Steam treatment offers growers a chemical-free way to control weeds and soil-borne diseases, benefiting both crops and farmworkers. UC Davis research in Salinas shows it boosts yields while preserving soil health, making it a promising tool for organic farming.
UC Davis' Feed the Future Innovation Lab showcased low-cost postharvest technologies to young African leaders. Simple solutions like solar dryers and CoolBot cold rooms can reduce food waste, boost farmer incomes, and improve food security globally.
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 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.
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.
Master’s student María José Godoy Harb studies food system lessons from COVID-19 on Rapa Nui Island. Her research informs policy for resilience and was selected for a Vermont conference. She received multiple awards and a UC Davis Global Fellowship.
UC Davis researchers are developing wheat and barley varieties to withstand drought, salinity, and climate change. Innovations include dual-purpose wheat, non-allergenic grains, drone monitoring, and water-efficient farming to support growers.
UC Davis' Strawberry Breeding Program develops resilient, high-quality varieties for growers worldwide. It has released 12 commercial varieties in nine years, supporting California's $2.7B industry.
UC Davis plant scientist Grey Monroe won a $1M NSF CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to study how plants protect key genes from harmful mutations. His work could boost gene editing and crop resilience and involve underrepresented high school students.
