68 / SEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY 2018 Exploring ideas and views on all aspects of the seed industry. CORRECTLY USED NEONICS DON’T HARM HONEYBEE COLONIES, STUDY SAYS The three most widely used neonicotinoid pesticides for flowering crops pose no risk to honeybee colonies when used correctly as seed treatments, according to new studies by University of Guelph researchers. Amid mounting controversy over use of neonicotinoids (neonics) and declining bee populations, a new analysis by U of G scientists of previously unpublished studies and reports commissioned by agri-chemical companies Bayer and Syngenta — as well as published papers from the scientific literature — shows no significant ill effects on honeybee colonies from three common insecticides made by the companies. The findings are described in five papers published by Keith Solomon, a toxicologist and emeritus professor with the School of Environmental Sciences and adjunct professor Gladys Stephenson in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health-B. Acknowledging that these three pesticides can kill individual honeybees and may also pose a threat to other pollinators, Solomon said: “At least for honeybees, these products are not a major concern. Use of these neonics under good agricultural practices does not present a risk to honeybees at the level of the colony.” $1.7 MILLION FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research has awarded more than $1.7 million to University of California, Davis, researchers to identify genes responsible for drought tolerance in rice and test a new energy-efficient food-drying process.   A $1 million Seeding Solutions grant will go to a project to study the genetics of rice plants. The research is being led by principal investigator Pamela Ronald, distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Pathology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Genome Center at UC Davis. She and researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and collaborators, will develop and implement a chemistry- driven gene discovery approach to identify rice genes that influence root growth. The project targets protein kinases, enzymes that control diverse biological process in plants, such as root architecture and drought response. WORLD SOIL DAY BRIGHTENED WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF $20 MILLION INVESTMENT IN SOIL HEALTH A new grant will support research and education that accelerate adoption of soil health practices on farms nationwide, benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment alike. The Soil Health Partnership, an initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, is one of three recipients of the grant and matching funds, which total nearly $20 million - one of the largest ever public/ private investments in soil health. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit established through bipartisan support in the 2014 Farm Bill, announced a $9.4 million grant on Dec. 5 - World Soil Day. The recipients are the Soil Health Institute, the Soil Health Partnership and The Nature Conservancy. It will be matched by General Mills, Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, Monsanto, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and individual donors for the total investment of nearly $20 million. Soil health is a critical component of a productive and sustainable agricultural system. Farming practices that improve soil health can increase profitability while protecting natural resources like air and water for communities. “We’re pleased to harness the power of collaboration by supporting three leading organizations in this space for the long-term benefit of our nation’s farmers and food system,” said Sally Rockey, executive director of FFAR.