Key Personnel – Quotes
For Media Inquiries
D.Raj Raman, Phd
Regen PGC Project Director (Iowa State University)
rajraman@iastate.edu / 515.294.0465 / Headshot
Why perennial ground cover… “I find this project compelling because if we are able to develop the PGC- system as hoped, it is an approach that provides critical conservation benefits while being revenue neutral or even profitable. To have that kind of option would be a game changer, because we struggle with what I call the “paradox of the niche” – great solutions that really aren’t adopted at scale.”
Sara Lira, Phd
Commercialization Theme Lead (Corteva Agrisciences)
sara.lira@corteva.com / Headshot
Why perennial ground cover… “Because we need to make cover cropping as beneficial for farmers’ bottom line as it is to our soil and water.”
Ken Moore, Phd
Education Theme Lead (Iowa State University)
kjmoore@iastate.edu / 515.294.5482 / Headshot
Why perennial ground cover… “PGC systems are a practical approach to addressing environmental concerns with soil health and water quality. They engage farmers in doing what they are already great at – growing plants. I am always amazed at the ideas and enthusiasm farmers bring to developing a PGC system. In the end, it will be scientists trying to figure out the theory behind what farmers have achieved.”
Brandon Schlautman, Phd
Research & Development Theme Lead (The Land Institute)
schlautman@landinstitute.org / Headshot
Why perennial ground cover… “PGCs are not just for corn and soybean. I am confident that knowledge gained within a corn and soybean framework in RegenPGC will be foundational for someday incorporating PGCs into other row-crops like sorghum, wheat, or cotton and more importantly, in future cropping systems with perennial grains or novel crops for the plant-based protein industry.”