United States | Livestock artificial insemination

2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers: Curtis Youngs

Curtis Youngs has combined scientific excellence, international leadership and practical impact to advance livestock systems, food security and agricultural capacity across multiple regions. He has built a distinguished career at Iowa State University, serving as Morrill Professor, M.E. Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Animal Agriculture and associate director of the livestock and animal health programs. His work translates advanced reproductive and animal biosciences into real-world benefits. His publications show sustained contributions to livestock reproduction, embryo technologies, biosecurity, dairy development, camelid production and sustainable livestock systems across Ethiopia, Kosovo, Peru, Algeria and Uganda. Youngs laid a foundation for better use of artificial insemination in livestock to drive dairy production in numerous African countries. He and his collaborators achieved an artificial insemination success rate with sex-sorted semen of nearly 70%, a record in Africa. His impact is reflected in honors like the Global Engagement Distinguished Career Award.