NCGA’s Program Roadmap: A Pocket Guide to Sustainability

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.