Purdue wins $3.5M for tomato tools

By Andi Anderson

Purdue University’s Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI) project has received a third $3.5 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).

Led by Professor Lori Hoagland from the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, the project aims to provide tomato farmers across the country with valuable tools and strategies to improve their crop production and address ongoing challenges in the industry.

Indiana ranks third in the nation for tomato production, and the state’s farmers grow tomatoes for both industrial uses and fresh markets. Hoagland, who joined Purdue 14 years ago with expertise in sustainable farming, launched TOMI in 2014 after consulting with farmers.

Their main concern was foliar diseases like early blight, late blight, and Septoria leaf spot. To address these issues, Hoagland collaborated with experts nationwide in areas such as organic farming, tomato breeding, and soil health.

The TOMI project involves partners from multiple institutions, including Oregon State University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By pooling expertise from across the country, the project can account for regional variations in tomato farming.

The first two phases of TOMI focused on improving soil health, developing biocontrol practices, and working closely with farmers to breed disease-resistant tomato varieties.

A key part of TOMI’s success has been its participatory plant breeding approach, which involves farmers in the process of selecting tomato varieties that suit their local conditions.

The latest phase of TOMI will emphasize creating digital tools, using artificial intelligence to help farmers make better decisions based on weather and disease conditions. The team is also exploring how beneficial microbial populations can help protect tomatoes from pathogens.

As TOMI enters its next phase, the project will focus on outreach, working to connect more farmers and stakeholders through seminars, publications, and participatory research, ensuring the data benefits a broader audience.

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