Texas A&M Trio Leads New Frontier In Horticultural Science

By Adam Russell

At a time when agriculture must feed more people with fewer resources, a trio of scientists are transforming the future of horticulture.

New researchers Ahmed Darwish, Ph.D.; Lorenzo Rossi, Ph.D.; and Andrej Svyantek, Ph.D., in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Horticultural Sciences are reimagining how plants are studied, bred and grown.

Together, they represent a new generation of research that looks beyond yield – focusing on crop resilience, resource and environmental stewardship, and added human health benefits from the food we grow.

“Yield potential will always be a part of the equation in our efforts to produce improved horticultural crops,” Amit Dhingra, Ph.D., head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences said. “But the new frontier also ensures our horticultural crops are resilient against stresses like pests, disease and drought; more efficiently use inputs like water and nutrients; and are beneficial to human wellness.”