Research at UTIA – DEV UTIA

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s mission, vision, and values call for us to “discover knowledge which impacts real world issues,” and we’re doing just that–not only across the state of Tennessee, but around the world. Our faculty, staff, and graduate students are focused on topics that affect every day life and impact our future.

UT AgResearch has ten research and education centers across the state that serve as outdoor laboratories for our researchers and classrooms for the University’s future scientists.
UT Extension will lead a new effort to combat the opioid crisis in rural Tennessee. PROMPT TN (Preventing Rural Opioid Misuse Through Partnerships and Training) will combine the expertise of multiple institutions to develop opioid-specific resources designed to increase understanding of underlying causes of opioid misuse with the goal of preventing addiction.
UT AgResearch is currently researching hemp production and utilization, including genetics, variety trials, fertility requirements, pest management, and plant compounds and materials.
UTIA is the first academic institution to enroll in The Nature Conservancy’s Working Woodlands Program. UT’s Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center manages some 11,400 acres of forests, including the UT Arboretum.
Qijun Zhang, a UTIA graduate student, has developed a new nanocellulose-based material that has outstanding air filtration performance and received the first place award in the student poster competition at the 2019 Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) International convention.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have been awarded a $156,000 grant to examine value-added opportunities for marketing cattle.
In this episode of “AgCast,” Charles Denney introduces us to the Fresh Electric Farm, an experimental way to grow crops indoors.
Our turf research assists managers in the NFL, MLB, MLS, NCAA, World Cup Soccer, and the PGA Tour.
A new $150,000 grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is helping UTIA scientists learn more about the invasive Asian longhorned tick and identify how farmers, ranchers, and pet owners can protect their animals.
AgResearch and Education Centers will host seventeen field days in 2020, providing visitors a chance to see agricultural research in action, speak with university experts, and network with industry professionals.