Researchers and students are highly involved in international collaborations spanning the globe. Much of the region's pioneering work in sustainable plant and animal health and production, agribusiness, human nutrition and dietetics, landscape design, environment and natural resource management, and community and rural development have been conducted by FAFS faculty and students both on-site and in laboratories. FAFS's diverse strengths across multiple disciplines have positioned it as a regional center of excellence that integrates education, research and outreach while investing in future leaders who will address the global challenges of the 21st century.