A CAFNR plant scientist has discovered a new way of measuring stress in plants, which comes at a time when plants are experiencing multiple stressors from heat, drought and flooding because of extreme weather events. The discovery involves a once maligned collection of molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced by anything that uses oxygen, like animals, people…
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Zinc Key Regulator of Sperm Functions During Capacitation Process
Findings have implications for improving fertility outcomes in animals and humans
Scientists have struggled to fully understand how male sperm cells function and why they sometimes fail to fertilize female eggs, which has implications for both livestock farmers aiming to maximize food production, as well as human couples struggling with infertility. In a new study at the University of Missouri, researchers found that zinc ion plays a crucial regulatory role in the…
Food Pantries Serve Critical Needs for Hungry Missourians
Unprecedented study from MU Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security highlights tough choices made by those who use food pantries and key roles played by hunger relief organizations across Missouri
Missourians using food pantries made difficult trade-offs to feed their families in 2021. A new report from the University of Missouri found that 46% of food pantry clients had to choose between paying for food or utilities last year, while 38% had to decide between paying for food or medicine/medical care and 34% had to choose between purchasing food or…
CAFNR Professor Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Blake Meyers is the 12th MU faculty member to be elected to the prestigious academy
Blake Meyers, a professor of plant science and technology in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Election to membership in the NAS is considered one of the highest honors a U.S. scientist can receive. Meyers was notified of his selection Tuesday, May 3, and is…
FAPRI-MU Updates U.S. Agricultural Market Snapshot
Update reflects impacts to agricultural markets from recent global events
The 2022 FAPRI-MU baseline outlook has been updated to include the large impacts on agricultural markets in the last three months, reflecting higher farm receipts and costs and higher consumer food prices. The initial outlook released in March was based on information available in January 2022. The partial update to the baseline is based on information available in mid-April…
CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Sherry Flint-Garcia
Flint-Garcia is a CAFNR Column award winner and CAFNR alumna
Sherry Flint-Garcia (PhD Genetics Area Program ‘01) is a research geneticist and lead scientist with USDA and adjunct professor of Plant Science and Technology. In her lab, the research focus is on genetic diversity of maize and the impact of artificial selection on protein and amino acid composition of the kernels. She earned her PhD at Mizzou in the interdisciplinary…
CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Charlene Finck
Finck is a CAFNR Column award winner and CAFNR alumna
Charlene Finck is a pioneer in the agricultural journalism sector, with a nearly 40-year career at Farm Journal. She joined the company as assistant editor in 1985 and working her way to division president of producer media before being named to her current position of president in April 2020. One of her most remarkable accomplishments is establishing the Farm Journal…
CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Sheri Smithey
Smithey is a Column Award winner and CAFNR alumna
Sheri Smithey received her B.S. in Biochemistry, an M.S. in Agriculture Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Agriculture Engineering, all from Mizzou. Upon completion of her degrees at Mizzou, Sheri went to work for Nestle Research and Development, and has spent her entire career in various arms of the company, including a two-year assignment in Europe. In 2021, she received the…
CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Sarah Geisert
Geisert is a Column Award winner and CAFNR alumna
Sarah Geisert, BS Food Science ‘81, is a recognized global leader for international food safety. For more than three decades, she was employed at General Mills, rising from research and development as her first position within the company, moving through various marketing and supply chain positions to director, then to senior director, a position she held for 11 years. There, she…
CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Wamwari Waichungo
Wamwari is a Column Award winner and CAFNR alumna
Wamwari Waichungo holds an MSc (1994) and PhD (1996) in Food Science from the University of Missouri. In 2015, she returned to campus as the CAFNR Executive-in-Residence. In 2016, Wamwari delivered the commencement address at the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources’ May convocation. In 2018, she was honored to be in the inaugural class of CAFNR Column Award…