Loveland Products, Inc. (LPI) and Dyna-Gro Seed, part of Nutrien Ag Solutions, are marking the fifth year of their successful collaboration with the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter. The partnership, supported by the LPI Research Station Support Fund, has significantly advanced rice breeding and early-stage agricultural research.
The initiative has enhanced LSU's rice improvement program through germplasm exchange, evaluation, and shared field trials, focusing on disease resistance, grain quality, and adaptability to US growing conditions.
Randy Ouzts, US Rice Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said, "By teaming up with top-tier researchers and sharing breeding resources, we're delivering real-time insights into product performance and regional adaptability."
The collaboration has already yielded multiple commercial rice varieties and a robust breeding pipeline. It has also strengthened research capacity at LSU AgCenter, with 36 faculty members completing the Hanover Grant Writing Program, leading to a $3.9 million grant and 13 pilot research projects.
Dr. Adam Famoso, LSU AgCenter rice breeder, highlighted the importance of joint development initiatives and reciprocal access to germplasm made possible by this partnership.
Loveland Products recently received the Industry Leader Award at the 2025 LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture AgExcellence ceremony, recognizing its contributions to academic collaboration and agricultural innovation.
This initiative is part of Loveland Products' and Dyna-Gro Seed's broader commitment to advancing rice research and delivering sustainable, high-performance solutions for US rice production.
