PRAC secures new funding source to advance production research

The potato industry received $105 million in funding with two winning projects accepted by Climate-Smart, a new USDA funding source. Climate-Smart was introduced in 2022 with the promise of up to $1 billion for climate-smart commodity projects. Following submissions, USDA added $1.8 billion to a total of $2.8 billion for 70 projects, including various commodities, such as potatoes. With the unknowns of how applicants would be awarded, it was important to act quickly to optimize the opportunity for the potato industry.

PRAC (Potato Research Advisory Committee) identified this funding source in March 2022, urging potato researchers to submit potential projects and backing them up with support for approval. The committee evaluated proposals based on applicability and alignment with a climate-driven focus to direct Climate-Smart dollars to the potato industry. Once they identified valuable submissions, the committee compiled letters of support to add, demonstrating industry support and the applicability of the project.

PRAC was created in 2016 to identify and define research proposals focused on significant industry issues, include a national scope, or move the industry into promising new areas of study. One of its missions remains to identify new funding sources to maximize dollars directed toward potato research. Previously, the committee has endorsed projects applying to NIFA-SCRI, additional NIFA fund sources, APHIS, AFRI, USDA Innovation Funds, and NSF, to name a handful. Adding Climate Smart to this list further establishes PRAC’s impact by bringing more dollars into potato research.

For more information on PRAC, please contact John Lundeen at Jo***@*********SA.com.