Vincent D’Antonio, longtime UC Davis staff research associate in vegetable crops, passed away at 74. He supported celery and Brassica breeding for 30 years and is remembered for his dedication, kindness, and love of sports.
Marie Klein, a Ph.D. student in plant sciences at UC Davis, was named a 2023 Borlaug Scholar for her work in poplar genetics and renewable jet fuel. The award offers career mentoring and supports her global research goals.
A $2M USDA grant will fund research on grazing sheep in organic orchards to boost soil health, cut costs, and control pests. The UC Davis-led team will also create safety guidelines to address contamination concerns.
The Western IPM Center (Integrated Pest Management) received $1M in USDA funding to support sustainable pest control across 14 western states and U.S. territories. It connects researchers and stakeholders to tackle pests, improve food security, and share solutions.
UC Davis researchers are tackling Orobanche ramosa, a species of broomrape and parasitic weed threatening California’s tomato industry. They aim to detect, manage, and stop its spread through field trials, drone imaging, lab studies, and industry collaboration.
Four Plant Sciences faculty—Brian Bailey, Dan Kliebenstein, Amanda Crump, and Alessandro Ossola—were honored for their outstanding mentoring. Their keys to success: honest communication, empathy, and prioritizing student growth.
Four students from historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, joined UC Davis this summer for research and mentoring through the PABGAP program, which supports their path to graduate school and beyond with funding, training, and long-term faculty connections.
Students in the SCOPE program showcased new organic crop varieties—including tomatoes, blue wheat, zinnias, and Asian celtuce—bred for taste, resilience, and diversity during the 2023 UC Davis Student Farm Field Day.
UC Davis’ SCOPE program received a $2M USDA grant to expand student-led organic plant breeding. New crops, new partners, and collaboration with UC Santa Cruz aim to share the model and support organic agriculture across climates.
Researchers at UC Davis are testing electric weed control as an alternative for organic farms. The system zaps weeds at the root, offering a potential low-chemical, cost-effective solution while preserving soil health.
Invasive grasses fueled by nitrogen pollution are altering fire patterns in the Mojave Desert, threatening Joshua trees. UC Davis restoration ecologist Justin Valliere says restoration must focus on protecting key areas from frequent wildfires.
Rikiya Hatano, a UC Davis senior in international ag development, won the 2023 Ryerson Award for his work in rural ag self-sufficiency. He hopes to improve lives in Japan and globally through sustainable agriculture.
Doctoral student Gen Ha Park was named a George Washington Carver scholar for his work developing heat- and drought-tolerant chile peppers using genomic tools. His research aims to support sustainable farming in a warming climate.
Blake Meyers, a leading plant genomics expert, will return to UC Davis as director of the Genome Center on March 1, 2024, succeeding Richard Michelmore and ushering in a new era focused on spatial genomics research.
New UC Cooperative Extension specialist Justin Valliere will expand invasion and restoration ecology efforts, focusing on native plant recovery, climate stress, and community engagement—especially involving youth in stewardship.
