Monsanto Corn Rootworm Knowledge Research Program Announces Grants

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsanto Company has announced that six recipients will be awarded research grants as part of the Corn Rootworm Knowledge Research Program.  The program was established to provide merit-based awards of up to $250,000 per award per year for up to three years for outstanding research projects that address specific aspects of corn rootworm biology, genomics and management issues. 

The CRW Knowledge Research Program is guided by a 10-person Advisory Committee that is co-chaired by Dr. Steve Pueppke, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and AgBioResearch Director at Michigan State University, and Dr. Dusty Post, Monsanto's global insect management lead. Additional committee members include experts from academia and agricultural organizations, and were selected based on their expertise in corn rootworm biology and insect management practices.

"This program focuses the efforts of our best public sector researchers from across the United States on one of the most damaging pests of corn," said Pueppke. "We hope the research helps provide effective and sustainable solutions and management practices that help benefit corn producers," said Pueppke.

The six awards granted focus on a number of items from evaluating how best to manage corn rootworm under current production practices to evaluating strategies to delay the onset of resistance evolution. The award recipients are:

• Bryony Bonning, Iowa State University
• Aaron Gassmann, Iowa State University
• Bruce Hibbard, University of Missouri
• Marce Lorenzen, North Carolina State University
• Kenneth Ostlie, University of Minnesota
• Brigitte Tenhumberg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A listing of the winners and background on their projects is available on the Monsanto Corn Rootworm Knowledge Program Web page.

"We were pleased with the wide range of proposals submitted which focus on corn rootworm management and biology," said Post. "This is a challenging pest and this program is part of our continuing effort to increase our understanding of corn rootworm and to provide sustainable solutions for farmers."

For more information on the program and Monsanto's commitment to steward corn rootworm-protected traits, visit www.Monsanto.com/CRWknowledge.

About Monsanto Company
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SOURCE Monsanto Company