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Growing the Future
The University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is an engine of scientific discovery, with researchers working across the spectrum of agricultural and life sciences. Academically, the college offers research-based, hands-on teaching of undergraduates; world-class graduate programs rich in research and project assistantships; and short courses, workshops and other programs. Our outreach activities bring the work of the college to Wisconsin businesses, organizations and communities throughout the state. Learn more about CALS.
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With the right values of trust, patience, and determination, you can build something that lasts. That’s what CALS taught me.
Justin Meng
CALS Faces
Justin Meng
Justin Meng BS’15 came to UW–Madison from Guangdong, China, as a pre-business major with hopes of going into finance. But as he began exploring other fields, he struggled to find the right fit. Annan Chen, a friend in CALS, led him to also explore the college, where he found a culture he admired and a new path. Meng majored in agricultural and applied economics and received the prestigious Renk Scholarship. After graduating, he earned a graduate degree in applied economics from Cornell University and worked in Boston. Meanwhile, Annan returned to China to expand his family’s business into consumer-ready products. In 2022, Meng joined the company as general manager. Today, their company, Sanlin, is one of China’s most popular coconut water brands.
$1.1M
Scholarships awarded in 2023-24
4,082
CALS students in 2023-24
CALS Social
On May 9th, we celebrated our Spring 2026 graduates at the CALS Graduation Celebration! Congratulations again to all of our graduates — we are so proud to call you alumni! ❤️🤍 #UWGrad
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The Spring 2026 issue of Grow magazine is out now! The cover story, “High-Tech Eyes on Fields and Skies,” highlights Wisconet – UW’s statewide network of hyper-local weather stations that give Wisconsin farmers a powerful tool to reduce costs and improve yields. 🌾 Other stories cover plants that can be digested more easily by cattle, a sustainable agribusiness started by two CALS alums, Wisconsin honey facts, an advocacy program at the Center for Patient Partnerships, and more.
CALS Social
Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences’s Rebecca Smith uses genetic tools to develop plants that can be digested more easily by cattle. The outcomes could be greater efficiency for biofuel production and lower methane emissions from dairy cows, which could help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges.
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In June, we wrapped up our second annual Wisconsin Rural Scholars Program! We were so happy to host 48 high school students and teachers from around Wisconsin and introduce them to Madison, @uwmadison campus, and CALS. 👐
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Madison is no stranger to farmers markets, but have you ever wondered who goes to them? A recent study by UW-Madison Life Sciences Communication’s Bret Shaw categorized farmer’s market shoppers into six categories and found that a majority of the shoppers went to farmers markets because they enjoy buying, preparing, and eating fresh and healthy food.
