MU Leaders Present Map For CAFNR’s “Drive to Distinction”

(Left to Right) Dean Chris Daubert, Dr. Tom Spencer

Two vice chancellors at the University of Missouri outlined the progress the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has made in the last few years toward maintaining its position as a “perennial research powerhouse” in the agriculture sector of the state, national and global economy. They were speaking to members of the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City during the April meeting and luncheon held in the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board Room at Union Station.  

“CAFNR is the centerpiece of MU as a Land Grant College,” said Dr. Tom Spencer, Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development at the University. He noted that CAFNR is ranked among the Top 15 programs in the world for animal and plant science research. “Our CAFNR research expenditures were more than $60 million in FY 2022.”

Dr. Spencer described a transformational effort to strengthen innovation in research discipline that includes a 10-year $1.5 billion investment in “faculty and student success.” Toward that goal, he said that MU had hired 39 new faculty members recently and estimated that 30 more would be employed in the next year.

Dr. Chris Daubert, Vice Chancellor and CAFNR Dean, called these efforts a “Drive to Distinction.”  Agriculture is the No. 1 economic driver in Missouri, he said, with an annual economic impact of nearly $94 billion.  He elaborated on the notion that the University of Missouri is recognized worldwide as a top-tier research institution and a land-grant university. With schools/colleges in medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, law, agriculture and even a nuclear reactor all on the same campus, he explained, MU’s ability for research collaboration with other universities and institutions “is nearly unmatched.”