Pennington Biomedical and LAU AgCenter Partner to Expand Louisiana-Based Family Health Study

Through a new longitudinal, statewide study — dubbed the Pennington Generation study — researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Cen-ter are delving into how physical activity, nutrition, sleep and other factors affect children’s health and growth and will examine how those behaviors can relate to weight gain and obesity over time.

A new partnership between Pennington Biomedical and the LSU AgCenter is working to broaden the reach of the Pennington Generation health research study by helping to bring it to communities across Louisiana. With a presence in all 64 parishes, the AgCenter will leverage its nutrition and community health agents across the state to help educate people in their community about the study and recruit participants.

The study is coordinated with Pennington Biomedical’s Greaux Healthy initiative, an evidence-based public service initiative in partnership with the state of Louisiana and focused on preventing and treating childhood obesity.

■ TOBIE BLANCHARD

New AgCenter Food Innovation Institute Director Sets Eyes on Greater Progress in Food Science

Amogh Ambardekar, a food scientist who has worked for international brands such as Mars and Burger King, joined the LSU AgCenter as the new Food Innovation Institute (FOODii) director earlier this year.

Ambardekar envisions FOODii as an innovation hub in addition to a business incubator. He sees a future where FOODii scientists develop creative uses for Louisiana agricultural products by helping to reduce waste of underutilized materials through value addition while also creating ingenious functional ingredients for local and national food industries.

At a time when food companies are working to increase fiber, protein and other nutrients in foods, many exciting pathways lie ahead for food scientists, Ambardekar said. New technologies — such as intelligent packaging, precision fermentation or nonthermal processing — can create novel, nutritious, functional and safe ingredients or develop innovative methods that could allow scientists to harness natural flavors and colors and break new ground.

While FOODii will seek to innovate and create new opportunities to grow the Louisiana food industry, Ambardekar said the institute will not lose sight of its original mission of helping Louisianans perfect and market families’ recipes and entrepreneurs’ creations.

■ KYLE PEVETO

Leaders, Innovators and Champions Honored at Third Annual LSU AgExcellence Awards

The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture hosted the third annual LSU AgExcellence Awards Ceremony, presented by A. Wilbert’s Sons, on May 1, at the South Stadium Club in Tiger Stadium. The event was led by Senior Vice Chancellor and Dean Matt Lee and emceed by State Rep. Dixon McMakin, the Voice of Tiger Stadium, and celebrated individuals whose leadership and service advanced agriculture, research, education and communities across Louisiana.

AgExcellence brought together honors from across the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture, including alumni recognition, faculty and student awards and innovation through patents. Over the past year, the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture gained momentum, rising to No. 12 nationally in agricultural sciences research expenditures and recording a 26% increase in applications to the College of Agriculture. “Everything we do comes back to people,”

Lee said. “From research to outreach, it’s the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters that makes real impact possible. Tonight was a chance to celebrate that teamwork and the progress it’s bringing to Louisiana agriculture.”

■ ANNABELLE LANG

This article appears in the spring 2026 edition of Louisiana Agriculture.