The 2024 Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture Annual Meeting in Guatemala focused on building climate resilience for small farmers. Experts shared research, innovations, and strategies for scaling sustainable horticulture practices.
Problems faced by agriculture amid climate change are closely intertwined with non-ag issues. Solutions often have downsides. We have to embrace the complexity, talk to each other, innovate, use technology and be flexible to find solutions that feed us without causing harm to people and while improving and protecting the environment.
Alfalfa expert Charlie Brummer says it's time to "think about redesigning the alfalfa plant from first principles," after 40 years of frustrated efforts to increase yield. He made the remarks at a recent meeting of the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. Students also presented their research, including trials to grow the crop with less water.
Four students connected to the UC Davis Department of Plant Science have received grants from the Milton D. and Mary M. Miller Plant Science Award, which supports learners interested in careers with Cooperative Extension. The 2024 awardees are Maya Shydlowski, Erika Escalona, Sam Dudley and Ben Baldi. All four students said they are eager to share what they are learning with people in the field who need solutions for everyday problems.
UC Davis research shows that no-till, drill-seeded rice can cut water use by over 15%, saving growers money while reducing evaporation. Field trials explore pest management, weed control, and planting strategies to improve sustainability and yield.
Venkatesan Sundaresan has won a Wolf Prize in Agriculture for developing "synthetic apomixis." The method for creating clonal seed at greatly reduced cost is a boon to agriculture, especially for farmers in developing countries.
UC Davis and Universidad de La Salle students collaborated on a cacao project, fostering agricultural innovation and cultural exchange. A second project will focus on climate-smart cacao production and agroecology to strengthen Colombia’s food systems.
Advances in breeding and postharvest handling in strawberries and tomatoes, aimed at reducing the costs of disease in the field and in postharvest, were on display at the recent Strawberry Disease Field Day, hosted by the UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program.
California farmers spend over $900M annually on weed control. At UC Davis Weed Day 2024, researchers shared updates on herbicide drift, native plants for weed control, irrigation impacts, and new weed-zapping technology for organic orchards.
UC Davis researchers used advanced microscopy to observe plant cell division in real-time, uncovering three phases of cell wall formation. Their work, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, provides insights into cytokinesis and material recycling.
The Diagnosing Herbicide Symptoms field day at UC Davis trained growers and researchers to identify crop damage causes, from herbicides to water stress. Experts emphasized detective work, careful application, and alternative explanations like pests or soil issues.
UC Davis professors Patrick H. Brown and Cai-Zhong Jiang have been honored by the American Society of Horticultural Science. Brown won the 2024 Outstanding Researcher Award, while Jiang was named an ASHS Fellow. They will be recognized in September.
UC Davis research reveals how postharvest handling and cold storage impact tomato flavor at the molecular level. Findings may help optimize storage, reduce food waste, and improve fruit quality for growers and consumers.
UC Davis’ Postharvest Research and Extension Center is expanding industry partnerships, launching new courses, enhancing research, and offering free online resources. The goal is to support produce quality, safety, and innovation worldwide.
UC Davis graduate Joseph Urias, a first-gen student, combined hands-on work at Planting Justice with studies in horticulture. Now, he aims to connect sustainable agriculture with food systems, bridging academia and community initiatives.
