January 21, 2021
by Jere W. Morehead, President
As a land-grant university, UGA is committed to helping Georgia’s farmers and agribusinesses succeed. From sharing best practices through cooperative extension to helping rural communities deal with the impact of COVID-19, the University of Georgia is working hard every day to strengthen our state’s number one industry.
On January 1, we welcomed a new Dean and Director of UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Nick Place. Dean Place brings a wealth of experience in agricultural research, teaching, extension, 4-H, and more that will benefit CAES and communities around our state. He joins a college ranked second in the nation on Niche’s 2021 list of best colleges for agricultural sciences in America. Among the many outstanding students in CAES is Doster Harper, a junior majoring in agriscience and environmental systems, who was named National FFA President for 2020–21.
This fall, world-renowned plant genomics expert Robin Buell will join UGA as a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in crop and soil sciences. Dr. Buell led the first team to sequence the genome of a crop plant (rice), and she continues to conduct groundbreaking genomics research on potatoes and other plants to improve food production. UGA also is a global leader in poultry research, and we are now in the planning and design phase to build a new Poultry Science Complex that will increase our impact on this vital aspect of Georgia agriculture.
From creating more robust crop varieties to expanding agritourism, the University of Georgia is at the forefront of agricultural innovation. With support from state leaders, as well as alumni and friends, UGA will continue to help Georgia’s agriculture industry grow and thrive for generations to come.