During her senior year at the Panamerican School of Agriculture, Zamorano, in Honduras, Michelle Segovia was required to complete a short-term internship. Segovia interned at Texas A&M University, where she completed her undergraduate thesis in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science. Segovia earned her bachelor’s degree in food science and technology, but found a new passion while at Texas…
Innovative Thinking ⋅ Page 1
Feasting on Famine: Fighting ‘Hidden Hunger’ and Food Waste
Kiruba Krishnaswamy focuses on preventing food loss and extracting useful resources from food waste
Like many people, Kiruba Krishnaswamy loves to eat. She even calls herself a foodie, and she loves to explore the cuisines of different cultures. Despite her lifelong love of food, Krishnaswamy, an assistant professor of biological engineering, had never heard of food engineering before she went to college, but she was intrigued by it. One reason for her interest was…
Building a Bridge to Success
MU and Danforth Center collaborative agreement showcases Missouri's plant biology strength
It was four years ago when the University of Missouri and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center entered into a collaborative agreement that would lead to the hiring of four new researchers, each of whom would enhance the plant biology research not only in the state, but also across the globe. Three of those positions are now filled, with the…
Manufacturing Collaboration
Grant to study creating more opportunities for food, beverage and forest product manufacturing in Missouri
The Missouri Agricultural Foundation, in collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri, has received funding from the Missouri Value-Added Grant Program to study the status of food, beverage and forest product manufacturing in the state. The project, called the Show-Me-State Food, Beverage and Forest Product Manufacturing Initiative, has been championed by…
Turning Observations into Research
FFAR grant helps fund pollinator research
In 2015, the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Centers planted 22 acres of monarch habitat across the state. The goal of the plantings was to bring awareness to the monarch butterfly migration, a treacherous trip that can cover up to 3,000 miles. For the past two years, the habitat has continued to grow…
Observational Excellence
CAFNR/Biological Sciences team up for eclipse observations
When the total solar eclipse swept through Missouri in August of last year, the University of Missouri prepared a number of experiments and projects for the extremely rare occurrence. Mid-Missouri was in an ideal location for the eclipse, as the phenomenon traveled right through the Show-Me State. There was complete darkness at 1:12 p.m. in Columbia and it lasted nearly…
A Wide Variety of Research
Jeff Wood's research allows for unique collaborations
Jeff Wood’s background and current research focus allows him to be a part of numerous unique projects. Wood, an assistant research professor in the School of Natural Resources, who joined the University of Missouri in 2016, played a role in two recently published papers – one involving understanding the cycling of nitrogen, the other focusing on better observing photosynthesis. Wood’s…
An Expanding Enterprise
The art of mushroom forest farming
Agroforestry incorporates trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems. The goal is to create environmental, economic and social benefits across the farm. One of those agroforestry practices is mushroom forest farming, where landowners can generate an extra income – or extra food – through growing their own varieties of mushrooms in a forest farming practice. Gregory Ormsby Mori,…
Watching Wildfires
SNR team researching how climate influences wildfire frequency
A team of researchers from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ School of Natural Resources and United States Forest Service are continuing an effort to research how climate influences wildfire frequency. The group, which includes Richard Guyette, Michael Stambaugh, Daniel Dey and Rose-Marie Muzika, developed the Physical Chemical Fire Frequency Model (PC2FM) just a few…
Crafting the Perfect Brew
MU Extension horticulturalists researching hops
Most often used as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, hops have become more popular during the past few years, due in large part to the boom in the craft brewing industry. Hops, which are cone-shaped flowers, aren’t a new crop for Missouri, but it’s been years since hops have been a mainstay in the state. “If you go…