The nearly half-million-dollar grant will support the diversification and expansion of soybean crops throughout the region.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2023

Contact: Erica Shambley, Interim Director of Marketing, 804-524-5965, eshambley@vsu.edu

ETTRICK, Va.- Associate Professor Dr. Guo-Liang Jiang, who leads the soybean breeding and genetics program at Virginia State University, was awarded $499,988 from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) funding for his work with soybeans in Virginia and surrounding regions. The current research project, “Strengthening 1890 Capacity in Plant Breeding and Promotion of Edamame and Dual-Purpose Soybeans for the South Atlantic States” aims to support land-grant research institutions like VSU in their ability to develop genetic lines for both edible and non-edible purposes.

Although soybeans are increasingly grown and commercially sought after in the United States as a renewable and less expensive alternative to petrochemical raw materials with diverse applications, the research program at VSU is primarily focused on edamame and other food-grade soybeans that can be sold as value-added products, such as soymilk, tofu, soy nuts, and more.

As researchers assess the myriad of soybean varieties, and optimize them to thrive in Virginia’s typical climate conditions, they expect farmers and consumers in Virginia and the Southeast to reap significant benefits.

Associate Professor Dr. Guo-Liang Jiang, who leads the soybean breeding and genetics program at Virginia State University, is being assisted by Dr. Shuxin Ren, VSU professor of biotechnology; Dr. Theresa Nartea, VSU associate professor and Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist in marketing and agribusiness; Dr. Zelalem Mersha, VSU assistant professor and Extension specialist in plant and soil science; Dr. Sanjun Gu, VSU Extension specialist and associate professor in horticulture, and Southern Region SARE coordinator for Virginia; Dr. Rouf Mian, research geneticist and leader, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Dr. Qijian Song, research geneticist and leader, USDA-ARS, and Dr. Yixiang Xu, USDA-ARS, healthy processed foods researcher and leader.

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