ARDMORE, Okla. — Noble Research Institute recently hired Isabella Maciel as a regenerative ranching systems researcher.
Maciel will serve as a principal investigator for Metrics, Management and Monitoring project, a $19 million research effort aimed at understanding how management decisions on pasture and rangeland are interconnected to the overall health of the ecosystem. In addition, the research will focus on how ranchers can effectively apply the principles of soil health across their land.
“Isabella’s wealth of experience conducting beef cattle research and her understanding of the critical role of soil in a healthy grazing lands makes her the perfect individual to lead this critical work,” said Todd Newman, director of strategy and planning at the institute. “This research will help us better understand how healthy soil contributes to healthier ranchers and stronger rural communities.”
Maciel brings 15 years of experience to the position. Her past research explored the fundamentals of beef cattle nutrition, food animal production, environment safety and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission.
At Noble she will lead systems research for adoption and application strategies within a regenerative ranching framework, while also contributing to the development of educational materials.
“As a researcher, my focus is on building a sustainable meat production system and consequently, improving livestock production and the world we live in,” she said. “These are critical and growing areas in agriculture, not only in the U.S. but also around the world, as they enable the increased productivity of beef cattle production systems in a sustainable way, providing high-quality food for the growing population.”
Maciel completed her veterinary medicine degree in 2013, her master’s degree in animal science in 2016 and a doctorate in animal science in 2019, all from the Federal University of Minas Gerais.
Noble Research Institute LLC is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Noble’s goal is to achieve regenerative land stewardship in grazing animal production with producer profitability. Achievement of this goal will be measured by farmers and ranchers profitably regenerating hundreds of millions of acres of U.S. grazing lands. Noble aims to remove, mitigate or help producers avoid the barriers that deter the lasting use of regenerative, profitable land management practices in grazing animal production.
Researchers, consultants, educators and ranch staff work together to give farmers and ranchers the skills and tools to regenerate the land in a profitable manner. Noble researchers and educators seek and deliver answers to producer questions concerning regenerative management of pasture and range environments, wildlife, pecan production, and livestock production. Regenerative management recognizes that each decision made on the ranch impacts the interactions of the soil, plants, water, animals and producers. Noble’s 14,000 acres of working ranch lands provide a living laboratory on which to demonstrate and practice regenerative principles and ideas to deliver value to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.
–Noble Research Institute LLC