MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas State University (KSU) announced on March 4 a new faculty member, Polamreddy V. Reddy, in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Grain Science and Industry. 

Reddy was appointed as adjunct professor earlier and is serving as the managing director of the new Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post-harvest Loss. This lab is the third Feed the Future Innovation Lab established at KSU and is part of the U.S. government’s global hunger initiative.

This lab is focused on the reduction and prevention of post-harvest loss initially in four target countries that experience the most measurable losses: Guatemala, Ghana, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Within each of the four countries, there is a key investigator team made up of members from the U.S. as well as in country to help measure these losses. Reddy said he is excited to be a part of this research and the opportunity to help people.

“Together, we can identify what the post-harvest loss is for the area and measure the loss of quantity and quality,” Reddy said. “We can then set up research teams with the faculty and other local experts to train the farmers and others involved in the grain supply chain.”

Reddy, who is a graduate of KSU and former faculty member, has had more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Most recently he was with General Mills in the international division where he gained extensive experiences overseas, working with farmers and suppliers, and also with grain processing so he understands what it means to preserve grains for quantity and quality.

Between his time at KSU and his expertise in the industry, Dirk Maier, department head of Grain Science and Industry and director of the International Grains Program, said Reddy brings a broad range of skills and expertise to the Feed the Future project.

“Dr. Reddy brings both industry and university experience to the table,” Maier said. “He knows how to work with partner universities, collaborate with companies and work with smallholder farmers and other value chain partners to help make a difference in these efforts to prevent and reduce post-harvest loss.”

“I hope that my experiences will help bring success to the project and assist these countries in learning how to better their food supply,” Reddy said. “I have worked for 43 years and I came out of retirement for this because I have a passion for helping people.”