IPREFER was a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Project (NIFA-AFRI-CAP), a Coordinated Agricultural Project focused on optimizing off-season pennycress production and overcoming supply chain bottlenecks (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2019-69012-29851)

IPREFER was active from August 2019 to July 2025. Although the project has ended, this website, although it is not being updated, exists to share our team’s work with all who are interested in further developing pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) as a winter cash cover crop that can be grown throughout the U.S. Corn Belt.

Our team believes that adopting pennycress as a cash cover crop can positively impact the profitability of production agriculture. This is because pennycress is unique among cover crops in that it can generate income, which can incentivize farmer adoption.

Additionally, pennycress production has the potential to decrease soil erosion and nutrient runoff, protect water systems, support pollinator health and biodiversity, suppress spring weeds, and boost energy security by diversifying the nation’s energy portfolio through the production of up to 2 billion gallons of oil annually.

Specifically, the IPREFER project focused on improving pennycress germplasm and agronomic management, as well as ecosystem services, and establishing a supply chain with an emphasis on post-harvest seed management. We also developed education and extension networks to promote pennycress adoption and profitability by providing science-based guidance to train farmers, workers, and scientists.

While the IPREFER project was funded by USDA-NIFA, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website and all materials cited in it are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.