Agroforestry

Chung-Ho Lin leads the bioremediation and natural products research programs at the Center for Agroforestry. His work explores the utilization of plants, bacteria and engineered enzymes for environmental remediation and development of bioeconomy. Dr. Lin’s primary research focus includes the development of conservation and bioremediation strategies for the remediation of organic pollutants, the development of novel molecular, analytical and metabolomic techniques to characterize the fate and transport of human pathogens (e.g., SARS-COV2) and organic pollutants, identification of health-promoting and high-value natural products isolated from specialty crops and waste materials and their novel applications, and development of novel biocatalyst systems for environmental remediation and other industrial applications. The spin-offs from his translational research include Elemental Enzymes and Tiger Enzyme Solutions.

At the University of Missouri (Mizzou) Center for Agroforestry, Ranjith Udawatta’s main research focus is to quantify the environmental and production benefits of agroforestry practices on crop and grazing watersheds. Dr. Udawatta evaluates the effects of conservation practices including cover crops, crop rotation, nutrient management and buffers on water quality and soil health parameters. His research is being conducted at Mizzou Research Centers, private landowner farms and Natural Resources Conservation Service locations.

Ron Revord’s primary research advances applied breeding programs for black walnut, Chinese chestnut and northern origin pecan within the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. Dr. Revord also collaborates with the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium on their mission to broaden the cultivated range of hazelnut, using interspecific hybrids of Corylus americana and C. avellana. In partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Revord’s lab collaborates on efforts to collect and conserve Ozark chinquapin, with the near-term goal of characterizing and preserving the genetics of remnant plants. He teaches Topics in Natural Resources: Clonal Horticultural Crop Breeding in the fall semesters.

Ashley Conway leads a lab investigating intensive integrated tree-forage-livestock systems (silvopasture) to raise livestock sustainably. Dr. Conway's projects are focused on understanding livestock interactions with forage, crops and trees to better understand the logistical, economic, environmental and social dynamics of silvopasture systems in Missouri and the Midwest. She seeks to better understand how to optimize animal performance and nutrition using silvopastoral production practices while maintaining or enhancing ecosystem services and tree performance. A systems-level approach is used to measure animal performance, health and welfare, environmental impact and social factors associated with plantation silvopasture, managed woodland silvopasture and other types of integrated livestock systems. Additional work in forage quality, browse nutrient composition and alternative fodder species are also part of her work. Her goal is to develop scientifically-supported recommendations to producers to support silvopasture adoption.

Ben Knapp has been a faculty member at the School of Natural Resources since 2012. Dr. Knapp's research focuses on developing silvicultural practices to address contemporary forest management issues, spanning topics that include the use of prescribed fire for woodland restoration, tree regeneration challenges in a variety of habitats and the effects of forest management on carbon dynamics. He has served as the superintendent of the University of Missouri’s Baskett Forest, where he developed various programs focused on student success, including opportunities for professional wildland fire training certification and a maple syrup production program.

At the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Michael Gold’s primary focus is directed toward the 100% online, agroforestry master's and graduate certificate programs. Dr. Gold teaches an agroforestry overview core course in these programs, serves as program coordinator and co-advises online students. He was the lead principal investigator in establishing the Center for Agroforestry’s annual Agroforestry Academy since it began in 2013. His research has been focused on the selection and improvement of Chinese chestnut trees and the development of market and consumer knowledge for multiple specialty crops (e.g., chestnut, elderberry, pawpaw).