Meet Today’s Innovators
Hear from agricultural innovators who are breaking barriers, solving global challenges, and building careers they love.
Jacob Torres
Growing Chile Plants in Space
Trained as an engineer, Torres combined skills in horticulture and engineering while working with the NASA Space Biology team at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Contributing to 17 experiments in several environments, Torres was part of the NASA team that grew the NuMex Española Improved pepper in the Advanced Plant Habitat on the International Space Station (2021). The twist? He himself is from Española, New Mexico! A self described “plant-growing inventor/engineer/space biologist/educator/philanthropist,” Torres worked on mechanization of harvesting chile, including working in the field at the Leyendecker Farm. Having succeeded at growing chile in space, today he is working in K-12 schools to explore growing chile on the moon. The Moon Chile Challenge is a New Mexico Nonprofit that teaches the next generation how to grow fresh food while fulfilling validation growth in the classroom. The hope is that one day a new generation will become space farmers too.
Ivette Guzmán, PhD
Connecting Culture to Research Labs
Dr. Guzmán studies plant physiology and biochemistry, nutraceuticals and functional foods, food systems, and organic medicinal food production. In this video, she encourages students pursuing their research ideas and discusses the importance of connecting meaning with work. Growing up in a farmworker family in West Texas, as well as learning about medicinal plants from her grandmother in Durango, Mexico, Guzmán has always been fascinated by the role of plants in health and community.
Danise Coon
Reconnecting to Agricultural Roots/Upbringing
Senior Research Specialist in the Agricultural Experiment Station at New Mexico State University, Danise Coon works on chile pepper cultivar development, development of disease-resistant chile pepper cultivars, and development of chile pepper cultivars that will help New Mexico’s industry thrive. Her work connects with farmers, students, and the public in many ways, from Ag Science Field Days to the Chile Pepper Institute teaching garden to sharing her knowledge online. Hybridizing chile takes a long time – and a special touch. As a plant breeder she carries forward the legacy of Fábian García and Roy Nakayama in her work with various types of New Mexico chile. Working with