Texas A&M AgriLife Research quarterly agency update • March 2023 |
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Howdy,
On the heels of a highly successful 2022, this year is off to a strong start for Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
January saw a record number of submissions and a record requested dollar amount for external grants and contracts. If this trend continues, we can exceed our 2022 benchmarks. This success is a direct result of the outstanding work of faculty and staff across the AgriLife Research enterprise.
As you will read below, our proposal to establish the Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry was approved by the Texas A&M Board of Regents at the February meeting. We have initiated an internal search for the director of the center, who we anticipate will be a major influence on its foundational initiatives.
Coupled with the Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry is our establishment of a "Farm of the Future" for livestock and crops. A task force has been charged with developing an aspirational, motivated and adaptive farm. The farm will include mechanisms to learn, adapt and evaluate outcomes and nimbly respond to scenarios or driving forces such as changing climates, pandemics, catastrophic weather events and supply chain disruptions, among other challenges.
The Farm of the Future would make use of advanced technologies in information, communication, computer science and big data. The Texas A&M University System has generously invested $5 million to establish the infrastructure needed for the Farm of the Future. The task force will provide a concept document by May 31, and additional updates will be forthcoming.
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Agency notes
- I am pleased to share that Dr. Dirk Hays has accepted the position as Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, effective May 1. Read more below about his role and the center’s mission to solve agriculture, life science and natural resource challenges facing farmers, ranchers and residents of the Rio Grande Valley.
- National and international searches are ongoing for the Associate Director and Chief Scientific Officer of AgriLife Research as well as the Director of the Institute for Equine Sciences. We hope to complete the searches before Aug. 31. Please plan to participate in the interview process for both positions.
- Many of you will have seen that AgriLife Research has inked a number of international collaborations over the past three months. An MOU with the Republic of Botswana codifies a relationship to conduct research on agriculture and natural resources, plus provide support in terms of capacity building. A contingent of AgriLife Research faculty will be visiting Botswana to determine where we should focus our efforts. We have also re-established an MOU with IPB University in Indonesia. Our hope is to further engage in joint research opportunities and establish study-abroad opportunities.
- On March 1 in Washington, AgriLife Research recognized Melkamu Bezabih Derseh, Ph.D., as the recipient of the inaugural Neville Clarke Award for International Research. Read more below about Dr. Clarke’s legacy and Dr. Derseh’s work with the International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, and the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation, ILSSI, which is administrated by the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture.
I hope your 2023 is off to a great start, and I know that AgriLife Research is well-positioned to exceed our 2022 outputs.
Gig 'em!
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G. Cliff Lamb
Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
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AgriLife Research leadership continues to engage in the legislative process. The agency is making two priority requests during the current legislative session:
- $15 million over the next biennium to support the modernization of our aging research laboratories across the state. This request for modern lab and field equipment aims to meet the growing demands of our food and fiber systems. Support for this item would also expand research and training opportunities for graduate students at our centers around the state.
- A one-time request of $15 million, following a tornado in May of 2022, to rebuild the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon, as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed – a critically important organization that guarantees the highest quality seed for our crop producers in Texas.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Research bestows inaugural Neville Clarke Award for International Agriculture
Award recognizes international impact, scientific rigor
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Melkamu Bezabih Derseh, Ph.D., has been named recipient of the inaugural Neville Clarke Award for International Research, awarded in Washington by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. |
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Texas A&M AgriLife Research recognizes impact with director’s awards
Nine faculty, staff members receive awards
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Texas A&M AgriLife Research on Jan. 10, during a ceremony dinner at The George Hotel, recognized nine faculty and staff recipients of the 2022 Texas A&M AgriLife Research Director’s Awards. |
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Texas A&M Board of Regents approves Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry
Center to focus scientific expertise on carbon capture net-zero goal
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The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved the establishment of the Texas A&M Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry – a joint organization of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University. |
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Dirk Hays named director of Texas A&M AgriLife center at Weslaco
Hays’ leadership experience to benefit South Texas agriculture, life sciences, natural resources
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Dirk Hays, Ph.D., professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, has been named director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, effective May 1. |
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Texas A&M researchers to further develop unique cancer drug with $2.3 million grant
Unique compounds kill tumors and rejuvenate immune systems exhausted in response to cancer
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A team of Texas A&M University researchers has received a $2.3-millon grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore further a unique immunotherapy that could be the first of its kind to treat colon cancer and could hold the key to treating other forms of cancer. |
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Texas A&M AgriLife exhibits production strengths at Wheat 101
National Association of Wheat Growers touts sector value to economy, food supplies
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Texas A&M AgriLife represented higher education institutions at Wheat 101, an event that brings together members of Congress, their staffs and the wheat industry value chain. |
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Are your research results ready for commercialization?
