Food & Agriculture Content

Tomato Industry Taking Steps to Stop Spread of Parasitic Weed

Amy M Quinton — April 15, 2026 - 9:51am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers are playing a key research role in the battle against branched broomrape, developing in-field sanitation guidelines for tomato harvesters.

Managed Wetlands a Culinary Hot Spot for SF Bay Fish, But They Need Delivery Options

Katherine E Kerlin — March 25, 2026 - 3:47pm

A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study shows that part of the San Fransisco Estuary is teeming with fish food — the managed wetlands of Suisun Marsh. Timing seasonal flood releases from them could feed more fish.

Study Improves Understanding of Food Safety Risks in California Central Coast Produce

Amy M Quinton — March 05, 2026 - 10:05am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers found harmful strains of E. coli, including types that can cause serious human illness, in animal and environmental sources in the Salinas Valley.

Transformative Gift Propels 51�ԹϺ�� Davis’ Leadership in Ag Tech

Amy M Quinton — March 03, 2026 - 9:09am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis receives a $25 million gift from the estate of Dan G. Best II to fund endowed chairs, scholarships and agricultural innovation in honor of C.L. Best.

Helping Beekeepers Fight Mites Through More Effective Treatments

Katherine E Kerlin — February 19, 2026 - 2:18pm

Researchers from the USDA and 51�ԹϺ�� Davis are helping beekeepers protect their colonies from destructive varroa mites through a promising new line of research.

What is Gut Health?

Amy M Quinton — February 18, 2026 - 8:51am

An international panel led by 51�ԹϺ�� Davis professor Maria Marco defines “gut health” for the first time, offering a scientific framework for medicine, research and consumer claims.

Coffee Industry Leaders Give Major Collections to 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Library

Julia Ann Easley — January 29, 2026 - 2:46pm

The University of California, Davis, has received three significant collections of coffee-related materials that together illuminate the history, science and global impact of specialty coffee.

The donations to the 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Library are from Gerald “Jerry” Baldwin, co-founder of Starbucks and former president of Peet’s Coffee; Russ Kramer, president of Hacienda La Minita and veteran of Green Mountain Coffee; and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).

Tell Me Something Good … About Salmon

Katherine E Kerlin — January 29, 2026 - 1:22pm

For every bad thing happening in the world, there are good people trying to make things right. Sometimes they even win. That’s why I’m starting a new series on this blog called “Tell Me Something Good.”

I’m opening it up with Carson Jeffres, a 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Center for Watershed Sciences researcher who helped inspire the idea, simply by telling me something good. I needed to hear it. Maybe you do, too.

Grant to Expand Self-Cloning Crop Technology for Indian Farmers

Andy Fell — January 27, 2026 - 9:40am

Venkatesan Sundaresan, a Distinguished Professor of plant biology and plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded a Gates Foundation grant to develop self-cloning crops for Indian farmers.

Breakthroughs for Preventing Pistachio Hull Split

Katherine E Kerlin — January 22, 2026 - 12:02pm

51�ԹϺ�� Davis agricultural scientists reveal how pistachio hulls are built and how their cell walls break down, lending new insight for the $2-bilion-a year pistachio industry.