Basso Brings Digital Agriculture Expertise to $12M Lake Erie Conservation Effort

July 25, 2025

Michigan State University has launched a $12 million, seven-year initiative to improve water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) by promoting performance-based conservation strategies. Funded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the project seeks to reduce harmful algal blooms caused by nutrient runoff, particularly phosphorus.

A central contributor to this initiative is Dr. Bruno Basso, co-director of MSU’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Dr. Basso brings his expertise in digital agriculture and advanced analytics to guide conservation strategies, ensuring that solutions are data-driven and spatially precise. His contributions will help target the most beneficial and cost-effective areas for implementing conservation practices, using tools that integrate high-resolution modeling and field-level data.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy involving MSU’s Institute of Water Research, MSU Extension, and several partner organizations. The project also includes a user-friendly digital platform to help farmers understand the environmental benefits of adopting practices and receive compensation based on predicted phosphorus reductions. Dr. Basso’s work plays a vital role in quantifying and modeling these outcomes to maximize impact.

Read the full article at MSU Extension

Photo Credit: Jake Blucker, Unsplash