Research
May 13, 2024
FAPRI looks back on 40 years
Abner Womack speaks during the the 10th Annual Abner Womack Missouri Agriculture Outlook Conference in Columbia, Mo. In the early 1980s, a small group of mathematicians and agricultural economists saw a need that few others acknowledged — objective analysis of agricultural markets and policies. With perseverance to find funding and an academic home — both of which were challenging — that small group of people brought the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri to life in 1984. Today, FAPRI is a valuable resource for a wide range of stakeholders including the U.S. Congress, USDA,…
May 1, 2024
MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group to host 40th annual symposium: ’Plant Hormones at the Intersection of Stress and Development’
The Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) at the University of Missouri will host its 40th annual symposium on the topic of “Plant Hormones at the Intersection of Stress and Development” May 21-24. “Hosting 40 annual symposia is a major achievement for the IPG, and we will celebrate and mark the significance,” said David Braun, professor of Plant Science and Technology, Biological Sciences, and Director of the IPG. “In addition to organizing another fantastic scientific meeting with outstanding local, national and international plant biologists, we will reflect on some of the history and milestones of the IPG over the years. “This year…
April 30, 2024
Five CAFNR programs receive Program of Distinction designation
Five research programs are joining the ranks of MU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Programs of Distinction, a designation that points to programs that help define CAFNR’s impact on Missouri’s agricultural and natural resources economies and provide understanding for how CAFNR is addressing the challenges presented in our state. These five programs have met a rigorous set of criteria to join the ranks of the existing seven Programs of Distinction. These are research, teaching and extension programs that stand out among the many nationally and internationally recognized programs within CAFNR and align with the…
April 30, 2024
A bountiful harvest: Agrivoltaics blends solar energy with agriculture in innovative research project at University of Missouri
As solar-generated electricity is increasing, some landowners are pondering converting land used to produce food to land used to produce energy, but what if they could do both? What if they didn’t have to choose? Agrivoltaics is a new concept that blends solar energy production with agricultural uses like row crops or pastureland, and researchers at the University of Missouri’s Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (CM-REEC) are looking to answer many questions about the new practice with its new demonstration site. A herd of sheep grazes among solar panels at a farm practicing agrivoltaics. “As a research institution,…
April 29, 2024
CAFNR students and mentors earn Show Me Research Week awards
Over 500 MU students and postdoctoral fellows presented their research and creative activity during Show Me Research Week, April 8-12. The week celebrates Mizzou students as creators, innovators, problem solvers and thinkers.
April 29, 2024
Collaborative CAFNR research paper published in American Journal of Botany
“Halophytes and heavy metals: A multi-omics approach to understand the role of gene and genome duplication in the abiotic stress tolerance of Cakile maritima” was published in the American Journal of Botany, a combined effort between CAFNR students and computer sciences students.
April 17, 2024
Jay Thelen honored with 2024 Distinguished Research Award
Jay Thelen, professor, Biochemistry, has received the 2024 Distinguished Research Award. Thelen’s career highlights include establishing a successful research program focusing on understanding the regulation of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants and algae. His research program excels in grantsmanship, scholarly activity and entrepreneurship, with notable achievements including over $18 million in extramural grants, 150 research publications and four licensed patents. Jay Thelen Thelen’s pioneering work in phosphoproteomics, particularly the development of the Kinase Client assay, has garnered international attention and significantly advanced understanding of plant signal transduction. Additionally, his research on fatty acid biosynthesis has practical implications for…
April 17, 2024
Harpreet Kaur recieves Distinguished Dissertation Award at Celebration of Excellence
Harpreet Kaur has received the William R. Lamberson Distinguished Dissertation award. She completed her Ph.D. in Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences in 2023. Harpreet Kaur Portions of Kaur’s dissertation, “Drainage Water Management Practices Affect Water Quality, Soil Properties, and Crop Production,” have been submitted to 11 journal publications, and five of those have been published in reputable journals. Additionally, Kaur has presented her research to national and international groups. In addition to her Ph.D., Kaur completed an M.S. in statistics simultaneously, giving her a deeper understanding of statistical analysis of her findings. “I have been impressed by her academic achievements…
April 12, 2024
2024 Roger L. Mitchell Fellow Award to Jaume Padilla
Jaume Padilla, associate professor, nutrition and exercise physiology, has received CAFNR’s 2024 Roger L. Mitchell Fellow Award as part of the College’s annual Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony. Jaume Padilla The research of Padilla, who is also an investigator in NextGen Precision Health, focuses on the nexus of cardiovascular disease, physical inactivity, obesity and type 2 diabetes, incorporating diverse methodologies from in vitro tissue culture to clinical studies. His achievements include more than 175 peer-reviewed publications, more than $11 million in external funding, invited talks both nationally and internationally, and prestigious awards such as the 2023 Impact Award from the…
April 12, 2024
2024 Outstanding Mid-Career Research Award: Jaume Padilla
Jaume Padilla, associate professor, nutrition and exercise physiology, has received CAFNR’s 2024 Outstanding Mid-Career Research Award as part of the College’s annual Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony. Jaume Padilla Joining the University of Missouri in 2009 as a postdoctoral fellow, he become an associate professor with tenure in 2019. His research is having a major impact on the field of cardiovascular research. “His focus is on the connections between cardiovascular disease, physical inactivity, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, and addresses some of the greatest challenges facing society,” said nominator Dojin Ryu, director of the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise…