Texas A&M Center Named for Hood Family Foundation Following $5 Million Endowment
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved a new name for a research center dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions for agriculture and forestry, honoring a $5 million gift from the John and Sally Hood Family Foundation.
The center will now be known as the Hood Family Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry. Established in 2023, the center operates as a joint initiative of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University in College Station.
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Through Science
The Hood Family Center brings together interdisciplinary expertise across Texas A&M to help agriculture and forestry systems adapt to modern challenges—producing safe, affordable food and fiber while maintaining productive, working lands. Its mission is grounded in unbiased, science-based research aimed at improving environmental outcomes without sacrificing economic viability for producers.
“We are immensely grateful for the generous support of the Hood Family, which paved the way for this important work,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “Texas A&M AgriLife is committed to leading new discoveries, technologies and emerging practices that benefit the state, the U.S. and the world.”
A $5 Million Investment in the Future of Working Lands
The $5 million endowment was provided by John Hood ’90 and his wife, Sally Hood ’92, whose philanthropic investment directly supported the formation and long-term vision of the center.
“We were really impressed with their work and felt it was a chance to change the world for our kids and grandkids,” John Hood said. “This is a tangible way to use technology and biotechnology to make a difference.”
According to Nithya Rajan, Ph.D., director of the center and a professor of agronomy and agroecology in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the funding plays a critical role in moving research from the lab to the field.
“We are turning science into producer-ready solutions that strengthen soil health, reduce input costs and keep working lands productive for generations,” Rajan said.
Focus on Greenhouse Gas Management and Soil Health
Research at the Hood Family Center focuses on the sustainability of emerging agricultural practices, including carbon capture and greenhouse gas management in Texas soils and cropping systems. The center’s work aims to enhance soil function, improve resilience to environmental and biological stressors, and support long-term agricultural productivity across Texas and beyond.
By integrating research, teaching, and extension, the Hood Family Center for Greenhouse Gas Management in Agriculture and Forestry positions Texas A&M as a leader in science-driven solutions for sustainable agriculture and forestry in a changing world.
