NCGA’s Program Roadmap: A Pocket Guide to Sustainability

NCGA has partnered with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, to conduct engine testing on various engines with mid-level ethanol blends. The research shows higher blends of ethanol increase engine performance, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce emissions across vehicle types.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development...

NCGA launched a new messaging campaign in Washington D.C., outlining the environmental benefits of corn ethanol that can be realized today. The digital campaign was made up of non-skippable video units on streaming services, video on local websites within Washington D.C., and social media marketing on Facebook and Instagram. Additionally, NCGA was the sole sponsor of the latest Agri-Pulse Podcast Deep Dive series on biofuels, sponsored content in Politico, and had a :30-second TV spot run on local D.C. programs. All of these efforts explore not only the environmental benefits of ethanol, but the policy demand needed to ensure the industry is on a level playing field moving forward in the transportation and energy sectors.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to...

NCGA and state corn grower associations have partnered with the Hormel Institute on research pertaining to the environmental impacts of ethanol and human health, specifically carcinogens. The Hormel Institute, housed at the University of Minnesota, conducts research and provides education in biological sciences with applications in medicine and agriculture.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of...

NCGA continues as a partner of NCERC, finding new and innovative technologies and solutions to further optimize the utilization of corn-based ethanol, which can serve as a building block for high-value molecules and new novel applications for ethanol products.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.  

This work will address the impact of crop residues on soil health and sustainability by conducting a life-cycle analysis. The goal is to take historical data and show the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that farming practices help reduce the carbon intensity of fuel and how corn provides additional decarbonization benefits. The outcome of this study will help drive future discussions with CARB and show the environmental benefits of using corn-based ethanol in California.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy...

The Market Development Action Team funded a study with the American Feed Industry Association and IFEEDER, to analyze the economic and environmental impact of a completely non-GMO feed supply chain.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in...

The grant program is supported by NCGA and offered to state cattle associations ranging from $2,000 - $4,000. The series is a collaborative effort to advance grassroots education on topics that improve cattle production efficiency, profitability, and sustainability.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems,...

MDAT sponsored a collaboration with C&EN, to help promote the performance advantages of corn in the new uses space. Through C&EN's platform, we were able to provide our content directly to scientists and engineers within the biotech community through a series of interactive infographics, social media content, and online quizzes.    Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural...

In order to use the surplus of corn, we are meeting with government agencies and companies to further connect the whole value chain and position corn as a sustainable, abundant and economical feedstock.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 13.1  Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. 15.1  By 2020,...

NCGA is a member of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance, searching for new ways to partner in sustainable dairy and dairy product production. This partnership also serves as means to interact with our customer and better learn how to service their needs to address industry questions around feed inputs.    Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.6 By 2020, protect and...

MDAT commissioned a report to explore an existing hypothesis if sustainability could act as a barrier to trade and market access. This report illustrates a pro-science, Agro-Innovation counter philosophy to the EU's Farm to Fork prioritizing technological innovation, sustainability and food security.     Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 2.b Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies, and export measures with equivalent effect. 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore...

NCGA co-chairs MAIZALL with U.S. Grains Council, Abramilho and Maizar. MAIZALL, the International Maize Alliance, is an initiative that communicates the benefits of modern agriculture, addresses asynchronus approval of biotechnology products, and promotes regulatory harmonization to confront trade barriers to important agricultural technologies. MAIZALL’s farmer directors meet regularly with high-level government officials and engage with international multilateral institutions to ensure the farmer perspective is heard on these important topics. Recently, MAIZALL’s U.S. directors met with U.S. government trade and agriculture officials in Washington D.C.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather,...

MDAT supports educational and outreach efforts around a national incentive bill that opens opportunities and limits barriers to biobased, renewable, and sustainable chemicals and materials production in the United States. This effort aims to incentivize biobased production and infrastructure by providing federal funds for production credits and capital offsets and will work to leverage state incentive efforts as well.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. 12.2 By...

The purpose of this MOU is to build upon the established general framework for cooperation between National Pork Board (NPB), United Soybean Board (USB) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on mutually beneficial sustainability research, including completed, current and planned research and communications. "Sustainability Research" is research directly related to environmental sustainability indicators of carbon (greenhouse gases), water use, land use, water quality, and soil health. The key goal for communications is to increase the education, capacity, and motivation of farmers to adopt conservation measures that deliver benefits to the environment and to farm resilience and profitability.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for...

