A team of researchers from Michigan State University and Purdue University has received a grant to better understand PFAS in agricultural systems.
PFAS in agriculture is a top research area because it affects food and food production.
The team, led by MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering assistant professor Subhasis Giri, has received $400K in a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) grant.
The project will last four years
The project began in September 2026 and is one of five projects being supported through MDARD’s Office of Agricultural Science and Research, aimed at improving Michigan’s food and agriculture industry, improving the environment and environmental outcomes, and improving agricultural resiliency.
Giri’s project will partner with corn and soybean growers who have had PFAS found in their fields. Soil samples of these fields will be taken to create a baseline concentration of contaminants and track their movement through soil and water.
Finally, demonstration plots will be set up to uncover the rate of transfer from soil to corn and soybean plants during growth.
Practices will also be examined and explored, such as how the planting of cover crops and reducing tillage could reduce the movement of PFAS in these fields, and groundwater and runoff will also be explored.
This will result in outreach resources, including fact sheets, online information, presentations at industry meetings, and direct farmer meetings, to increase Michigan’s understanding of the impacts of PFAS in agriculture and to help mitigate the issue.
“A problem that affects health, the environment, food safety and security”
Subhasis Giri said: “We are very thankful to MDARD for their support of our work on this issue of growing importance. PFAS is a global health threat that requires additional research, particularly within agriculture as it relates to movement through fields and ultimately crop uptake. Our goal is to help affected farmers navigate an increasingly difficult situation while protecting public health and reducing environmental impact.”
“It’s becoming more common that farmers are unable to continue growing crops or producing animals due to PFAS contamination of their land. This is a problem that affects health, the environment, food safety and security, and the livelihoods of those who produce food. We’re trying to develop solutions so farmers can get back to farming.”
MDARD director, Tim Boring, said: “MDARD is investing in research that will strengthen our ability to protect Michiganders, our land, and our livestock from PFAS and other emerging contaminants. By better understanding how these chemicals move through agriculture systems, we can implement measures to reduce their impact. The grants reflect MDARD’s commitment to investing in proactive science and research to protect Michigan’s food and agriculture sector now and in the future.”
Last month also saw the launch of the Environmental Protection Agency’s first ever PFAS TECH strategy, encouraging collaboration to create practical tools, funds, and technological assistance in reducing PFAS and its impacts.
Read more about the strategy here.
