Location: Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research
Project Number: 3012-21220-011-001-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2021
End Date: Dec 31, 2025
Objective:
To establish a general framework for cooperation and coordination between the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (ARS), and the Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF). This Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (NFCA) defines in general terms the basis for which the Parties will cooperate. Individual projects may be developed between the Parties, which outline specific research projects. The Parties have a long history of collaborative research on the sugar beet, which formally began in the 1940's under a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration has been, and continues to be, a vital, synergistic relationship wherein ARS scientists are able to expand their sugar beet research capacity through their relationship with BSDF, its Members and their Associates. The BSDF, its Members and their Associates are engaged in collaborative opportunities with ARS sugar beet scientists.
The Parties share an interest in the accomplishment of sound research and development in sugar beet, including as key components, research in genetic resource management, genomic characterization and genetic improvement, biological disease control, and host plant resistance to disease; as well as the dedication to the advancement of sugar beet production and beet sugar processing through science based research and leading educational programs. The Parties also share an interest in the development and distribution of disease-resistant, enhanced germplasm with high agronomic performance; as well as traditional and innovative approaches for crop improvement, to more effectively meet the changing needs of seed companies and the growers they serve, leading to increased efficiency of production while preserving the environment and promoting sustainability.
This will be a joint effort between ARS, who is conducting research on the production of sucrose and other products from sugar beet and the BSDF, who is dedicated to the advancement of sugarbeet production and beet sugar processing through science based research and leading educational programs.
Approach:
ARS is actively conducting research on the sugar beet, sugar beet production and extraction of beet sugar and other byproducts. The BSDF composed of most of the sugar beet seed companies, processors, grower-owned cooperatives and suppliers in the U.S., desires to provide direct and indirect research support to ARS. It is in the interest of both parties to continue this relationship so that research can be better directed toward meeting the needs of the U.S. and other nations, and can be more expeditiously accomplished at less cost.
ARS and BSDF will work together to produce the highest quality basic and applied research to meet the changing demands of the sugar beet world market, and its customers and stakeholders by:
1. Promoting sugar beet research concerning the isolation of specific genes and development of germplasm, which may be used effectively in breeding to develop hybrids and varieties that are resistant to various pathogens, regionally adapted, suitable for various cultural practices, superior in biochemical attributes, and storable with minimum deterioration.
2. Establishing technology whereby new genetic characters, inbred lines, or sugar beet germplasm established via ARS research may be brought into widespread use by breeders and growers promptly, efficiently and at less cost.
3. Promoting research to develop better disease management, through an increased understanding of sugar beet disease etiology and epidemiology and an elucidation of the biochemistry, physiology and genetics of the sugar beet-pathogen biocontrol agent interaction.
4. Increasing the understanding of the biochemical genetic and physiological basis of the development of the sugar beet plant, the storage of the harvested root and the extraction of sucrose from the beet to be better able to maximize the efficiency in the processing of sugar beet to sucrose and other products.
5. Evaluating, characterizing, and utilizing available genetic resources (esp., in the USDA-ARS NPGS Beta PI germplasm collection) to determine the genetic diversity within sugar beet and pathogen populations, to better understand and manage important pathogens of sugar beet, and to produce enhanced germplasm more rapidly and more efficiently to meet the changing needs of seed companies and the growers they serve.
6. Developing sustainable biofuels, biochemicals, and bioproducts from sugar beet processing products to improve over-all economics of sugar beet processing
The following ARS Areas and ARS in-house projects are involved in the sugarbeet research (ARS Subject of Investigation (SOI) code 2010)) and are included under this NFCA when applicable:
Plains Area
- Fort Collins, CO: 3012-21220-010-00D/434410
- Sidney, MT: 3032-13210-007-00D/431969/15% FTE
- Fargo, ND: 3060-21000-044-00D-434569/15% FTE
Northeast Area
- Beltsville, MD: 8042-21220-233-00D/434328
- Wyndmoor, PA: 8072-41000-109-00D/439229
Pacific West Area
- Kimberly, ID: 2054-21220-005-00D/434160 (5% FTE(this NFCA); 75% FTE (BSDF Collaboration)
- Salinas, CA: 2038-22000-018-00D/432477/5% FTE
Midwest Area
- East Lansing, MI: 5050-21220-016-00D/434234
Southeast Area
- New Orleans, LA: 6054-41000-111-00D/436409/16.6% FTE