This collaboration with National Pork Board (NPB) funded in part by NCGA's Market Development Action Team (MDAT) is a multidisciplinary, coordinated research approach that spans multiple regions of the U.S.  While some of the data has been collected and is available for various sectors of the cycle of nutrient transfer from pigs, to soil, to manure to grain crops in turn used for pig feed, there has never been a systems approach to better understanding the efficiency of nutrient transfer from one segment of the cycle to another.  The intent is to identify and fill the many gaps in knowledge that exist to complete our understanding of the cycle through a phased request for proposals (RFPs) broken up over a 3.5-year process.  Those awarded any phase of the research will be invited to participate in a Task Force with other researchers and producers in order to build upon knowledge gained along the way. It is expected that these efforts will be closely coordinated with the Real Pork...

In partnership with the National Pork Board (NBP) NCGA provided funds for this research to help update the National Academics Nutrient Requirements of Swine, which hasn’t been updated since 2012.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes. 12.2 By...

NCGA's Market Development Action Team (MDAT) supported and was an involved member of this Coalition to coordinate a U.S. food and agricultural industry-wide coalition to direct U.S. strategic active engagement in the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit which met to make key recommendations to the United Nations with regards to farming techniques, productions systems that would have global trade implications should artificial trade barriers around sustainability be recommended.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 2.b Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural...

NCGA continues to be a member of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) and most recently participated in their Feed Task Force. USRSB enables corn to have a platform in addressing a critical feed input discussions, ensuring that what happens in the field helps promote sustainable beef production beyond the gate.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.6 By...

As of 2022, NCGA is now a member of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs (US-RSPE) and has provided feedback from a feed perspective on their sustainable poultry production protocol.    Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and...

There are now several demonstratable bio-advantaged molecules (PDO, FDCA, Malonic Acid, PLA) that compete on performance and can be derived from corn. We propose to bring stakeholders from both the supply and demand side together to identify those attributes that customers need and want. The goal of this meeting is to develop networks between renewable materials suppliers and increase knowledge of what is possible and what is needed.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution contamination. 9.5 Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all counties, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development...

CommonGround is a grassroots movement to foster conversation among women — on farms and in cities — about where our food comes from. Sharing their personal stories, the volunteers foster conversations, based in shared values, that help moms off the farm discover that they can feel good about the food they feed their families during events and through online and media opportunities arranged by CommonGround at the state or national level. By serving as resources, these women have shared their unique understanding of important topics, such as the difference between organic and conventional crops and how ranchers care for their animals, helping grow consumer confidence in agriculture and the social license necessary to preserve farmers’ freedom to operate through more than a billion times since 2010.   findourcommonground.com

Corn Reputation focuses on the market in which NCGA can have the greatest impact: Washington. By using targeted media strategies and sustainability messages informed by research developed in collaboration with our state partners, NCGA increases our ability to move forward with important legislative and regulatory priorities that benefit U.S. corn farmers. In 2022, the campaign runs on a schedule that coincides with the Congressional calendar.  A strategically curated media mix, such as digital signage at Reagan National Airport and through podcasts, meets the DC-elites where they are in a targeted way that makes every farmer-dollar matter.

Hunger U reaches directly to an important, but niche, audience that none of NCGA’s other programs currently address—future leaders in food and technology who attend well-respected universities that lie far outside of the Corn Belt in more urban, coastal areas. By reaching these youth before entrenched beliefs set in and while they are still exploring ideas in a more open, formative fashion. The program has grown over the years to incorporate work through The People's Garden on the National Mall and online educational components at multiple grade levels.

A healthy and thriving ecosystem is important to the long-term sustainability of U.S. corn. To support their local ecosystems, corn growers are investing in and planting pollinator habitats on or near their croplands. NCGA works with a variety of partners to support growers who wish to establish habitat, including Pheasants Forever, the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, the Honey Bee Health Coalition and the Monarch Collaborative.  

