By Andi Anderson
Michigan State University (MSU), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the Plant Coalition collaborated to create Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs).
Michigan proudly holds the title of the most diverse agricultural state in the U.S., producing around 300 commodities. Project GREEEN, initially known as the Plant Initiative, played a pivotal role in this success by addressing emergent challenges in plant agriculture.
Doug Buhler, MSU Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, highlights the perfect timing of Project GREEEN's initiation. The program, approved by the Michigan Legislature in 1997, received support from 45 commodity organizations, MDARD, and MSU.
Buhler, who served as the longest-term coordinator of Project GREEEN from 2005 to 2021, emphasizes the program's success is built on three pillars: need, capacity, and trust. Growers need applied research, MSU has the capacity to conduct it, and there is trust that MSU can deliver valuable research and outreach.
Project GREEEN;foundation allows for flexibility, enabling MSU scientists to respond rapidly to industry needs. This flexibility has been instrumental in addressing urgent problems, such as pesticide residue studies, pest management strategies, and disease forecasting tools.
Steven Miller, an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, notes that Michigan has invested over $136.5 million in Project GREEEN over 25 years, generating over $15 in statewide economic activity for every $1 invested.
Project GREEEN supports faculty salaries, research infrastructure, competitive grants, and rapid response funding. Competitive grants serve as a springboard for larger federal support, while rapid response funding allows for immediate solutions to emerging challenges.
Researchers like Rufus Isaacs, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Entomology, emphasize Project GREEEN's flexibility and support. Isaacs, supported by Project GREEEN, addresses emergent pest problems and conducts research crucial for securing larger federal grants.
Isaacs, known for his work on pests like spotted wing drosophila, Japanese beetle, and more recently, spotted lanternfly, credits Project GREEEN for its track record of delivering solutions, gaining trust and support from growers.
Project GREEEN also fosters unique collaborations, bringing together scientists across disciplines. Researchers like Courtney Hollender, Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture, value the cooperative environment at MSU, facilitated by Project GREEEN, allowing for innovative tree fruit research and genome sequencing projects.
As Project GREEEN marks 25 years, it remains a vital tool, ensuring the competitiveness and viability of Michigan's diverse plant agriculture economy.
Photo Credit: Michigan State University
Categories: Michigan, Government & Policy