SW New Mexico News

Anowar Islam, a seasoned agronomist, has focused his career on enhancing lands for food production to support the growing global population through innovative and sustainable research initiatives. In September 2023, Islam joined New Mexico State University (NMSU) as the head of the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Extension Plant Sciences within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Islam's academic journey spans multiple countries, including Bangladesh, Australia, Japan, Oklahoma, Canada, and Wyoming. He spent nearly 15 years as a faculty member and Extension specialist at the University of Wyoming before joining NMSU.

Reflecting on his career path, Islam credits his mother for inspiring his interest in agriculture. "My mother grew her own fruits and vegetables – and she inspired me to learn new ways to improve our lands and grow food with limited resources," he said. This passion led him to earn a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1990, followed by a master's degree in soil science and a Ph.D. in agronomy.

At NMSU, Islam aims to address both opportunities and challenges present in New Mexico's semi-arid environment. His goal is to advance his departments' efforts in creating efficient systems for food production under stressful conditions. "We have plenty of resources in New Mexico, but we must utilize them with minimal water," he stated. "That’s where we will use the expertise we have in our departments. Our plant scientists, horticulturalists, geneticists, and soil and environmental scientists will lead the way in developing innovative cropping systems for semi-arid lands."

This article was initially published in ACES Magazine's fall 2024 issue.