A $6 million federal grant will support University of Idaho-led research in crop durability.

The research will focus on using AI and genetics to develop crops that can better withstand wind and other environmental factors. The goal is to prevent “stalk lodging,” stems that bend or break before harvest, reducing yield. Between 5% and 25% of cereal crops worldwide are lost to stalk lodging each year, according to research from Bayer Crop Science.

“Two-thirds of the world’s calories come from wheat, corn and rice, all crops that suffer from stalk lodging,” said Daniel Robertson, a U of I associate professor of mechanical engineering and the project’s lead investigator. “Our goal is to make plant breeding predictive. Instead of crossing plants and hoping for the best, we want breeders to know which genetic combinations will produce crops that are both high yielding and resilient to high winds and other events.”

U of I researchers will lead in developing sensing technologies that measure plants’ physical characteristics, data that will be used in AI modeling.

One research partner, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will apply knowledge of the human genome to developing new AI models to analyze plant DNA. Another partner, Clemson University, will investigate how genetics affect stalk strength.

Meanwhile, the U of I says it will partner with two in-state schools — working with North Idaho College to strengthen pathways for students entering engineering programs, and working with Brigham Young University-Idaho to introduce more engineering students into graduate research.

The National Science Foundation grant will run through 2030.