Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 8/1/22

Tomatoes are the second most consumed vegetable in the United States and the top-produced vegetable in the world. Improving tomato production has increased relevance with population expansion while agricultural resources are exasperated due to climate change.

Considered critically important research, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) awarded a $590k grant to NC State research scholar, Reza Shekasteband, and the Horticultural Science tomato breeding program for the development of improved crop varieties. New tomato varieties may have better productivity, quality and environmental tolerance; the impact preserves grower livelihoods and provides consumers nutrition and food while conserving natural resources. Located at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC),  Shekasteband and the nationally-awarded lab have committed to improving food security through their tomato genetic improvement research.

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