University of Maryland Eastern Shore Assistant Professor Eguono “Wayne” Omagamre was awarded nearly $120,000 to investigate harmful chemicals in Maryland soil, specifically the point at which those chemicals move from soil into food crops, and how to reduce that transfer.
Omagamre’s research focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also called forever chemicals, which are man-made and do not break down over time.
“Farmers need practical, science-based approaches to manage emerging contaminants like PFAS without disrupting their operations. Through this project, we will work directly with Maryland farmers to investigate ways to limit PFAS transfer from soil into crops,” Omagamre said.
Co-PI Berran Rogers, UMES Extension Small Farm Program coordinator, will assist Omagamre in working with farmers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to complete the research.
The grant was provided by the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, which committed this year’s funding to research efforts that test solutions to emerging problems on working farms, thereby providing information directly to Maryland producers and resource managers.
Kara Nuzback, communication & outreach specialist, NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, UMES Extension, kanuzback@umes.edu.
Photo by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
