Nutrien & The College of Agricultural Sciences
A Partnership 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 dynamic, highly skilled agricultural workforce and boosting Nutrien’s ability to deliver industry-leading products.
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 140 outstanding students studying Soil and Crop Sciences, Horticulture or Agricultural Biology with $5,000 each toward their educational expenses.
This year, 19 students were awarded the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Scholarship.
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, 82 students have completed undergraduate research fellowships.
Examples of recent undergraduate research experiences:
- Advancing nitrogen recommendations for cereal crops by incorporating soil health indicators.
- Using IoT soil moisture sensing to optimize greenhouse irrigation practices.
- Deepening understanding of carbon and nitrogen cycling in soils.
- Examining how biological diversity influences soil organic matter in integrated crop-livestock systems.
- Enhancing plant productivity by understanding adaptation to multiple environmental stressors.
High School Summer Institute
Creating pathways to higher education and ag careers
In 2024, we hosted a seven-day experience for limited-income and first-generation students from five rural and 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, using our collective skills to advance areas of shared strategic priority.
Bill Bauerle
Professor, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Lynne Lewis
Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Nutrien Faculty Scholars Award
Faculty excelling in teaching, research and engagement, while significantly impacting their field.
2026
- Bill Bauerle, HLA
- Lynne Lewis, DARE
2025
- Tony Koski, HLA
- Stephen Koontz, DARE
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
2024 Nutrien Planting Seeds Challenge Grants Fund Four Projects
Four College of Agricultural Sciences research projects have been awarded Planting Seeds Challenge Grants in support of innovative research aimed at addressing key agricultural challenges. The projects, funded through the college’s strategic partnership with Nutrien, are advancing research in shared priority areas, including regenerative agricultural systems, climate resiliency, human wellness, and food system innovation.
Bjorn Willige, Soil & Crop Sciences
Identifying plant genes for climate resilience, supporting an NSF CAREER grant, and mentoring an underserved undergraduate in lab research.
Micky Eubanks, Agricultural Biology
Studying hybridization of major crop pests to improve insecticide resistance management after a 2023 outbreak in Western Colorado.
Paul Ode & Enakshi Ghosh, Agricultural Biology & Soil & Crop Sciences
Exploring plant chemistry’s role in pest control to refine integrated pest management and support an NSF proposal.
Megan Machmuller, Soil & Crop Sciences
Advancing regenerative agriculture through IN-RICHES, with IRISS-led workshops aiding future NSF proposals and collaboration.
A New Home for Agriculture
The Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building – Colorado State University’s home for state-of-the-art research, learning, innovation and collaboration – opened to the public in May 2022. Named in honor of Nutrien’s impactful support for the College of Agricultural Sciences, the facility is a place to convene, discover, learn and work together to solve the most critical challenges of our time. Since opening its doors, the building has hosted classes, research, meetings and events for the agricultural community at CSU, across Colorado, and beyond.
Nutrien Ag Day BBQ
Food, fellowship, and football
Ag Day is a delicious tradition that honors CSU’s Aggie roots and the state’s rich agricultural history, while supporting student scholarships and the future of the agriculture industry. Ag Day has been celebrated at CSU since 1980, bringing together growers, producers and partners to celebrate agriculture and athletics. With more than 4,000 people in attendance, Nutrien Scholarship recipients and leadership are featured prominently.