Today, an oft-cited bragging point is that Michigan is the most diverse agricultural state in the country with abundant access to water, producing roughly 300 commodities. That’s partially a credit to the state’s rich resources — from freshwater to an array of soil types — but none of the successes are possible without a close partnership among growers, legislators and researchers.

Initially called the Plant Initiative, the product of these meetings would eventually be renamed Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs). The proposal was approved by the Michigan Legislature in 1997, supported by 45 commodity organizations, MDARD and MSU.

“It was the perfect time for this initiative to begin,” said Doug Buhler, MSU associate vice president for research and innovation. “There was a tremendous opportunity for MSU — with the talent and infrastructure in place — to become an even greater asset to Michigan plant agriculture through addressing emerging issues.”

Full story on MSU Today.