Gregory Goins, Ph.D.

New farmers, underserved farmers and those with small-scale acreage need information to develop beneficial farm management practices that provide a reliable family income. However, constantly – evolving technology can make it difficult for growers to keep up with advancements and be effective with new devices. Agricultural technology can be expensive, and so, making new technologies affordable and accessible is important to both our researchers and growers.

In the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, research is focused on showing a clear operational return on investment with new technologies. In this issue, we describe how we are getting to the core knowledge that efficiently reduces, rather than overloads, a grower’s labor. Our researchers are exploring digital precision and monitoring devices that help growers produce the highest quality food, while also protecting the environment. We’re helping to expand the value-added crop and product market with everything from climate-smart sheep and polyphenol-rich chicken eggs.

Gregory Goins, Ph.D., checks on a plasticulture bed at the University Farm.

We’re looking at our stakeholders, too, examining how their lives were affected by COVID and how we can teach the public about the important work we do. As always, our next-gen agriculturalists, our students, offer inspiring and creative fresh takes on our work.

Specialty products demand more technological advancement that can help lower the barriers to market entry for limited-resource farmers. Traditionally, there is a lot of time, labor and cost that goes into the trial of a new product technology. Therefore, our stakeholder communities are involved from the inception of the research rather than towards the end of the innovation and commercialization process.

As with our value-added, specialty products, we’re creating a special new type agriculture, in which science and technology blend with social equity and sustainability. That’s Ag 5.0, and we hope you enjoy reading about our efforts.

Sincerely,

Gregory D. Goins, Ph.D.