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| Dr. Chin displays his hibiscus calyx harvest on campus |
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| Guests and students tour hibiscus field at SUBR |
Baton Rouge, LA - SU Ag Center
research impact was mentioned in the May 1,
2014, Volume 1, Issue 2 of the NIFA Ed-Facts, p.4. Kit Chin at Southern
University Research and Extension Center, an 1890 land-grant university in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, used funding from NIFA’s 1890 Research Capacity grant
to study the roselle hibiscus. This plant, with its striking red calyx-enclosed
fruits, could give Louisiana farmers a new niche crop that supports trade,
local agriculture, and economic development. His research found roselle
hibiscus accessions from Nigeria, Jamaica, and Senegal thrive in Louisiana’s
climate. More than 65 farmers, homemakers, and retired church volunteers from
various parishes attended the project director’s workshop and grew hibiscus in
their home gardens. A 12-member roselle hibiscus grower’s cooperative also
visited the lab.
One Ph.D. student, Ryan Nicolas,
joined four Southern University business majors to develop a hibiscus business
plan for Louisiana. The team placed third among 13 student groups presenting at
the 2013 Opportunity Funding Corporation’s Venture Challenge. “This NIFA-funded
project has given me the focus of my doctorate work,” Nicolas said. “Because
Dr. Chin’s hibiscus research project received a NIFA grant, many doors of
opportunity opened for me. I never thought I would be doing so many interesting
things in science and entrepreneurship. It would not have happened if Dr. Chin
had not been able to pursue his research goals.” The full publication is available
online for download at:
The
research project was funded by USDA/National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA). Ryan Nicolas is
currently a Ph.D. candidate at Southern University focusing his dissertation research
on roselle hibiscus under the supervision of Drs. Yadong Qi and Kit Chin.
###
Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
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