Monsanto Company’s new competitive research program, Corn Rootworm (CRW) Knowledge Research Program, is aimed at supporting research in the areas of corn crop rootworm management; economic impacts of agronomic practices, including control of corn rootworm; corn rootworm biology, physiology, biochemistry, and genomics; and corn rootworm education development. The program is designed to develop collaborative new research projects with scientists who have expertise and interests that complement those of Monsanto. Efforts in these areas will enhance the collective understanding of corn rootworm, and may lead to economical, practical, and sustainable solutions for farmers.

Monsanto has pledged $3 million dollars to support academic research on corn rootworm. The CRW Knowledge Research Program will provide merit-based awards of up to $250,000 per award per year, for a research period of up to three years, for outstanding proposals in critical areas.

Awardees

On Feb. 25, Monsanto Company announced that six recipients will be awarded research grants as part of the Corn Rootworm Knowledge Research Program.

Bryony Bonning, Iowa State University — Identify viruses of the corn rootworm, assess the potential for use of viruses for corn rootworm biological control, and develop a vector for virus-induced gene silencing in corn rootworm.

Aaron Gassmann, Iowa State University — Research aimed at understanding interactions between western corn rootworm and Bt corn, and how to best manage western corn rootworm under current production practices.

Bruce Hibbard, USDA-ARS - Evaluate diet bioassays for western corn rootworm toxins and on-plant bioassays to assess cost efficiency and their ability to detect shifts in susceptibility.

Marcé Lorenzen, North Carolina State University — Develop methods to produce transgenic western corn rootworm and create strains that will enable researchers around the world to perform genome-wide mutagenesis in western corn rootworm by simply crossing two strains.

Kenneth Ostlie, University of Minnesota — Objectives of this research are to re-tool scouting methods and re-calibrate action thresholds for trait and insecticide management options.

Brigitte Tenhumberg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln — Use mathematical models to evaluate a range of integrated resistance management strategies to identify those that are likely to extend Bt trait durability.

Application Review and Grant Award Decisions

Research proposals submitted to the CRW Knowledge Research Program were reviewed by a panel of external scientists who were selected based on their experience and training in key areas of research as determined by the CRW Advisory Committee.  The Advisory Committee is co-chaired by a representative from both the academic and research community and Monsanto. Members of the committee were selected due to their experience in the agriculture, corn rootworm biology and insect management practices.

Questions about the program can be e-mailed to CRWKnowledge@Monsanto.com.