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.
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.
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.
Jennifer Baumbach used her GSR award to support research on water-wise landscaping, which she now applies in her role leading the Master Gardener Program in Solano and Yolo counties, turning science into practical gardening solutions.
Graduate Student Research awardee Leslie Roche used her support to explore grazing and conservation, laying the foundation for UC Rangelands. Her work informs federal policy and supports both ranchers and threatened species.
Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE rice and wild rice advisor, used her GSR award to research weed management in rice. Her graduate training built strong grower ties and skills now guiding her work in California’s top rice-growing region.
