WIREGRASS
Last year, HudsonAlpha expanded its mission of genomic research, economic development, and educational outreach into Alabama’s Wiregrass region through a collaboration between the Institute and the City of Dothan. USING GENOMICS TO IMPROVE A CRUCIAL ALABAMA INDUSTRY Approximately half of the United States peanut crop is grown, harvested, and processed in the Wiregrass region. As our climate becomes more and more unpredictable, increased pests and drought conditions threaten peanut crops in the Wiregrass. Safeguarding this economically significant crop is vital.
Josh Clevenger, PhD
It’s been tremendously rewarding to partner with educators and their students across the Wiregrass to bring the peanut breeding program to life.Through this collaboration, scientists and students are working together to create a better peanut for the Wiregrass region and advance a scientific process that can help feed the world.
—Josh Clevenger, PhD, Faculty Investigator
Led by HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigator Josh Clevenger, PhD , and Kelly East, MS, CGC, Vice President of Educational Outreach , HudsonAlpha Wiregrass launched an innovative peanut breeding program to create improved peanut plants that are less vulnerable to drought and disease. Local farmers have been involved from the beginning and will one day be able to plant these new peanuts in their own fields. INTRODUCING PLANT GENOMICS TO WIREGRASS SCHOOLS HudsonAlpha Wiregrass also provides students and teachers an opportunity to get involved in the peanut breeding program. High school classrooms from across the region participated in growing peanut plants, analyzing their genetic information, and selecting plants for future breeding. The first cohort bred and selected their plants. This academic year marks the beginning of the second cohort, which will build on the work of the previous year. Students are gaining real-world experience with lab and STEM skills that are important for workforce development.
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