WTARS Praised for Hemp Research Contributions

Scientists at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) are making significant contributions to the compilation of transformational hemp research around the world.

Dr. Ernst Cebert, who manages the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station at AAMU, along with a cadre of dedicated researchers, were lauded by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service base at Cornell University for the AAMU team’s “extremely instrumental” role in the meticulous characterization, sorting, data entry and processing of key elements of hemp seed. 

Perhaps as far-reaching as its medicinal purposes, hemp offers the average person a wide variety of industrial and other commercial products, including rope, textiles, bioplastics, insulation and much more.

The scientific evaluation work performed by Cebert in collaboration with other research labs around the country was made possible due to a grant designed to strengthen A&M’s research and educational capacity to allow even larger scale hemp research in the future.  The germplasm evaluation and testing at AAMU contributes to the expansive database housed within the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS).

“Dr. Cebert and the AAMU team have been extremely instrumental in characterization of critical germplasm submitted to the NPGS,” reported Zachary J. Stanell of the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit.  The data the team generated has already been uploaded.”