News

FFAR grant to U of IL photosynthesis research

University of Illinois researchers working to increase crop yields through improved photosynthesis have received a 15-Million-dollar grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), which was established in the 2014 farm bill.

The university’s RIPE (Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency) program promises to boost soybean and several other crop yields -cassava and cowpeas – by 20%.

The foundation says it’s proud to support what it calls an “innovative leap toward reducing global hunger.” The U.N.’s annual report says global hunger is starting to grow again, because of war, after going down steadily for more than 10 years.

Other contributors to the RIPE project are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.K.’s department for international development.