Innovative Thinking ⋅ Page 1

U.S. Farm Report Kicks Off College Roadshow at Mizzou

CAFNR Alum and U.S. Farm Report Host Tyne Morgan chose Mizzou as the first stop this year to set the bar for the 5th year of the College Roadshow tour.

The U.S. Farm Report kicked off their annual College Roadshow at Mizzou on September 6, with a taping of the show featuring CAFNR alum Tyne Morgan. Since 2018, the U.S. Farm Report has taken their show on the road to land-grant universities to talk to their policy experts and tell stories showcasing the agricultural research happening at campuses across the…

Hands-on and Diverse Learning: Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy 2023

Since 2016, the Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy has introduced high school students to diverse college and career opportunities in agriculture

The Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy welcomed 17 high school students to campus from May 31–June 3 to learn more about animal science career opportunities. A partnership between MU Extension, CAFNR and the MU Division of Animal Sciences, the four-day academy allows students to network with industry leaders, provides hands-on lab and farm learning opportunities, and introduces students to MU…

Understanding Consumer Behavior

Michelle Segovia joins CAFNR as a behavioral and experimental economist

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…

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,…