Kansas State University

Dr. Robert Bertram, Chief Scientist, USAID’s Bureau for Food Security and Dr. Vara Prasad, Director of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification & University Distinguished Professor, discuss how Kansas State University is the host to four innovation labs. These labs allow for collaborative research in areas such as developing better sorghum varieties as well as, wheat, and post-harvest loss. Dr. Prasad speaks on the work the labs are doing in Burkino Faso, and how they are meaningful in terms of solving agricultural problems. Long term research trials are looking at how inputs are affecting the sorghum production in Burkina Faso. As the largest producer of sorghum, Kansas produces about 60% of the total U.S sorghum production. Some of the same techniques learned in Burkino Faso can be applied by producers in Kansas. Drought, disease, and insect management are major issues that affect both Kansas and Burkino Faso producers, developing alternative verities would be beneficial for both regions. Dr. Prasad also touches on the role of the wheat genomics lab and the collaborations they have created as well as the significance of post-harvest loss in developed and developing countries.