new crops to market. The award highlights the state’s talent pool in AgTech and recognizes the unique collaborative partnership that came together to show how North Dakota feeds the world.
A news conference is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Barry Hall Louise S. Barry Auditorium. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven will give remarks along with NDSU President David Cook and representatives from the five core partners of the FARMS Engine coalition. The open forum will also be streamed via Zoom. The winning team is led by North Dakota State University (NDSU), North Dakota Tribal College System, Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber Foundation, and Grand Farm.
“This award of up to $160 million over 10 years is a major investment in NDSU and Grand Farm’s efforts to transform the future of ag production. By securing this funding for the North Dakota Advanced Agriculture Technology Engine, in addition to supporting their continued partnership with ARS (Agricultural Research Service), we are empowering this collaboration to give farmers and ranchers tools that will strengthen their operations, reduce costs and improve yields,” said U.S. Senator John Hoeven. “That’s good not only for the production of food, fuel and fiber, but it will spur growth for a variety of industries, including our state’s dynamic tech sector and manufacturers. That means North Dakota and our nation will continue to have a competitive edge in the global marketplace, while ensuring a high-quality and low-cost food supply for American consumers.”
“This team has earned this win by showing what North Dakota brings to the world: the brightest minds and leaders in AgTech, food production, biotech and genomics,” said North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. “Our agriculture community has come together across all 53 counties to demonstrate how talented people are driving innovation that improves yields, efficiency and profitability for nations everywhere.”
“The inaugural NSF Engines awards demonstrate our enduring commitment to create opportunity everywhere and enable innovation anywhere,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “Through these NSF Engines, NSF aims to expand the frontiers of technology and innovation and spur economic growth across the nation through unprecedented investments in people and partnerships. NSF Engines hold significant promise to elevate and transform entire geographic regions into world-leading hubs of innovation.”
The regional partnership, called Food systems Adapted for Resiliency and Maximized Security (FARMS), was named an award winner out of 188 concept outlines originally submitted throughout the U.S. The FARMS program was recognized for the way it can help support what The White House called “innovation in geographies that have not received the full benefits of technology advancement in past decades.” This federal investment of potentially up to $160 million over 10 years will be used to tap into and expand existing networks and strengths in North Dakota and offer a platform for new ideas, entrepreneurs, and businesses.
“This award has the potential to transform our regional workforce – especially for students, recent graduates, and working adults pursuing careers in agriculture, engineering, IT, AI, data science, and more,” said NDSU President David J. Cook. “It will retain talent in our local economy who will be positioned to innovate in unprecedented ways. Now that North Dakota is recognized as a center of agriculture technology, the research from this partnership will make a difference in our local communities and far beyond the region. We deeply appreciate the commitment of our partners who shared their expertise, vital connections, and imagination to craft a submission focused on the future of our workforce and the impact of our state. I congratulate all those who will make this a transformative success over the next 10 years.
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Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Government & Policy