NCGA invests in programs to support corn growers' use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices. IPM encourages the use of a wide range of tools and practices to manage on-farm pests, including weeds, crop diseases and insects. The holistic approach to management means that growers are using their inputs in the most effective and efficient manner. 

USDA is conducting a research pilot to analyze USDA and third-party datasets to understand how cover crops and no-till practices affected planting and yields in 2019 due to flooding.    NCGA is supportive of the Agriculture Innovation Act, which would build off the pilot and improve USDA data collection and research of conservation practices.

NCGA and partners developed the Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) for non-irrigated corn producers who split-apply nitrogen.    Development is ongoing for additional conservation practice endorsements.    Farm policy continues to knock down barriers and provide incentives for the adoption of cover crops. For example, USDA's Pandemic Cover Crop Program. 

NCGA's Risk Management & Transportation Action Team (RMTAT) partners with the Waterways Council, Inc (WCI) to support the inland waterways system.    By safely moving America’s corn and other cargo at the lowest cost, barge transportation plays a vital role not just to our nation’s economy, but in preserving our environment and limiting traffic congestion.    In 2019, 514.9 million tons of waterborne cargo transited America's inland waterways, a volume equal to roughly 14% of all intercity freight and valued at $134.1 billion.  All that, and the least expensive, safest, and lowest carbon footprint.     Compared to barges, moving an identical amount of cargo by rail generates 30% more emissions, while trucks generate 1,000% more emissions. 

The Agricultural Nutrient Policy Council (ANPC) was formed in 2010 in direct response to two EPA actions: 1) the attempted imposition of EPA-developed Clean Water Act (CWA) Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC) for Florida’s lakes and flowing waters; and 2) EPA’s Chesapeake Bay CWA Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) covering portions of six states in the watershed and the District of Columbia.      Since that work, ANPC has helped agriculture successfully engage on numerous issues important to farming, ranching, nutrients and water quality involving the policies and programming of the CWA and the Farm Bill’s Conservation Title, as well as other federal authorities. ANPC’s purpose was, and continues to be, helping agricultural trade associations and businesses quickly assemble outside legal, technical and policy expertise on federal matters related to nutrients and water quality.    Sound nutrient management to support profitable agricultural operations while reducing nutrient losses is...

Our Corn Sustainability Advisory Group (CSAG) is working toward a corn sector-driven sustainability plan. The CSAG is addressing elements of the NCGA strategic plan including growing demand, building trust and driving sustainability. CSAG advises the NCGA Board on sustainability issues, areas for strengthening, practices to be promoted and avenues for support, and ways to integrate sustainability more fully as part of the corn story.   The advisory group includes grower representatives from the Ethanol, Market Development, Member & Consumer Engagement, Sustainable Ag Research and Stewardship Action Teams; 2 state staff and the 5 national staff leads for each of the five Action Teams, for a total of 17 members, plus an ex—officio member from the NCGA Corn Board.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production,...

Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) is a partnership between the United Soybean Board, National Corn Growers Association and National Pork Board to advance the use of soil health practices – especially cover crops – on corn and soybean farms.  The initiative has a goal of doubling the number of corn and soybean acres using cover crops to 30 million acres by 2030.  The alliance between USB, NCGA and NPB is farmer-led, farmer-driven and farmer funded to support growers and ensure they have the tools and resources to promote continuous improvement and conservation.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 12.2 By...

NCGA is a key partner in this alliance that seeks to unite agricultural supply chain and key stakeholders around a common measurement framework in order to track and drive sustainability in corn production. Retailers, suppliers and farmers measure environmental impacts to identify positive change but also identify new opportunities to conserve soil, improve water use and quality and reduce energy use.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of...

The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) consists of organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, agribusinesses, manufacturers, the food and innovation sector, state governments, sportsmen, and environmental advocates. These groups have broken through historical barriers to develop and promote shared climate policy priorities across the entire agriculture, food and forestry value chains.     FACA’s policy recommendations include:  Providing voluntary, incentive-based tools for farmers, ranchers and forest owners to maximize the sequestration of carbon and the reduction of other greenhouse gas emissions, as well as increase the resilience of the land.  Supporting the development and oversight of private sector markets for GHG credits.  Promoting public and private sector tools to incentivize farmers, ranchers and forest owners to prioritize and scale climate-smart practices.  Offering incentives for farmers to reduce energy consumption, increase use...

