Nebraska faculty advancing agriculture innovation
University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers are advancing innovation in herbicide tolerance technology and plant varieties. NUtech is commercializing this innovation to make it available for farmers, helping them produce higher yields and feed a growing global population.
Herbicide Tolerance Technology
Agriculture technology developed by Nebraska researchers has emerged from the innovation pipeline and is now being used across North America. Farmers have planted more than 40 million acres of herbicide-tolerant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and more than 5 million acres of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend cotton. The gene technology helps farmers improve yields by controlling weeds, including several that have become resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. It was developed by Donald Weeks, emeritus Maxcy Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Tom Clemente, Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology.
Wheat and Small Grain Varieties
More than 50 percent of the wheat acres in Nebraska are planted with University of Nebraska– Lincoln varieties. Stephen Baenziger, professor of agronomy and horticulture, leads research and development for many of the university’s wheat varieties. Baenziger is an expert small grains breeder focused on wheat, barley and triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye. His research focuses on improving breeding efficiency and methodology, as well as the use of molecular techniques. Baenziger’s research objective is to improve yields, insect and disease resistance, and stress tolerance.
Soybean Varieties
Nebraska has a large collection of high-yielding soybean germplasm, the genetic material used for new varieties. The collection has been developed by George Graef, professor of agronomy and horticulture, and his team. It includes herbicide-tolerant, food-grade and other conventional soybean varieties. Through a 2013 licensing agreement with Bayer Crop Science, now transferred to BASF, Graef’s soybeans are available to farmers throughout the United States.
Dry, Edible Bean Varieties
Farmers in Nebraska and other states are using bean varieties developed by Carlos Urrea, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture. Urrea breeds dry peas, garbanzo beans and dry beans, including kidney, pinto and red beans. Several varieties from his program have been licensed and commercialized. Urrea is also collaborating with the Nebraska Food for Health Center to study how beans may affect the genetic diversity of microorganisms in the human gut.