People who turned to gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic did so to relieve stress, connect with others and grow their own food in hopes of avoiding the virus, according to a survey conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and international partners.
Urban heat islands are areas with few trees, little shade and an environment that releases heat into the air. Trees make cities more livable as temperatures rise with climate change. Heat islands can coincide with impoverished areas and human health problems. Mary Cadenasso, Plant Sciences professor, researches heat islands.
For the first time, plant scientists at UC Davis and UC ANR harvested an industrial hemp crop at UC locations. Working on the project are Professor Charlie Brummer, and Cooperative Extension Specialists Bob Hutmacher and Dan Putnam – all three are faculty in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
Small-scale farmers in Cambodia work with UC Davis’ Horticulture Innovation Lab and Royal University of Agriculture researchers to test methods for growing and selling produce. Farmers recognize that fruits and vegetables meet nutrition needs, and help lift themselves out of poverty. (Includes video)
Brassica plants, such as broccoli, produce metabolites that benefit humans (flavor, anti-cancer defenses), benefit the plant (attacking insects) and, in new research, defend against drought. Dan Kliebenstein’s lab examines drought tolerance in Arabidopsis.
A new article in the journal Science – Fields on Fire: Alternatives to Crop Residue Burning in India – addresses the environmental problems associated with crop burning in India, and presents alternatives such as changing cropping systems and adopting different management practices. J.K. Ladha, Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is a co-author.
UC Davis researchers have partnered with a federally compliant pharmaceutical company to analyze the chemical and biological profiles of cannabis for the benefit of law enforcement, health care providers, and scientific professionals. A Cannabis and Hemp Research Center is also being established at UC Davis.
Plant breeders and food safety experts held a conference at UC Davis to discuss issues relevant to food safety, including microbial contamination control in produce throughout the food chain (seeds, field production, pre- and postharvest, packaging, distribution, marketing). Conference chair was Professor Maeli Melotto, Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
The African Orphan Crops Consortium partnered with the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis to optimize traditional African crops to improve nutrition, health, and local economies.
The importance of eating fruits and vegetables is making headlines again, with studies on nutrition security, nutrient consumption, and a global diet with increased consumption of fruits and vegetables to meet healthy diet goals.
