Page 6 - summer17

CONTENTS

FEATURES

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VITAL PARTNERSHIPS: CITY OF GASTRONOMY
by Jennifer Yamnitz
UA researchers have a long history of documenting and
promoting the borderland culinary heritage that makes
Tucson a distinct food city.

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A GENOME GENIUS
by Ford Burkhart
Rod Wing, an expert in comparative and evolutionary
genomics for crops like rice and corn, aims to feed the
world without destroying it.
In this Issue
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FARMING STRAIGHT UP
In this issue of Arizona Alumni Magazine you will read
about University of Arizona researchers and alumni by Tim Vanderpool
who are solving complex challenges in plant and food The UA is partnering with a Texas startup to tackle indoor
sciences. farming by growing produce inside one of the diaphanous
“lungs” of Biosphere 2.
UA scientists are finding solutions to global food
scarcity through research in rice and corn genomics, 32
urban and desert agriculture and sustainable food LIVING UNPROCESSED
systems. Their curiosity and determination to support by Margaret Regan
their local and global communities drives them to find While working toward an MFA at the UA, Megan Kimble
answers to questions about improving health and food embarked on a yearlong project to eat food that was as
safety.
unprocessed as possible.
UA faculty, students and alumni are building
community partnerships to bolster food security and 36
nutrition, offering classes on growing and cooking FOR THE LOVE OF BREAD
low-cost nutritious food to underserved populations. by Carolyn Niethammer
Alumni share ideas for social entrepreneurship on Don Guerra is a community baker. When he isn’t baking he
campus and around the world using local grains to is spreading the word about heritage grains and teaching
bake bread and build businesses that support local others to bake.
economies.

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We also celebrate the healthful local foods, borderland
culinary heritage and ancient food systems that make 10X10
Tucson a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. All this and by Jeffrey Javier and Katy Smith
more is captured in the bountiful cover illustration Since completing UA degrees 10 years ago, these 10 alumni
by Margaret Kimball ’11. have remained committed to supporting the university.

4 ARIZONA ALUMNI MAGAZINE