SOYBEAN RESEARCHER MAKES NAME FOR HIMSELF

More than a quarter of a century ago, a native of Delhi, India, came to the United States to study soybeans, a food staple that continues to grow in importance around the world in meeting the food needs of 5 billion people.

Eventually, Dr. Sam Anand wound up at the Delta Research Center operated by the University of Missouri in Portageville. Over 19 years, Dr. Anand has developed several new varieties of soybean. The last, in 1998, was named for him and was a top producer in national testing.

Anand has retired now and is working part-time at MU's Columbia campus. But he has left an important legacy for the Bootheel -- and for himself -- in the years he devoted to his important research of the soybean.

"You try to make some improvements every time you develop a new bean," said Anand. Obviously, he has had considerable success for which soybean farmers can by thankful.