Agricultural Research & Innovation
Responsive Agriculture
IHA Responsive Agriculture research fosters innovation in the agricultural sector and food environment to ensure economic prosperity while providing delicious, abundant, safe and nutritious food. Our work promotes health and well-being through agricultural innovation.
Through the Responsive Agriculture program, IHA drives advancement in human nutrition, environmental sustainability, and economic health across the agricultural value chain.
Integrated agricultural innovation
Responsive Agriculture programs focus on three key areas: human nutrition and public health, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity. Our research leverages cutting-edge technologies and systems approaches to transform agricultural practices.
IHA scientists develop new technologies, methods, and applications that translate into commercial products responsive to societal needs, consumer demands, and waste reduction. This includes innovations in CRISPR technology and precision agriculture.
Our systems-based approach emphasizes quantifying the interactions between genetics, environment, and management in food production while ensuring economic sustainability across the U.S. agriculture sector.
Recent Events
Responsive Agriculture ForuM
Responsive Agriculture: The Solution to Creating a Healthier Future
Leading experts, researchers and industry representatives will join thought-provoking conversations as we collectively shape the future of the Responsive Agriculture hub at the IHA.
- Horticulture including floriculture and ornamental plants
- Row crops
- Animal protein, animal production, aquaculture, and proteins
When: April 7, 2025 (World Health Day)
Where: AgriLife Center, College Station, TX
Read about the Forum on AgriLife Today:
Projects & future plans
Snapshot
There are currently 18 active Responsive Agriculture projects operating across production systems.
- Research spans 12 states and multiple agricultural sectors
- Partnerships with over 200 agricultural producers and processors
Scholarly achievements
- New grant awarded from USDA NIFA and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative on project: “Labor, Efficiency, Automation, and Production: LEAP Nursery Crops Toward Sustainability”
- 32 new publications in high-impact journals and 28 national and international presentations in 2023
- Secured major grants from USDA, NSF, and industry partners
Featured Research: Steve Smith, Ph.D., Regents Professor and Senior Faculty Fellow
Dr. Smith pioneered research showing that glucose, rather than acetate, is the main substrate for fatty acid synthesis in marbling, a breakthrough for high-quality beef production. He is internationally acclaimed for his work on high-oleic acid beef, including human trials on its effects on cholesterol and heart health. His critical work contributes tremendously to the Responsive Agriculture vision.
Partnerships
The Responsive Agriculture program has established strategic partnerships across the agricultural sector. Among them are the following:
- Agricultural producers and processors
- Agtech companies
- Food industry leaders
- Environmental research organizations
- Agricultural extension services
- Consumer research firms
- Biotechnology companies
- Sustainable agriculture organizations
To all of our partners:
Thank you for your collaboration and innovation. Your involvement is transforming agriculture to better serve producers and consumers while advancing the future of food production.
Interim associate director for Responsive Agriculture Marco Palma, Ph.D.
Marco Palma, Ph.D., is interim associate director for Responsive Agriculture at the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture. IHA’s Responsive Agriculture work fosters innovation in agriculture and the food environment to ensure a system that is economically prosperous while providing safe, nutritious and abundant food to promote health and well-being. The Responsive Agriculture hub is dedicated to engaging in translational research that bridges the gap between emerging technologies, innovative practical solutions and behavioral adoption by farmers and consumers.
Team members
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Bhimu Patil
Ph.D.
Professor and Director, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center
Professor and Director, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center Office: A120 Centeq BuildingEmail: bhimanagouda.patil@ag.tamu.eduPhone: (979) 458-8090 Education Undergraduate Education B.S. Agriculture,…
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Bruce McCarl
Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor and Leader of Research
University Distinguished Professor Office: AGLS 373Email: Bruce.McCarl@ag.tamu.eduPhone: (979) 393-0905 Bruce McCarl’s Website Education Undergraduate EducationB.S. Business Statistics, University of Colorado…
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Dmitry Kurouski
Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering Project: Raman-based sensing of human and plant health. This project focuses on a…
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Katie Lewis
Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Soil Fertility & Chemistry
Associate Professor, Soil Fertility & Chemistry Project: Enhancing health on the Texas High Plains with sustainable and resilient cropping systems…
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Matthew Taylor
Ph.D.
Professor, Meat Science
Professor, Meat Science Project: Microbial Food Safety. The use of raw or improperly composted manure by small farms is a…
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William L. Rooney
Ph.D.
Regents Professor, Borlaug-Monsanto Chair in International Crop Improvement, AgriLife Faculty Fellow, Sorghum Breeding & Genetics
Regents Professor, Borlaug-Monsanto Chair in International Crop Improvement, AgriLife Faculty Fellow, Sorghum Breeding & Genetics Project: Enhancing the health benefits…