Contact: Dr. Orlando F. McMeans (304) 766-4291
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Dr. Barbara E. Liedl, associate research professor with West Virginia State University’s (WVSU) Agricultural and Environmental Research Station, is featured on the cover of the Summer 2013 edition of the Neuron, the West Virginia Journal of Science and Research. Liedl and her staff work to increase disease-resistance in crops such as tomatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers and artichokes. Projects also seek new and innovative growing methods, such as high tunnel production, suitable for West Virginia’s increasing number of small farmers.Providing such knowledge and resources to in-state farmers will, she said, provide both health and economic benefits to the state as a whole.
“West Virginians spend more than $7 billion annually on food,” said Liedl. “Less than one percent of that is spent on food grown in the state. All of us in agriculture are committed to changing that. We want to see more food produced for consumption in state.”
A graduate of Purdue University and the University of Minnesota, Liedl has been conducting agricultural research at WVSU for more than a decade, currently from a campus greenhouse and at WVSU’s labs at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston. More on WVSU’s research projects can be found at wvstateu.edu/research.
The Neuron, published by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s (HEPC) Division of Science and Research, is a quarterly publication available at wvresearch.org. Each issue highlights a significant researcher in the state. The summer issue also features commentary from WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill on STEM engagement in West Virginia.
HEPC’s Division of Science and Research provides strategic leadership for infrastructure advancement and development of competitive research opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.