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Nutrien & The College of Agricultural Sciences

A Paternship of Impact

Revolutionizing the Way We Nurture People and the Planet, Together

With Nutrien’s generous support and intellectual partnership, the College of Agricultural Sciences continues to mobilize around and invest in eight strategic focus areas of leadership and impact – regionally, nationally and globally – elevating CSU
as a leader in developing a diverse, highly skilled agricultural workforce and boosting Nutrien’s ability to deliver industry-leading products.
A peach grows on a tree branch

Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders

The College of Agricultural Sciences is committed to preparing successful leaders, innovators, and global citizens by developing the professional skills, technical expertise and cultural competencies needed to advance the college, workforce, and agricultural communities in Colorado and beyond.

 

Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Scholarship

Since 2019, the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Scholarship has supported 100 outstanding students studying Soil and Crop Sciences or Horticulture with $5,000 each toward their educational expenses.

2023-2024 Scholar Profile

%

Female

%

Racially Minoritized

%

Have Exceptional Financial Need

%

First-Generation Students

Hands-on experience and self-discovery

Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Undergraduate Research Fellowships, offered each spring semester, provide students with an opportunity to find purpose, mentorship, and community within their academic discipline or agricultural interest. Research suggests that undergraduate research participation advances academic achievement, professional self-efficacy, and student retention and graduation rates.

Since 2019, 32 students have completed undergraduate research fellowships, and 16 will participate in Spring 2024.

Examples of recent undergraduate research experiences:

  • Estimating impacts of California overtime laws for agricultural workers
  • Home Wheat Home: How do viruses cause disease in wheat?
  • Secrets of Wetland Soils: Investigating microbial methane production within wetland carbon sinks to better understand how wetland soils can contribute to climate change
  • Exploiting conserved gene regulation mechanisms for genome-wide breeding for heat and broad- spectrum disease tolerance in rice
  • Identifying site of host-aphid resistance in sorghum

High School Summer Institute

Creating pathways to higher education and ag careers

In 2023, we hosted a seven-day experience for diverse, limited-income and first-generation students from five ruraland urban Colorado Alliance high schools. Hands-on activities and research experiences centered around food security, sustainable agriculture and community wellbeing, including:

  • Engaging with CSU scientists and students
  • Expert advice on applying to college, including admission requirements, financial aid, housing, and careers
  • Exposure to STEM concepts through hands-on learning
  • Developing teamwork and leadership skills
  • Encouragement to pursue higher education and ag careers

Seeding Success

By investing in attracting, supporting and nurturing world-class talent, we are cultivating a culture of  excellence and inclusivity, using our collective skills to advance areas of shared strategic priority

Nutrien Faculty Scholars Award

Faculty excelling in teaching, research and engagement, while significantly impacting their field.

2024

  • Jessica Prenni, HLA
  • Dana Hoag, DARE

2023

  • Andy Seidl, DARE

2022

  • Franck Dayan, AgBio and Terry Engle, AnSci

2021

  • Dawn Thilmany, DARE and Thomas Borch, HLA

2020

  • Francesca Cotrufo, SOCR and Henry Thompson, HLA

Solutions to Colorado Commodity Challenges

 

Accelerating Agriculture’s Climate Resiliency

Since 2019, more than $400,000 in grants have been awarded to fund creative and innovative projects that bring producers, growers and other stakeholders together to advance research topics that address the needs of Colorado agriculture.

Agrivoltaics Innovation

Enhancing water and nitrogen acquisition in semi-arid environments

Economic analysis of carbon sequestration potential of novel cover crops

Advancing regenerative livestock grazing systems

Disruption of potato virus Y transmission

Limited-irrigation management practices

Welcome Home

Agriculture Lives Here

After nearly three years of construction, our new home for state-of-the-art research, learning, innovation and collaboration — the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building — is open to students, faculty and members of Colorado’s agricultural community.

Read the SOURCE story about the grand opening.