Urrea receives Omtvedt Innovation Award

Interim IANR Vice Chancellor Ron Yoder presents an Omtvedt Innovation Award to Carlos Urrea. Craig Chandler | University Communication
Interim IANR Vice Chancellor Ron Yoder presents an Omtvedt Innovation Award to Carlos Urrea. Craig Chandler | University Communication

Carlos Urrea, University of Nebraska–Lincoln associate professor of agronomy and horticulture was awarded an Omtvedt Innovation Award at the Nebraska East Union on Dec. 1. He is a dry bean breeding specialist located at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Urrea’s research focuses on dry bean breeding to select plants that are disease resistant and have desirable qualities related to water efficiency, minimum tillage and more upright architecture, allowing direct harvesting. He has developed germplasm for black beans, Great Northern Beans, chick peas, and Great Northern cultivar. Urrea is also working with the USDA Agricultural Research Service Tropical Agricultural Research Station at Puerto Rico to develop drought-tolerant dry bean germplasm lines.

The Omtvedt Innovation Award recognizes Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty, or a team lead by a faculty, who has demonstrated exceptional abilities and innovation in the areas of teaching, research, or extension education. Recipients receive $2,500 and a plaque.

Full story at IANR News.

More details at: http://ianrnews.unl.edu/ianr-faculty-staff-honored-awards-luncheon-0