Sustainable Crop Production, Food Systems and Agroecology 

Protecting the planet and people while providing profit

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Faculty Interest and Expertise

  • Cornelius Barry

    Associate Professor
    Biochemical Evolution of Specialized Metabolism within the Solanaceae Family; Genetic Determinants of Fruit Quality and Ripening
    barrycs@msu.edu
    (517) 884-6959

  • Bridget Behe

    Professor
    Marketing of horticultural crops, both edible and ornamental
    behe@msu.edu
    (517) 353-0346

  • Daniel Brainard

    Associate Professor
    Development of reduced-tillage, cover-crop intensive vegetable production systems; weed ecology and management, with an emphasis on seed biology
    brainar9@msu.edu
    517-353-0417

  • Bert Cregg

    Professor
    Physiology and management of trees in landscapes and nursery production
    cregg@msu.edu
    517-353-0335

  • Todd Einhorn

    Associate Professor
    Tree fruit physiology, plant-water relations, rootstock biology, plant growth regulation
    einhornt@msu.edu
    (517) 353-0430

  • Tom Fernandez

    Professor
    Sustainability of wholesale production nurseries, water management and quality
    fernan15@msu.edu
    517-353-0336

  • Amy Iezzoni

    Professor
    Sour cherry breeding for fruit quality and disease resistance; cherry genetics; marker-assisted breeding; cherry rootstock selection.
    iezzoni@msu.edu
    517-353-0391

  • Gregory Lang

    Professor
    Tree fruit horticulture, physiology, and genetic evaluation, including high efficiency training systems and orchard climatic modification systems
    langg@msu.edu
    517-353-0388

  • Haddish Melakeberhan

    Associate Professor
    Integrated and sustainable nematode, nutrient cycling, and soil health management in cropping systems.
    melakebe@msu.edu
    (517) 355-4487

  • Erik Runkle

    Professor
    Lighting applications in greenhouses and indoor vertical farms; light-emitting diodes; greenhouse energy conservation; crop production in controlled environments
    runkleer@msu.edu
    (517) 353-0350

  • Paolo Sabbatini

    Associate Professor
    Grapevine physiology; photosynthetic carbon assimilation and partitioning; viticulture; cultivar evaluation of Michigan.
    sabbatin@msu.edu
    (517) 353-0302

Facilities

  • Center for Advanced Microscopy

    578 Wilson Road East Lansing, MI, 48824

    The Center for Advanced Microscopy, a Michigan State University Core Facility, is the central microscopy laboratory for the Michigan State University Campus.

  • Clarksville Research Center

    9302 Portland Road Clarksville, Michigan 48815

    The Clarksville Research Center hosts research on small fruits and tree fruits, as well as potatoes, chestnuts and a variety of other crops.

  • Horticulture Teaching and Research Center

    3291 College Road Holt, Michigan 48842

    chasew@msu.edu

    The 180 acre HTRC is located just south of campus in Holt, Michigan. The center meets the needs of field labs for outdoor classrooms as well as basic research.

  • Horticulture Teaching Greenhouses

    1066 Bogue St East Lansing, MI 48824

    These glass greenhouses are used primarily for teaching horticulture production classes.

  • MSU Growth Chamber Facility

    1066 Bogue Street East Lansing, MI 48824

    klugj@msu.edu

    This facility maintains 199 growth chambers providing stringent temperature, light and humidity control.

  • Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center

    6686 S. Center Highway Traverse City, MI 49684

    This 137-acre center sits in the five-county northwestern region that produces almost half of the U.S. supply of tart cherries and is responsible for 83 percent of sweet cherry production in Michigan.

  • Plant Science Greenhouses

    1059 Farm Ln East Lansing, MI 48824

    Located near the corner of Farm Ln and Wilson Rd, the Plant Science Greenhouses are utilized by Horticulture faculty, as well as other departments for plant science research.

  • Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center

    1791 Hillandale Road Benton Harbor, MI 49022

    The Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center is located in Berrien County, and growing several types of fruit and conducting variety evaluations of numerous fruits and vegetables are just part of the work done at the 350-acre site.

  • Student Organic Farm

    3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842

    msufarm@msu.edu

    The SOF is a 10-acre certified organic teaching and research farm that is also a working production farm.

Internships and Careers

Our students find internship and career opportunities in:

  • Production
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Education
  • Research

In addition, our graduates often open their own business enterprises such as fruit or vegetable production, landscape design/build and maintenance companies, nurseries, greenhouses and garden centers.

Job and Internship Links:

MSU Horticulture's Jobs and Internships Site

Sustainable Farming Internships

Sustainable Food Jobs

Careers In Horticulture, The American Society for Horticultural Science

The Land Lovers

Other Educational Opportunities and Resources

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Specialization

Ecological Food and Farming Systems Specialization

Center for Regional Food Systems 

Student Organic Farm

Sustainable Ag and Food Systems

Opportunities for independent study, research projects, and lab experiences:

Most faculty offer undergraduate research experience opportunities.  Information about ongoing projects can be found on individual faculty web pages above.  The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) also provides funding opportunities for undergraduate research.  

Plant Science Research

Department Information

Students

Research Focus Areas

Our Gardens

  • Spartans Will.
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