Research Leader Cultivates Global Impact Through Forage Legume Innovation

By Crystal Carter 

From the pastures of East Texas to farming communities across the globe, the scientific work of Gerald Smith, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant breeder, Regents Fellow and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, continues to feed the world.

As leader of the Forage Legume Research Program at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, Smith has built a distinguished career developing improved varieties of forage legumes and grasses.

His research not only advances plant breeding science, but also supports sustainable livestock systems, conserves natural resources and reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers. The real-world impact is measurable and significant.

Why he does it: From small farms to global fields

“My research program goal is to apply scientific principles to the improvement of forage, pasture and livestock production systems to ensure the supply of healthy, safe and sustainable food for Texans and the world,” Smith said.

That purpose is rooted in his own life experience. Raised on a small farm and trained in the land-grant university system, Smith attributes his professional direction to the mentorship of agricultural visionaries Ron Haaland, Ph.D., Bill Knight, Ph.D., and Ethan Holt, Ph.D. Their influence helped shape the values that now guide his mission: to ensure that forage and pasture systems are more productive, more resilient and better for the planet.