Research Stations - Oxford Tobacco Research Station

Research Programs

Historically, the Oxford Tobacco Research Station has focused primarily on flue-cured tobacco. Today, genetic plant scientists are continuing to use fields that have been inoculated with disease pathogens incluidng Black Shank and Granville Wilt, for disease nurseries. In addition to studies that continue to improve tobacco quality and production efficiency, studies are being done to determine how tobacco can be used as a source for biomass that could be used for pharmaceuticals and other chemical processes. The Oxford Research Station also serves as the site for the production and storage to preserve tobacco germplasm for all of the known lines of tobacco grown in America.

The recent changes in the tobacco industry have resulted in current research becoming more diversified. Farmers are seeking to replace income lost from tobacco production by turning to other specialty crops. To help meet this need the Oxford Research Station has recently planted plots of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries to be used for future research.

Because Oxford is not located in the main production area of other crops grown by farmers in the state, it is an ideal site for researchers to grow transgenic varieties of these crops without fear of cross pollination. Scientists studying transgenic peanuts were the first to take advantage of this opportunity.

The newly established BioFuels Campus is located on the Oxford Tobacco Research Station will provide a central location for the development of biofuels to benefit not only North Carolina, but the nation. The Research Station will provide support to the Biofuels Campus through facilities such as on-site greenhouses and land for growing a variety of crops such as switchgrass, sweet sorghum and canola.