From nuisance to new resource: Prickly pear could support fuels, foods and rural growers

Texans often view prickly pear cactus as a nuisance, but researchers with Texas A&M AgriLife Research are seeking opportunity.

Susanne Talcott, Ph.D., a molecular researcher and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Food Science and Technology, leads a multidisciplinary team studying how prickly pear cactus can serve as a source of biofuels and functional food ingredients.