K-State freezes global food security labs after federal order
MANHATTAN (KSNT) - K-State announced that it had suspended two of its Feed the Future Innovation Labs and other international grant projects.
According to K-State, stop-work orders for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USDAID) and the U.S. Department of Foreign Agricultural Service were issued in late January. Those orders halted various grant-funded research projects at K-State and other U.S. universities.
K-State opened the first Feed the Future Innovation Lab in 2013. The university said the labs have been a key part in building the university's 160-year tradition of agriculture research. The university said Kansans benefit from lower food costs, higher yeilds, higher farm incomes and better nutrition from its work in agricultural research.
"At K-State, students, scholars, post-doctoral fellows and some faculty connected to these projects are transitioning to other projects, and nine positions will be eliminated on April 12," K-State wrote in a media release.
K-State listed some affected research programs:
- K-State and feeding the world
- Research key crops like millet, wheat, rice and maize. Their work in wheat genomics aims to enhance yield and disease resistance.
- Innovation Labs
- Funded by USAID, four innovation labs have received over $100 million in funding for projects in 15 countries, according to the 2017 publication.
- Food for all
- Funded by USAID, K-State has worked to reduce hunger across the world. According to K-State's website the university has worked to reduce hunger in India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Niger, Bangladesh, Ghana, Guatemala, Cambodia, Burkina Faso and Tanzania, according to the 2015 publication.
"This work and these people are assets to the university, state and the agricultural industry," said Ernie Minton, Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture.
Feed the Future Innovation Lab is described as a lab for reducing post-harvest loss. It focuses on stored product crops like grains, oilseeds, legumes, root crops and seeds. The program operates in four primary countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Guatemala with additional projects in Honduras, Nepal, and Afghanistan, according to its website.
"While these specific programs are ceasing or pausing, K-State remains committed to advancing and enhancing global food systems and biosecurity and helping Kansas farmers overcome current and future challenges," Minton said.
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