Ajay Nair

Dr. Nair is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University, where he also contributes to the Global Resource Systems (GRS) program. His journey to Ames began in Kerala, India, where he earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture from Kerala Agricultural University. He later earned a master's degree in horticulture from the University of Maine and a Ph.D. in horticulture from Michigan State University. He leads the GRS program which prepares students to tackle complex challenges through interdisciplinary and global perspectives. As a professor of horticulture, his Sustainable Vegetable Production Lab explores questions that matter to growers every day: can cover crops, compost, biochar, conservation tillage, high tunnels, and better crop management make vegetable farming both more sustainable and more profitable? How do we build healthier soils?