Sustainability Leadership Fellow Cohort: 2024-2025

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Research Summary: My research explores the intersection of agriculture and human health, specifically, the use of controlled environment agriculture, colloquially known as indoor farming, to biofortify red cabbage microgreens with plant molecules that can reduce heart disease risk. We will also assess absorption of these biofortified nutrients in a clinical trial. Controlled environment agriculture is a novel technique that protects crops from stressors like temperature, drought, and pests. It allows for year-round production, reduced pesticide and water use, and greater yield. These indoor farms can also be situated anywhere on the planet, reducing emissions by bringing food closer to population centers.