FUNAAB Alumnus Wins 2026 US National Dairy Award

By Olasunkanmi Olajide

The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) has announced Nigerian scholar and an alumnus of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr. Yusuf Adeniji, as the recipient of the 2026 National Milk Producers Federation, tagged Richard M. Hoyt Award.

The award, jointly supported by the National Milk Producers Federation Dairy Scholarship Fund, recognises outstanding research with direct application to solving critical challenges in the United States dairy industry. Dr. Adeniji would be formally presented with the honour on June 23, 2026, during the ADSA Annual Meeting scheduled for June 21–24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Dr. Adeniji, originally from Nigeria, earned his Bachelor of Agriculture Degree in Animal Production and Health, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), from FUNAAB in 2014. He later obtained a Master’s Degree in Animal Nutrition from King Saud University in 2020, before completing his PhD in Animal Science at The Pennsylvania State University in 2025, where he specialised in dairy cattle nutrition and physiology under the supervision of Prof. Kevin Harvatine.

His research focuses on fatty acid metabolism, nutrient partitioning, and the biological regulation of milk fat synthesis in dairy cows, work that has significant implications for improving dairy production efficiency and sustainability.

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Currently serving as a postdoctoral scholar at The Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Adeniji continues to contribute to advanced dairy science research aimed at enhancing productivity and addressing global food and nutrition challenges.

The ADSA described the award as recognition of research that bridges academic excellence and real-world impact in the dairy sector, noting Adeniji’s work as “highly relevant to contemporary challenges in dairy nutrition and production systems.”

The Association is an international body of scientists, educators, and industry professionals dedicated to advancing dairy science and supporting innovation across the global dairy value chain.