MANHATTAN (KSNT) - K-State is now shutting down federally funded research programs after the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) issued stop-work orders earlier this year. K-State has paused Feed the Future Innovation Labs. The project uses funding to research crop resilience and im prove global food systems. Evacuations ordered in Wabaunsee County due to fire threat The dean of the university's agriculture school says the cost to fund the program is only a fraction of what the program makes in return, making it economically and internationally beneficial. "There's an $8 economic return for every dollar that's expended," Dean of College of Agriculture, Ernie Minton said. "So, it's a great investment for the U.S. going forward." The dean says they will look for alternative opportunities to fund their research and promote food security. Feed the Future Innovation Lab focuses on stored product crops like grains, oilseeds, legumes, root crops and seeds. To read more on the halt orders impacting K-State, click here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. ...read more read less