In a groundbreaking initiative, a consortium in the Pacific Northwest has secured a five-year, $50 million grant to revolutionize potato farming with eco-friendly practices, as Brian Bull reports in a news story published by OPB.
Spearheaded by Oregon State University (OSU) and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of potato farming across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Jeffrey Steiner, the project leader from OSU, emphasized the need for new farming methods that minimize soil disturbance and greenhouse gas emissions.
The project will explore techniques like cover crops, no-till or reduced tillage practices, and nutrient management. The Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho is among the project partners, and they, along with other Native American tribes, are keen to adopt these climate-smart practices.
In a release issued by OSU, the university says that the effects of changes in soil management will be monitored by measuring soil data, which will be used in models to verify the approaches are working.
The consortium believes that these methods will not only improve soil health but also contribute to climate-smart outcomes.
Source: OPB. Read the full story by Brian Bull here
Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons
