Ajay Nair, professor of horticulture and incoming department chair, is the recipient of the faculty 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Extension and Outreach Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. As a primarily Extension-based faculty member, Nair has interacted with countless growers and community members across the state, leading on-farm demonstrations at grower plots, field experiments at Iowa State facilities and organizing various workshops and outreach events. Between those well-attended activities and radio and television interviews, Nair estimates he has reached more than 270,000 people.
His efforts include Fruit and Vegetable Field Day, one of the largest events at the ISU Horticulture Research Station, and developing a short course for high tunnel production leading to an increased growing season. Nair works closely with many groups of growers, including commercial and consumer, Native American, Amish, Mennonite and Master Gardeners. He has strong ties with vegetable industry groups and holds leadership roles in the Extension Division of the American Society of Horticultural Science and gubernatorial appointments on two State of Iowa committees.
As part of developing a strong extension education program, Nair takes his on-campus research findings out to the growers. He serves as principal investigator of the Sustainable Vegetable Production lab, which aims to enhance crop production, soil health and cropping system profitability for vegetable production in Iowa. Nair’s latest project involves leading an innovative agrivoltaics study, looking at how well fruit and vegetable crops grow under solar panels. This research will occur at the new Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University south of Ames.
“Ajay plays a critical role in communicating the importance of science-based knowledge for the development of economically successful, socially beneficial and environmentally strong horticulture production systems,” states a colleague. “He is a scientist of extraordinary caliber, and his extension and outreach works are of immense value to the horticulture community in the United States.”