AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University, Associate Professor, and plant breeder, Dr. Arti Singh has received a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA‑NIFA) to advance the development and release of improved mung bean varieties for U.S. farmers and food companies. The award is part of USDA‑NIFA’s A1143 Conventional Plant Breeding Program, included in a $39 million national investment in plant breeding research announced by the agency.
The project, “Accelerating the Release of Improved Mung Bean Cultivars Through Genomics and Phenomics Tools and Coordinated Network Trials (Mung‑CNET),” addresses rapidly increasing demand for mung beans driven by the growth of plant‑based foods, interest in high‑protein crops, and the need for stress tolerant agricultural systems. Farmers and industry partners across the Midwest and beyond have expressed strong interest in competitive, food‑grade mung bean varieties adapted to U.S. growing conditions.
Mung‑CNET builds on Iowa State University’s established mung bean breeding program by expanding multi‑location testing, strengthening disease and insect screening, and integrating advanced genomic and phenomic tools. The project will establish coordinated network trials that actively involve farmers, breeders, and food companies to evaluate yield performance, drought tolerance, disease and pest resistance, and seed quality traits such as protein content.
In addition to delivering market‑ready varieties, the project places strong emphasis on training the next generation of plant breeders. Students will gain hands‑on experience in modern breeding methods, data‑driven decision‑making, and collaboration with farmers and industry, skills essential for advancing sustainable agriculture.
Expected outcomes of this project include the release of at least three high‑performing mung bean varieties, improved data to support variety adoption, and a stronger foundation for a profitable and sustainable U.S. mung bean industry.