The life cycle assessment (LCA) of corn production across the United States with the intent of capturing potential differences in environmental sustainability metrics associated with different regional production practices and to provide an estimate of a national aggregated suite of environmental impact metrics.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.  

The purpose of this MOU is to build upon the established general framework for cooperation between NPB, USB and NCGA on mutually beneficial sustainability research, including completed, current and planned research and communications.  "Sustainability Research" is research directly related to environmental sustainability indicators of carbon (greenhouse gases), water use, land use, water quality, and soil health. The key goal for communications is to increase the education, capacity, and motivation of farmers to adopt conservation measures that deliver benefits to the environment and to farm resilience and profitability.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters...

The National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund launched the Success in Stewardship Network to celebrate and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms. Rather than focusing on early adapters, this effort focuses on the mass of farmers in the middle who are also conservation leaders and the state corn grower association programs assisting them. The mission is to recognize farmers more broadly for their efforts to stay productive and profitable, and manage the challenges of climate change, all while accelerating sustainable farming practices.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively...

The Water Quality Working Group was started in 2016 at the request of executives of corn grower associations from several states dealing with agricultural fertilizer use and water quality policy.  Several states were facing acute and serious threats of state water quality policy mandates in one form or another that would regulate corn farmers' use of nutrients.  Many were facing significant pressure to ramp up such regulatory measures.  We have since expanded the group and all state water quality staff are invited to two meetings a year where we bring experts in to talk about hot topics around water quality, sustainability, conservation and climate change.  Attendees share what rules, regulations, and pressures they are facing in their states, programs they are having success with and how they are engaging their growers in times of pressure.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and...

AMCOE brings together individual state resources for an efficient and effective approach to aflatoxin research in corn that yields improved tools for U.S. farmers in the prevention, defense, mitigation, and remediation of toxin-related issues caused by Aspergillus fungi.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.  

Meeting the challenge of sustainably feeding and fueling a growing population requires the development and management of crop varieties that will perform well in the face of increased weather variability. To address this challenge, NCGA is a supporter of the Genomes to Fields Initiative, which will expand our understanding of the interacting roles of crop genomes and crop environments (including weather and management practices) on crop performance. By improving the ability to predict crop performance in diverse environments, this initiative will enhance the capability to develop new varieties and to manage the effects of weather variability on crop productivity.    Genomes to Fields   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.  

The purpose of the NCGA Research Ambassador Program is to build a network of future leaders in the agriculture sector. Up to six graduate students are selected each year to receive financial support as well as travel and networking opportunities. Ambassadors must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and be involved in research relevant to corn production. Ambassadors are invited to participate in NCGA grower meetings and Commodity Classic.    Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

NCGA is a partner organization for the Joint EPA-USDA Partnership and Competition on Next Gen Fertilizers to Advance Agricultural Sustainability in the United States. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers facilitate the growth of crops, including corn, at yields that provide sustained global food production. “Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer” (EEF) is a term for new formulations that control fertilizer release or alter reactions that reduce nutrient losses to the environment. EEFs and other next-generation product technology innovations may be an important addition to a system of conservation practices that help reduce the impacts of row crop agriculture on the environment while maintaining or increasing agricultural productivity and profitability. This program aims to accelerate the development and use of existing and new product technologies that are affordable to reduce the environmental impacts of U.S. corn production.   Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges   Alignment with the...

Raising the profile of agriculture as a teaching tool and cuing up a generation of science leaders who are ag literate is behind NCGA’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education program. Biology and chemistry teachers across the country can apply for the year-long program. Nourish the Future assists teachers in identifying ways to introduce agriculture topics like the role of genetics in feeding a growing population and the chemistry of biofuels into their classrooms. The program also provides leadership and mentoring opportunities.    Nourish the Future   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Goal 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.  

NCGA funds research on a number of topics aimed to develop knowledge and tools to help growers adapt to the effects of climate change on production. Examples include tar spot management, tools for controlling mycotoxin-producing fungi, the effects of climate on grain quality, and herbicide-resistant weed management strategies.   Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.