University of Nevada, Reno researcher launch drought tolerant sorghum varieties

In Nevada, researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have unveiled 200 sorghum varieties that could be a game-changer in the food, brewery, dairy feed and biofuel industry. Preliminary research underscores their exceptional drought tolerance, with some varieties also exhibiting record levels of protein and digestible starch. 

The breeding program for the sorghum varieties was established in 2017 at the University’s Experiment Station, a unit of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, to develop water-efficient crops suited for the semi-arid Western U.S. The varieties the team has developed may now also present farmers in other regions across the globe with an alternative lower-water-use feed for dairy crops.