ATLANTA — Peanut farmers care about and invest in research for continuous improvement in the peanuts they plant and harvest each season. Since 2012, peanut industry groups and farmers have collaborated to invest $6 million toward the International Peanut Genome Initiative (IPGI), the first phase of an intensive project dedicated to mapping the genetic code of the peanut.
“In Phase 1 of IPGI, the industry achieved incredible results,” said Dan Ward, a North Carolina peanut farmer and 2019 chairman of the National Peanut Board. “As scientific advancements in genetics were made, costs came down, which allowed the initiative to surpass its original goals. Not only did these findings set up foundational knowledge of the peanut genome, huge accomplishments were unexpectedly made in marker discovery.”
Now, peanut farmers, through the National Peanut Board, have allocated the first of four annual contributions of $200,000 to Phase II of IPGI to start applying the knowledge of the peanut’s DNA to breed (naturally and precisely) new peanut varieties. Research that is focused on four key areas—disease resistance, drought tolerance, aflatoxin mitigation and flavor conservation/enhancement—will not only help farmers; but all segments of the industry, including shellers, manufacturers and allied. (See more about Phase II of IPGI here.)
“Precision breeding will allow scientists to develop varieties that produce higher peanut yield on the same amount of land,” said Bob Parker, president and CEO of the National Peanut Board. “The national average yield for peanuts from 2014 to 2018 is 21 percent higher than just 10 years ago. Precision breeding is key to maintaining the upward yield trend ten years from now and beyond.”
When grower costs are lowered, everyone in the industry wins. More peanuts are sold domestically and internationally. Shellers shell more tons to supply expanding markets, making them more efficient and profitable. Manufacturers’ profit margins become wider. (For more benefits, click here.)
–National Peanut Board