July 20, 2010
Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-2) announced Monday that the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Services, Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit in Tifton, Georgia, in collaboration with the University of Georgia researchers at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory and the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies, has received a $1 million Federal grant for Peanut Genome Mapping and Marker Development.
The Federal funds will be used to sequence and map the peanut genome and develop molecular markers that can be used in marker assisted breeding. The project aims to provide U.S. consumers with a higher quality and safer product while using fewer pesticides and less water.
“This funding is great news for Georgia – for our dedicated peanut farmers, our state economy, and industry to have the best peanut products available” said Congressman Bishop. “I am pleased that the peanut genome will be studied, helping our farmers to increase productivity, develop a safer product, and reduce dependence on pesticides.”
A roadmap for peanut gene organization will bring opportunities to help solve problems such as peanut allergies and to deliver new highly productive, high-quality disease-resistant varieties that can ensure sustainability of U.S. food production.