Feeding a Growing Population Content

�鶹��ý Uncorks Second Annual Wine Sale

Amy M Quinton — June 11, 2026 - 12:48pm

Student-made wines from �鶹��ý go on sale June 16. Six student labels plus three �鶹��ý wines, grown in Davis and Napa Valley. Proceeds fund scholarships.

AI Suggests Simple Food Swaps to Make Meals Healthier and Cheaper

Andy Fell — May 28, 2026 - 11:00am

An artificial intelligence framework that suggests just one to three ingredient swaps can make meals meaningfully more nutritious and less expensive, according to a new study published May 28 in the open-access journal PLOS Digital Health by Trevor Chan and Ilias Tagkopoulos of the University of California, Davis.

�鶹��ý Opens Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation

Amy M Quinton — May 21, 2026 - 9:39am

�鶹��ý opens the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation to advance climate-smart agriculture, sustainability and food security

The Fungus That Spoils Nearly Everything

Amy M Quinton — May 20, 2026 - 6:00am

�鶹��ý scientists discovered gray mold adapts to different crops, revealing why decades of disease-resistant breeding failed.

This Single Mother Must Learn Quickly — Or Her Colony Won’t Survive

Andy Fell — May 15, 2026 - 12:28pm

Being a single mother of 20 is no joke, especially if the survival of a whole species depends on it.

A queen bumblebee faces this very challenge when she lays her first eggs in the spring: She is utterly alone, with no worker bees to help.

She flies miles each day, collecting nectar to feed her young. She builds a protective nursery from wax. When she’s not out foraging, she climbs atop her larvae and buzzes to warm them.

A Fresh Approach to Peppermint

Andy Fell — May 14, 2026 - 11:37am

The genomics of peppermint are not as fresh as their flavor but scientists from the University of California, Davis, have found a way to breathe new genetic variation into the species.

Scientists Dispute Hypothesis That Climate Change Will Unleash Massive Ag Pest Populations

Andy Fell — May 12, 2026 - 10:27am

The widespread hypothesis that climate warming will result in unprecedented agricultural pest populations and cause food insecurity worldwide is oversimplified, according to a new study by a team led by Mia Lippey, an entomologist at the University of California, Davis. But the study does indicate that pests fare better in warmer temperatures than their natural enemies, which researchers identified as a cause for concern.

Could Cultured Chocolate Unlock the Next Food Revolution?

Andy Fell — May 11, 2026 - 1:12pm

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, are working with California Cultured, a Sacramento based food-tech company, to keep chocolate affordable and sustainable by growing everyone’s favorite treat directly from plant cells.

Plants Walk a Fine Line Between Growth and Defense

Andy Fell — May 04, 2026 - 4:23pm

Salicylic acid, the active molecule in aspirin and some acne medications, is a hormone in plants that is essential for immunity, but it’s a double-edged sword: Too much can cause autoimmunity and stunt growth. In a new study published April 20 in Nature Communications, University of California, Davis, researchers discovered that plants use a surprising multi-layered system to regulate salicylic acid levels and keep their immune system in check.

National Academy of Sciences Elects �鶹��ý Maize Geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra

Andy Fell — April 29, 2026 - 8:45am

The National Academy of Sciences has elected Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis, as a member. His election was announced April 28.

Ross-Ibarra is one of 120 members and 25 international members elected this year in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership in the academy is considered one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve.