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Zoom out. Much further out. Examine the whole globe. Vast. Intimidating hurdles, but significant possibilities. That’s the framework WashU’s latest and possibly most audacious scheme will explore. Through its School of Public Health, WashU aims to contribute to designing a world that fosters health.
“Public health revolves around creating a realm where we can all lead longer, healthier lives,” states Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, the Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the School of Public Health. “To accomplish this, we require safer food to consume, healthier water to drink, purer air to inhale … secure neighborhoods, safe homes, livable wages … quality medical care when it’s needed.”
“Public health revolves around creating a realm where we can all lead longer, healthier lives. To accomplish this, we require safer food to consume, healthier water to drink, purer air to inhale …”
Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH
The new School of Public Health acts as a central point, bringing in specialists from WashU’s other eight schools to enhance ongoing efforts and forge synergies for fresh collaborations. With this objective, the Food and Agricultural Research Mission (FARM) was initiated in February to tackle the challenge of food — its safety, security, sustainability, and more — showcasing how this emerging collaborative culture can thrive.
FARM is uniting professionals from academia as well as private and public sectors with the aim of formulating innovative methods to enhance nutrition and health. Researchers from various disciplines across the university — including public health, Arts & Sciences, engineering, medicine, and social work — will strengthen working connections with farmers, local community members, and others engaged in food production and distribution.
“The FARM initiative exemplifies everything we are establishing here,” states Galea, also the Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. “It serves as a catalyst for science and scholarship, and presents a chance for transformative change: to educate the next generation on our role in public health, collaborating with communities to foster a healthier world.”
Morven McLean, PhD, MSc, a specialist in applied agricultural research and international development, has been appointed the School of Public Health’s executive director of networks and innovation as well as the first director of FARM. She came to WashU from Gates Agricultural Innovations, where she held the role of director of global strategy, regulatory, and public affairs. An agricultural scientist with over 25 years of expertise, McLean has operated as a technical advisor for the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
“FARM is set to unite various disciplines to tackle some of the most pressing issues we face: How do we produce enough food for a rising population? How can we achieve this in an environmentally sustainable manner?”
Morven McLean, PhD, MSc
“Frequently, when we consider agriculture, we envision it within the confines of a school of agriculture, but having FARM situated in a school of public health is innovative and invigorating,” McLean notes. “FARM intends to amalgamate diverse fields to confront some of our most urgent problems: How can we generate enough food for a growing population? How can we do it sustainably for the environment? How do we assure that we’re supplying safe, nutritious food that is accessible and cost-effective for communities here in St. Louis, throughout Missouri, across the U.S., and globally?”
McLean is inspired by the transformative initiatives already emerging from WashU and the surrounding area. “We boast the highest density of plant scientists anywhere globally,” she states. “Look at the spin-offs originating from WashU and other local institutions that have established small startups. I’ve worked worldwide in the plant sciences, and this is genuinely a unique ecosystem.”
Indeed, St. Louis hosts over 1,000 plant scientists and more than 400 biotech firms and prominent institutions, including the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Missouri Botanical Garden. The 200-acre Cortex Innovation District — featuring BioSTL and BioGenerator — expands St. Louis’ agricultural innovation network, providing resources to aid startups and entrepreneurs in prospering. Crucially, St. Louis is at the heart of U.S. agriculture — over half of the nation’s food production is located within a 500-mile radius.
According to McLean, FARM will leverage WashU’s knowledge across numerous disciplines, including public health, biology, genetics, engineering, supply-chain management, and implementation science. The university is already leading research in pest and drought resistance, along with other genetic advancements for crops, microbiome science, nutrition and malnutrition, environmentally friendly fertilizers, and innovative medicines inspired by nature.
“The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. Hunger, malnutrition, and environmental degradation are not far-off threats — they are current crises demanding immediate, coordinated action.”
Andrew D. Martin
Backed by the Lauren and Lee Fixel Family Foundation, FARM will rethink the future of agriculture through a multifaceted strategy — attracting top researchers, utilizing flexible funding models, creating interdisciplinary research networks, and connecting academia, industry, the nonprofit sector, and government. Among FARM’s researchers are Lora Iannotti and Feng Jiao, both inaugural Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professors. Iannotti, a professor within the School of Public Health, serves as co-director of FARM, while Jiao is a professor in the McKelvey School of Engineering.
“The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated,” asserts Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. “Hunger, malnutrition, and environmental degradation are not distant threats — they are present crises demanding immediate, coordinated action.
“Together, with our collaborators in St. Louis and beyond, we will revolutionize how we grow food, nourish communities, and sustain the environment. The health of local, national, and global populations relies on this.”
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