
Global climate change models predict that long-term drought events will increase in duration and intensity, resulting in both higher temperatures and lower levels of available water. Results of the study showed that Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus pear) had the highest fruit production while using up to 80% less water than some traditional crops. Funded by the Experiment Station and USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, this study was also the first U.S. long-term field trial of exploring Opuntia species as a scalable bioenergy feedstock to replace fossil fuel. For more information, read the University of Nevada article.
Farm Bill Priority Areas
Agriculture systems and technology
U.S. States and Territories
Nevada