معرفی
Micaela Colley is an Assistant Professor of Participatory Plant Breeding at Washington State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, the WSU Breadlab, and the Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC). Her research bridges plant breeding with social and ecological dimensions of sustainable food systems through collaborative partnerships with farmers and food system stakeholders.
Her educational background includes a PhD in Plant Breeding, Plant Ecology and Resource Conservation from Wageningen University, an MS in Horticulture from Oregon State University, and a BS in Soil Science from Oregon State University.
Colley specializes in participatory plant breeding for organic systems, focusing on buckwheat (common and Tartary) for culinary qualities and ecosystem services, alongside extensive work with carrots, tomatoes, and spinach. Her research examines genotype by environment interactions, social impacts of breeding, and knowledge exchange in seed systems. She emphasizes field-based testing, farmer collaboration, and interdisciplinary approaches to develop regionally adapted varieties that enhance agroecosystem health while delivering flavor and nutrition.
Her publication record (2011-2025) demonstrates consistent leadership in participatory breeding research, with recurring themes in soil-plant-microbe interactions, disease resistance mechanisms, and the social dynamics of seed systems. Collaborative field trials across diverse environments and strong interdisciplinary partnerships characterize her methodological approach.
Scientific recognition includes:
- American Association of University Women Scholarship (2016)
- American Society of Agronomy Senior of the Year (1996)
- Leo J. Anderson Memorial Scholarship (1995)
Colley leads the OREI-funded "More Bang for Your Buckwheat" project and has directed multi-institutional initiatives including the Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA), Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI), and Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative. She serves as External Advisor for the EU-Horizon 2020 "Liveseeding" project and was Guest Editor for a Sustainability special issue on organic breeding innovations.
As a core member of the WSU Breadlab, she collaborates with plant breeders developing small grain varieties (wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat, spelt, quinoa, millet) through farmer-participatory methods. The team partners with agronomists, nutritionists, and soil scientists to create varieties supporting agroecosystem resilience and culinary excellence.
