Source: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY submitted to
INTERNATIONAL COTTON RESEARCH CENTER
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
EXTENDED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0215411
Grant No.
2008-38868-19490
Project No.
TEXW-2008-04327
Proposal No.
2008-04327
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
NW
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2008
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2010
Grant Year
2008
Project Director
Hopper, N. W.
Recipient Organization
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
LUBBOCK,TX 79409
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Cotton research has evolved into a comprehensive program at Texas Tech University and TAMU. National and international reputations have been achieved in many areas of cotton research such as: breeding and biotechnology, production systems, pest management, physiology, cotton economics, fiber and seed quality, and textiles. Therefore, potential for synergy is very great if the various research entities can be functionally affiliated within the structure of a comprehensive center focused on cotton. Texas is the largest producer of cotton in the United States; only three foreign countries produce more cotton than does the state of Texas. Texas Tech University is centrally located in the largest cotton production region in Texas; therefore, of the world. The objective of the International Cotton Research Center Program for FY08 and FY09 is to continue a comprehensive, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary cotton research program at Texas Tech University (TTU), Texas AgriLife Research, and Texas AgriLife Extension that will focus on all aspects of the modern cotton industry--genetics, agronomics, ginning, oilseed processing, marketing, textile manufacturing, design and merchandising, and exporting. By thoroughly integrating the many groups currently involved in the diverse aspects of cotton research at Texas Tech, the synergy of truly interdisciplinary and coordinated research will create a nexus for new technology, innovation and economic development in the cotton industry. As the cotton industry faces many challenges in global competition, it is critical to bring new technologies together and focus on improvement of profitability in each stage of cotton production and fiber processing. Requested funds will be utilized to promote and develop the International Cotton Research Center at Texas Tech University with enhanced linkages between respective disciplines of expertise currently located in several departments, institutes, centers, and colleges of the University and with USDA-ARS, Texas AgriLife Research, and Texas AgriLife Extension. To accomplish the development of a linked multidisciplinary International Cotton Research Center, proposals were solicited from targeted cotton research faculty. This request for proposals stressed that for successful funding of projects; proposals must reflect linkages across disciplines and exhibit a working relationship within the framework of a center of expertise on cotton. Proposals were subjected to a peer review process which stressed multidisciplinary linkages for successful funding and involving knowledgeable reviewers both internal and external to Texas Tech. From the submitted proposals, 20 were selected for funding.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
33%
Applied
60%
Developmental
7%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1111710102010%
2011710104010%
2021710108010%
2041710108110%
2151710113010%
6011710301010%
6021710301010%
6031710301010%
6101710301010%
9031710303010%
Goals / Objectives
The overall objective (goal) of the International Cotton Research Center (ICRC) Program and the individual research sub-projects is to continue a comprehensive, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary cotton research program at Texas Tech University (TTU), Texas AgriLife Research,Texas AgriLife Extension, and USDA-ARS that will focus on all aspects of the modern cotton industry--genetics, agronomics, ginning, oilseed processing, marketing, textile manufacturing, design and merchandising, and exporting. These goals will be accomplished by soliciting research proposals from scientists and subsequently funding those that are sound and promote the objectives of the ICRC. Funded projects will be utilized to generate information that will be used to promote and develop the International Cotton Research Center at Texas Tech University with enhanced linkages among respective disciplines of expertise currently located in several departments, institutes, centers, and colleges of the University and with USDA-ARS, Texas AgriLife Research, and Texas AgriLife Extension. The relevance of the goals to the Federal Administration Research Grants Program is that by integrating the many groups currently involved in the diverse aspects of cotton research at Texas Tech, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas AgriLife Extension, and USDA-ARS, the synergy of truly interdisciplinary and coordinated research will create a nexus for new technology, innovation and economic development in the cotton industry. As the cotton industry faces many challenges in global competition, it is critical to bring new technologies together and focus on improvement of profitability in each stage of cotton production and fiber processing. Expected outputs from the various projects will include new and updated information on: 1) cotton production practices (irrigation efficiency, nitrogen management, weed control, insect control, and disease control); 2) the development of improved cotton germplasm (for improved drought stress/tolerance and enhanced fiber quality/yield); 3) cotton fiber (evaluation, quality, and use); and 4) cotton economics (cotton production efficiency, gin profitability, Bt cost effectiveness). This information will be published in various scientific and popular journals as well as presented at scientific and producer meetings. As a result, the new scientific findings, germplasm development, and technology developments will advance our scientific understanding of cotton production, fiber use and quality, economics of production and marketing, and policy effects on the U.S. and world economies. Further, this information will assist producers in producing, marketing, and utilizing cotton fiber in an economical and sustainable manner.
Project Methods
Requested funds will be utilized to promote and develop the International Cotton Research Center at Texas Tech University with enhanced linkages between respective disciplines of expertise currently located in several departments, institutes, centers, and colleges of the University and with USDA-ARS, Texas AgriLife Research, and Texas AgriLife Extension. To accomplish the development of a linked multidisciplinary International Cotton Research Center, proposals were solicited from targeted cotton research faculty. This request for proposals stressed that for successful funding of projects; proposals must reflect linkages across disciplines and exhibit a working relationship within the framework of a center of expertise on cotton. Proposals were subjected to a peer review process which stressed multidisciplinary linkages for successful funding and involving knowledgeable reviewers both internal and external to Texas Tech. A total of 20 sub-projects were funded us a result of this review process in which all adhered to sound scientific principals and accepted methods of data analysis and interpretation. All PIs are aware that this information must be disseminated to the scientific, industry, and producer communities for promoting the cotton industry. The information will be evaluated by peer review, industry and producer acceptance and incorporation into their systems.