BASF Announces University Partnerships for Living Acres Monarch Initiative
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 1, 2017 – As part of its research-based initiative, Living Acres, BASF announced today it has provided grants to Texas Tech University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Minnesota to research how to effectively establish and maintain milkweed, the reproductive habitat for monarch butterflies and the only plant on which their larvae feed.
In the last two decades, the monarch butterfly population has declined due to a variety of factors, including loss of habitat. It’s estimated that the monarch has lost more than 165 million acres of habitat — an area roughly the size of Texas. As an iconic North American insect and a pollinator of fruits, nuts and vegetables, the monarch butterfly plays a vital role in our ecosystem and economy. Through Living Acres and its research partnerships, BASF aims to restore the monarch’s habitat by providing actionable guidance for farmers looking to cultivate milkweed in non-crop areas of their land.
“Restoring the monarch butterfly population will require collaboration from various entities and landowners,” said Luke Bozeman, Director, Research and Development Crop Protection, BASF. “Through these partnerships, BASF and university researchers will be able to share rich insights and determine the best approach for growing and restoring the monarch butterfly habitat.”
Led by experts in environmental and agricultural research, the universities will evaluate how to increase the monarch habitat and how the agricultural community can make an impact. Below is a summary of the research partnerships and objectives:
Texas Tech University