WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), announced $747,382 for West Virginia University to examine the sustainability of Appalachian marginal lands for bioenergy crop production through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Through renewable bioenergy crop production, environmental conditions can improve and offer an increase in economic gain for the growers on marginalized lands. 

“West Virginians have a long history of living off the land,” Senator Capito said. “Exciting new developments in agriculture have created a renewed interest in growing specialty crops, and they have provided opportunity for individual farmers and communities.

Our state’s universities are instrumental in doing the research that makes that work possible, and federal investments like this one on the part of USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative give them the resources they need to stay on the cutting edge of 21st century agriculture.” 

“Improving agriculture sustainability through research is essential to enhancing the sustainability of our agricultural sector as well as the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat.

Rural West Virginia is home to many farmers and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this research for those famers. The health and economic stability of West Virginians is incredibly important to me and I will continue to fight for the health and safety of our state,” said Senator Manchin.