Two ISU faculty members have been recognized by state farmers for their contribution to Iowa’s corn industry.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association recently presented awards to animal science professors Colin Scanes and David Topel for their roles in the development of the ISU Plant Sciences Institute.

Scanes and Topel worked with members of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Soybean Association to develop and implement plans for the institute.

“We used several existing, high-quality programs on campus here and allowed them to work together to become even better,” said Topel, former dean of agriculture.

Research at the institute began in September 1999 after two years of careful planning. Various types of research are performed at the Plant Sciences Institute, including corn and soybean genetics, applied plant breeding and sustainable agriculture.

Much of this research can be used to “move towards a more bio-based economy,” Scanes said, and the institute provides farmers with an unbiased source of information.

“The intent is for the research to benefit farmers,” Topel said. “This research can be used to improve the production practices of corn and soybeans.”

Scanes and Topel said Iowa State is an ideal location for the institute because of strong existing research programs under way at the university.

“We have the ability to be the very best in plant science,” said Scanes, who served as the executive associate dean of the College of Agriculture and was the interim director of the Plant Sciences Institute.