Plant Science and Technology

fabric in a yellow dye bath

Jan. 31, 2025

CAFNR plant scientist’s curiosity sparks global collaboration for sustainable fashion

Jaime Barros-Rios joins forces with marine biologist, fashion innovator to develop plant-based textile dyes, aiming to improve sustainability, working conditions worldwide.

Dec. 6, 2024

Plant Science and Technology professor named American Society of Agronomy 2024 Fellow

Fellow is the highest recognition bestowed by the American Society of Agronomy.
A man with dark hair, brown eyes, and black-rimmed glasses in a black t-shirt with a Mizzou athletic tiger emblem on it stands in front of a public art sculpture in the bond Life Sciences building. He is smiling and leaning on a railing

Dec. 6, 2024

Plant Science and Technology faculty member receives International Engagement Award -Outstanding Faculty Contribution

David Mendoza-Cozatl, associate professor in the MU Division of Plant Science and Technology, was named recipient of a 2024 MU International Engagement Award by MU International Programs.
Jafar Tanin stands with arms outstretched in front of a field planted with wheat.

Dec. 2, 2024

MU scholar breathes new life into wheat breeding program

With wheat planting on the rise, visiting scholar Jafar Tanin is revitalizing Mizzou’s wheat breeding efforts for Missouri growers.

Dec. 2, 2024

Dalton Ludwick
David (Dave) Kang smiling.

Dec. 2, 2024

David (Dave) Kang

The Kang Laboratory has a broad interest in the mechanisms that underlie animal-microbiome interactions, with a primary goal of applying this knowledge to control insect pests. We employ a suite of molecular, genetic, ecological, and computational approaches to study how microbes influence the performance of the insect host. Further, we are interested in how the environment interacts with insect genomes to influence their physiological processes and phenotypes. This thinking extends to consideration of how the host serves as an environment for associated microbes. We explore how complex microbial communities and insect hosts influence each other, what factors mediate these…
A student looks at a wine glass.

Nov. 20, 2024

Cheers to learning

In Katherine Hagely’s Grapes and Wines of the World class, students explore agriculture, history, geography and culture through rosé-colored glasses.
Column Award recipients

Nov. 12, 2024

Celebrating our distinguished alumni: CAFNR Column Awards 2024

From left to right: David Larsen, Jonathan Dyer, Blake Hurst, Joel Spencer and Julian Lenis. Not pictured: Kendra Kattelmann. The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources honored six recipients with the 2024 CAFNR Column Award for Distinguished Alumni. This is the only award specifically for alumni presented by the college – the highest honor bestowed by the College in celebration of outstanding alumni. The awardee class includes one graduate from each of CAFNR’s six divisions, reflecting the six historic columns at the University of Missouri. View the event photo album. School of Natural ResourcesDavid LarsenB.S. Forestry ’78, M.S.
Rasel Parvej

Nov. 5, 2024

Muhammad Rasel Parvej

Rasel Parvej is the Director of the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory and the Soil Health Assessment Center (SHAC), as well as an Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Soil Testing and Interpretation within the Division of Plant Science and Technology and the School of Natural Resources. He has been serving as an Associate Editor for both the Soil Science Society of America Journal and Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management since 2020. Parvej is also a certified crop advisor and has been elected vice-chair of the National Research Support Project (NRSP-11) at NIMSS in 2024.
Collage of portraits of Van Doren and Barros Rios

Oct. 23, 2024

Plant Science and Technology and Biochemistry researchers harness DOE technology to further biofuels, basic science

Researchers at the University of Missouri have been studying plants to help farmers improve food production since the inception of the university itself, but as plants become pathways to filling other public needs — like biofuels — it opens doors to researchers who want to gain more insight into the ways that plants operate.