by Fran tenBensel Benne | Agronomy and Horticulture
Andrea Basche, an associate professor in cropping systems, was honored with the American Society of Agronomy Environmental Quality Section Inspiring Early Career Scientist Award, presented by the Environmental Quality Community at the ASA Awards Ceremony on Oct. 30 in St. Louis.
The primary emphasis of the Environmental Quality Section of the ASA lies in comprehending the impact of agriculture on the environment and enhancing agricultural management practices to uphold the quality of air, soil and water.
The award “recognizes worthy professionals who have made an outstanding contribution toward sustaining agriculture through Environmental Quality research, teaching, extension/public service or industry activity.”
Basche has a 60% teaching and 40% research appointment in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture.
She instructs Plant and Landscape Systems 204 Resource Efficient Crop Management, 405 Crop Management Strategies and 425/825 Cover Crops in Agroecosystems. Basche co-developed the first of its kind cover crop management course with agronomy and horticulture department colleague Sam Wortman and faculty at six other land grant universities. The course has taught over 200 students since 2021.
She and her team of researchers study several aspects of diversified cropping systems, including carbon and nitrogen cycling, water and weed dynamics, as well as policy and human decision-making. They are currently part of a large collaborative effort to study the management and supply chain efforts for a perennial grain crop called Kernza®.
Basche is a nationally recognized leader on cover crops, soil health and climate change, and has delivered over 80 invited presentations and interviews to a range of audiences — from NPR’s “Science Friday” and BBC’s “Future” to “Ag PhD” Radio.
She was recognized by ASA with the Early Career award in 2022 and recently served as a co-author on the Northern Great Plains Chapter of the 5th National Climate Assessment.
She has been an active member of the Tri-Societies — ASA, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America — for over 13 years, including serving as an associate editor of Agronomy Journal and a member of the CSSA policy committee.
Basche was born and raised in southern New Jersey, near the state's crop-producing regions and the shore. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Fordham University, a master’s degree in applied climate science from Columbia University, and a doctorate in crop production and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University.
