By Moses T. Kairo
The School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences is eagerly anticipating all that is to come in 2026.
The newly constructed Agricultural Research & Education Center will soon open its doors as the iconic state-of-theart facility for the school. Equipped with technologically advanced classrooms, labs and greenhouses, it is designed to help UMES better serve Maryland agribusiness.
UMES Extension, an integral part of SANS, is committed to increasing family farm profitability. Workshops, classroom series, tours and events teach farmers the latest in value addition and best practices. From information-sharing about niche market crops, to DIY medicinal and specialty herb products, to how to host on-farm educational and entertainment events, UMES champions small- to mid-sized farms in growing their business.
Ongoing research activities with the potential to impact our great state and nation take place every day at UMES. In this issue, you can read about faculty and student projects on Vibrio in oysters and Salmonella in pet food, both of which can affect human health.
We are charged with cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders. As such, our underpinning mission is to provide real-world experiential learning opportunities ensuring that our students are prepared for graduate school or the workforce. These immersive experiences create a deeper understanding of agriculture and related sciences that can improve our nation’s food security.
We are grateful for the support from federal and state agencies, along with the private sector for making our work possible and meaningful. Thank you for taking the time to learn about the research, teaching and extension activities we have highlighted in this issue.
Moses T. Kairo, Ph.D., DIC, is professor and dean of School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences
