Overview
- Gov. Kay Ivey announced ARDAF awards topping $2 million to HudsonAlpha for three initiatives: TRIALS ($309,576), Biotech to Accelerate Crops for Alabama ($938,992), and Safeguarding Alabama Wild Forests ($999,803).
- ADECA will distribute the awards, and HudsonAlpha says each project includes institute matching funds with external collaborators; Auburn University and the University of Alabama also received program funding.
- The TRIALS pilot pairs growers with ag‑tech startups Chonex and SouthGen Solutions for side‑by‑side field tests that track yields, soil health, and economic results.
- Biotech to Accelerate Crops for Alabama, led by faculty investigator Kankshita Swaminathan, is a $1.97 million effort with partners including Mars Inc. and DOE‑funded CABBI to expand plant transformation and train students through programs such as Genes & Greens.
- Safeguarding Alabama Wild Forests teams HudsonAlpha with the Paint Rock Forest Research Center to analyze genetic diversity in more than 90 tree species, build breeding resources, and bolster resilience for landowners and forest‑based businesses.