Michigan’s agricultural agency launches innovative contaminant research grant

What’s happening: Researchers at Michigan universities and colleges, as well as community and tribal colleges, have been invited to apply for a new grant being offered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The state agency intends to support researchers in a statewide effort to counter per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination on Michigan’s agriculture lands.

What’s a PFAS: Widely used throughout the U.S. and the world at large in products like clothing, upholstery, and more, PFAS are synthetic “forever chemicals” that have been linked to anegative health effects in humans and animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified PFAS as an emerging contaminant.

Why it’s important: “With this announcement, MDARD is one of the first state agriculture agencies in the nation to create a research grant program dedicated to understanding how PFAS influences agriculture systems,” says MDARD Director Tim Boring. “These new grants will help protect Michigan’s soil, water and food supply by enhancing our understanding of PFAS sources and PFAS uptake in crops and livestock and, most importantly, help identify how we can mitigate or manage the effects of these chemicals.”

How it works: Grants are available at a maximum of $400,000 to qualified Michigan researchers at any of the state’s universities, colleges, community colleges, or tribal colleges. MDARD seeks projects that are focused on the study of PFAS sources and soil dynamics; PFAS uptake, storage and availability in crops; PFAS uptake, storage and availability in livestock; and mitigating and remediating PFAS contamination on agricultural lands.

Letters of intent are due to MDARD by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 20. More information about the application process is available online.

What they’re saying: “This new grant program exemplifies MDARD’s commitment to using the best available science and innovative research to further strengthen Michigan’s food and agriculture sector,” says Dr. Laura Johnson, MDARD’s Chief Science Officer. “Today’s grants will help build a framework for understanding the movement of PFAS and other emerging contaminants within agriculture systems and mitigating such contamination if it occurs.”