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Putting the AI in AI

Animal Sciences research team awarded $1 million NIFA grant to improve artificial insemination with artificial intelligence

Peter Sutovsky, professor of animal sciences, and one of his postdoctoral researchers, Lauren Hamilton, were recently awarded a $1.3 million grant by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support their work in creating artificial intelligence they hope will not only help farmers and the agriculture industry, but couples battling infertility, too. “We want to translate this into any…

Blooms Like it Hot. But, Also, Cold?

CAFNR researcher works with international team to discover prevalence of cold-water algae blooms

Rebecca North, assistant professor of water quality in CAFNR’s School of Natural Resources, learned and lived by a paradigm commonly accepted among limnologists around the world — “blooms like it hot” – meaning that water temperatures must be warm for algae blooms to develop. But, a recently published study co-authored by North could dismantle this long-held belief. “You only take…

MU Announces New Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems

Institute made possible through a partnership between public-private entities including MU’s CAFNR, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation

Through a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF), the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources made a joint announcement featuring the launch of its new Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems today. “Clean water and healthy aquatic systems are vital for our global future,” said Mun…

An End in Sight

Climate expert predicts an end to catastrophic drought, increased risk of severe weather this spring

The Spring Equinox will usher in the season of blooms and rebirth in just a couple of weeks, and according to one expert, this year it will bring some much-needed relief to farmers after devastating drought last year. It may, however, also bring with it a dark side — an increased likelihood of severe weather. Tony Lupo, University of Missouri…

George Washington Carver Fellows Announced

This academic year, CAFNR welcomed three new George Washington Carver fellows — Melissa Jones, Gabrielle Brewer and Hannah-Rose Foote — to campus

The George Washington Carver Matching Assistantship for Graduate Studies seeks to attract and support under-represented scholars into MS and PhD degree programs in CAFNR and honors George Washington Carver, a native Missourian who gained international recognition in the early 20th century for his teaching and research in agriculture. Carver was born in Diamond, Mo., in 1864. He researched crops such…

A Global Journey

Mizzou’s PFFFD program helped attract new Plant Sciences faculty with global experience

Jaime Barros’s academic career has been an adventure beginning in his home country in Spain and spanning three continents, but he says landing at Mizzou for a faculty appointment in plant sciences is exactly where he wants to be. “The faculty, facilities and resources available here at Mizzou are top-notch, particularly for Plant Science.” Barros said, noting that the people…

The Joy of Collaboration

Interdisciplinary team uses Joy of Discovery seed grant to launch NSF project

One year ago, a team of plant scientists and biochemists from Mizzou was among faculty awarded the first-ever CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant funding. Today, that team has parlayed that funding into a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant that could lead to a deeper understanding of how plant immunity impacts the plant nutrient systems than ever before. The…

CAFNR Plant Scientist Named AAAS Fellow

Bing Yang recognized for contributions in plant genomics 

In recognition of nearly two decades of work creating rice varieties resistant to certain types of bacteria, Bing Yang, professor of plant sciences, was named as a 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow. “There is so much diversity within the Society, and it is an honor to be among them,” Yang said. “The recognition of my work…

MU’s Center for Agroforestry to Host Virtual Symposium

Theme: “Demystifying Perennial Crop Improvement and Integration”

The University of Missouri’s Center for Agroforestry is hosting its 14th annual symposium virtually to allow for easy participation. The January 18 event will focus on perennial crop improvement and features an impressive slate of researchers and industry leaders in its speaker lineup. “Perennial crop improvement is often misunderstood and underappreciated,” said Hannah Hemmelgarn, assistant program director for the Center…

Making Connections

Exercise and physiology faculty use strong collaboration at MU to learn more about body systems

What do little girls dreaming of being an astronaut and women with sleep apnea have in common? They may both benefit from the research of Jackie Limberg, assistant professor in nutrition and physiology. When Limberg and her team of graduate students were examining the effects of hypoxia — low oxygen — and the body’s response, they found that women and…