Welcome to Food for Thought
Here’s a roundup of 10 of the latest top stories from the College of Agricultural Sciences.
In this issue you’ll learn more about CSU faculty’s longstanding history of success, how students continue to take CSU to new heights, and the different concerns affecting CSU staff.
Professors at CSU are worried about grocery prices
Tariffs will directly increase grocery store prices for foods not grown in the U.S. or unavailable year-round. Among them is coffee – “for many foods or beverages, when the price of an item goes up, we can often find a suitable, less expensive substitute. Not so with coffee — and that makes a rise in cost difficult, especially for people whose food budget is already stretched thin,” says Dawn Thilmany, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Read More Here
Scientists at CSU look to the future of regenerative resources
Dr. Gene Kelly, professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, highlighted how circular economy principles align with regenerative agriculture during an April 3 talk, using his company Solum’s plant-based shoe soles as an example of turning waste into an environmental benefit. The circular economic model is gaining traction as researchers look for economic approaches that balance sustainability with profitability. Read More Here
CSU students win NSF grants
Emma Castiblanco, a master’s student in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, is one of three CSU students who received graduate research fellowships from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The program recognizes and supports high-performing students by providing three years of financial support. Congrats, Emma! Read More Here
Professors at CSU continue to get recognized
Colorado State University Soil and Crop Sciences professor Dr. Francesca Cotrufo has been named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, a prestigious honor that recognizes her pioneering research on soil organic matter formation and the microbial efficiency matrix stabilization (MEMS) framework. Read More Here
104 years old and still a CSU Ram
At 104, Dr. John Matsushima, CSU alum and Professor Emeritus of Animal Sciences, is visiting Colorado schools alongside author Rachel Gabel to share his remarkable life and legacy in agriculture, featured in the book Cattle, Corn, and Courage. A trailblazer in cattle feeding and the development of steam-flaked corn, Matsushima captivates students with his insight, humility, and lasting impact on the industry. Read More Here
CSU’s ag workforce training program gets a boost
Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences Upskilling program has received $750,000 from the USDA and additional funding from SARE, Ardent Mills, and the CHS Foundation to expand agricultural workforce training through 2027. Read More Here
It’s never to early for Colorado students to get involved
The Colorado GROW Youth Institute brought high school students from across the state to CSU Spur, where they presented solutions to global hunger and engaged with scientists through hands-on activities. Now in its second year, the event offers scholarships and a chance to represent Colorado at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute. Read More Here
Programs at CSU loose funding under new administration
The USDA has cut a major climate-smart agriculture grant program, Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, citing inefficiency and bureaucracy, raising concerns among Colorado officials and producers about the future of sustainable farming efforts. Dawn Thilmany, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, noted the program’s unique collaborative model. Still, she said the new administration likely saw it as administratively burdensome and not getting enough funds to producers. Read More Here
CSU’s holds strong in the Landscape Design Competition
Colorado State University hosted the 49th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Design Competition, welcoming over 700 students from 54 institutions for a week of hands-on challenges and networking. CSU earned third place for the second year in a row, showcasing the strength and dedication of the university’s Landscape Design and Contracting program. Read More Here
Making shade for the future
On May 20, the 2025 Trees in the West event at CSU Spur will bring together experts and community members to address how urban forestry can help Western communities adapt to climate change. Hosted by CSU’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, the event emphasizes resilience strategies for urban forests amid rising environmental pressures. Read More Here