Congratulations to Professor and Charles R. Parencia Chair in Cotton Entomology Dr. Greg Sword for receiving the Texas A&M Technology Commercialization’s Excellence in Innovation Award on May 4, 2017.
The awards were presented during a special luncheon at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center inside the George Bush Presidential Library. Sword was recognized for his research with fungal endophytes that led to collaboration with an industry partner to produce a commercially available seed treatment for cotton.
The treatment allows cotton plants plagued by dwindling irrigation water and drought to produce more cotton fiber, which helps cotton producers to produce more in times of drought or low water conditions.
“Texas A&M faculty strive for excellence as comprehensive scholars, including excellent teaching, research, discovery and impact,” Texas A&M Provost and Executive Vice President Karan L Watson said. “These awards acknowledge their success in applying new knowledge to the issues of our day, through partnership with industry, commercialization of new ideas and transfer of knowledge to the people of our state, nation and world.”
Sword said the award also brings an awareness to the Department’s as well as the University’s resources and talent.
“I never dreamed that my research would lead to a patent, not to mention receiving an Excellence in Innovation Award,” Sword said. “I am honored, but what this award really highlights is the level of support and resources available here at Texas A&M to enable an idea to go from initial discovery to commercialization in such a short time. I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with lots of talented people all along the way, and their help really made this possible.”