Farming meets solar power in new MSU project

November 6, 2025

We’re excited to share that Dr. Anthony Kendall, Assistant Professor in MSU’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is leading a new project exploring how solar energy and agriculture can work together to improve soil health, conserve water, and support biodiversity—all while helping farmers maintain productivity. Supported by a $3.6 million National Science Foundation grant, the project will establish an outdoor research lab to study how solar panels can be integrated into farmland in ways that benefit both farmers and the environment.

The Basso Lab, led by Dr. Bruno Basso, is proud to be part of this interdisciplinary team. Their role focuses on using drones, remote sensing, and crop modeling to identify areas of farmland with low productivity or high input costs that could be repurposed for solar energy without impacting overall yield. By combining solar innovation with data-driven agricultural insights, we aim to help farmers make informed, sustainable decisions that enhance both economic and environmental resilience.