The Intellectual Property and Commercialization, IPaC, office is the technology transfer office for Texas A&M AgriLife. Our office helps secure the value of the intellectual property created by Texas A&M AgriLife researchers. We help researchers and The Texas A&M University System connect intellectual property to companies via licensing agreements — bringing Texas A&M AgriLife’s research results to the benefit of the public.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Environmental Health and Safety inspection team recognizes research and extension centers
EHS team names center of the year, safety officer of the year, most improved center
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In recognition of the efforts required to maintain facilities, the Texas A&M AgriLife Environmental Health and Safety inspection team has created three annual awards to recognize Texas A&M AgriLife centers and safety officers for their achievements in safety. The three categories for 2022 are Center of the Year, Safety Officer of the Year and Most Improved Center.
Each center has at least one person who is a designated safety officer and is the liaison between the inspection team and the facilities at that center. The safety officer is often a professor or staff member for the center who typically accompanies the EHS team during inspections. The safety officer also is responsible for ensuring that any identified deficiencies are corrected in a timely manner.
2022 Winners
Center of the Year - Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas - Operations Manager Steve Ward
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas was recognized with the 2022 award due to the hard work and dedication of Steve Ward, the center’s operations manager and safety officer. The center at Dallas has a new three-story headquarters in the Urban Agriculture Building with state-of-the-art laboratories and greenhouses that focus on a variety of different fields of research. Additionally, the center is restoring one of its older buildings and has several other structures on-site that support research, education and conference activities. Mr. Ward committed himself to the large undertaking of ensuring that the different laboratories and persons responsible for various buildings and spaces worked together to foster a safe working environment.
Safety Officer of the Year - June Wolfe III, Ph.D. - Associate Research Scientist, Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center at Temple
June Wolfe, Ph.D., is the center’s safety officer and an associate research scientist investigating erosion and sedimentation caused by land disturbance. Dr. Wolfe has consistently corrected deficiencies in a timely manner, overseen several safety programs at his center, clearly communicated with EHS, and held himself and the Texas A&M AgriLife center to the high standard expected by EHS. The inspection team was unable to find a single deficiency during the 2022 inspection at the center’s headquarters, which is a significant achievement and testament to Dr. Wolfe’s hard work.
Most Improved Center - Stiles Farm Foundation - Farm Manager and Extension Specialist Ryan Collett
The Stiles Farm Foundation, which is managed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, was recognized as most improved in 2022 as an acknowledgment of Ryan Collett’s efforts to enhance health and safety at the center. The Stiles Farm Foundation is a 2,716-acre property located in Thrall (Williamson County) that operates as a living demonstration of research-based, profitable and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices for the Texas blackland prairie. The EHS inspection team found that Collett and Stiles Farm Foundation staff carefully considered the 2021 inspection reports and took prompt and meaningful actions to correct identified issues, greatly reducing 2022 deficiencies.
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Research funding opportunities and project support
The Texas A&M AgriLife Office of Corporate Engagement and Research Support, CERS, assists research faculty in obtaining federal and private funding for comprehensive multidisciplinary research projects. CERS aims to alleviate administrative burdens associated with larger projects, allowing faculty more focus on research activities. Read more about CERS and sign up for the office’s Weekly Funding Opportunity Newsletter online.
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Follow Texas A&M AgriLife Research on social media | @txresearch |
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