The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a grant totaling USD388k to the University of Maine at Orono to study potato breeding and improve quality and pest resistance in the eastern United States.

“Maine potatoes are a staple in homes around the country and are a testament to the quality of our farmers and small businesses,” said senators Susan Collins and Angus King in a joint statement. “This funding from the USDA will support the University of Maine’s cutting-edge research into potato breeding and help the state build on our strong agricultural traditions so we can make Maine potato products more economically resilient. We’re glad the Department of Agriculture recognizes the University of Maine’s innovative research and our state’s important role in the country’s agriculture.”

The grant, awarded through NIFA’s Potato Breeding Research Program, aims to increase the productivity, profitability, and natural resource stewardship of potato cultivation. The University of Maine will serve as the lead on an eastern United States potato breeding project focused on developing attractive, productive, disease- and insect-resistant potato varieties for both large and small-scale production. This will positively impact productivity and quality of eastern U.S. potatoes, while also decreasing the economic impact of pests.

The USDA NIFA invests in agricultural research and education through projects like the one at the University of Maine to directly support the prosperity of U.S. agriculture.