Mary Rogers

Associate Professor

[email protected]

612-624-8871

438 Alderman Hall

1970 Folwell Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

UMN Experts

Rogers Lab

Education

Ph.D. University of Tennessee – Knoxville, 2012, Plants, Soils & Insects
M.S. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2008, Entomology
B.S. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2003, Environmental Horticulture

Areas of Interest

Organic Horticultural Food Systems; Insect Pest Management; Vegetable Crop Management Systems; Controlled Environment Agriculture; Urban Agriculture

Biography

Mary Rogers is an Associate Professor of Sustainable & Organic Horticultural Food Production Systems in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. Her research program investigates plant‐insect interactions and biological and environmental strategies to improve the production of organic vegetables and fruit in the upper Midwest. Current research focuses on controlled environment agriculture, urban agriculture, and integrated pest management for local and organic production systems.

Teaching

FDSY 1016W - Growing Food and Building Community: Urban Farming in the Twin Cities (Fall semester)
ESPM 3108/5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems (co-instructed in Fall semester, even years)
HORT 4096W - Professional Experience Internship (Fall semester)
HORT 5032 - Organic Vegetable Production (Spring semester, odd years)

Research

The demand for high-quality fruits and vegetables is increasing as human population increases. Diminishing resources, climate change and invasive species limit horticultural production throughout the world. Sustainable production practices are necessary in order to conserve natural resources, enhance our environment and provide economic opportunities as we meet our food needs. My broad research vision is to investigate agroecological principles for horticultural crop production to improve system sustainability. My research program investigates plant-insect interactions and biological and environmental strategies to improve the production of organic vegetables and fruit.

Outreach

A community-engaged scholar, Mary has formed multiple relationships with community partners working toward food access and equity in the Twin Cities metropolitan. Her students participate in valuable learning experiences with these partners, and build civic engagement and professional skills. In her role with Growing North Minneapolis, a community-university collaborative, Mary works within a team of community organizers, extension educators, and UMN faculty and staff colleagues to use garden-based learning to enhance workforce skills through urban agriculture and build pathways to the university for underserved youth.

Honors and Awards

UMN Community-Engaged Scholar Award, University of Minnesota, 2019