College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UC Davis

UC Davis is at the forefront of alternative protein research! At the Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein, our scientists are working to create beef from cow stem cells and developing high-protein, eco-friendly fungi-based foods. Find out how these innovations aim to meet growing meat demands sustainably.

The Promise of Alternative Proteins Inside a UC Davis engineering lab, tiny round pellets swirl in a brown liquid inside a 5-liter glass tank. The tank, a bioreactor, is brewing edible fungi high in protein and designed to look and taste like meat.In another lab on campus, a liquid nitrogen tank nicknamed “cryocow” holds frozen vi...

Check out this Washington Post article on the latest UC Davis avocado oil study, led by Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension Selina Wang. Discover how many avocado oils on the market aren't as pure as they claim and find out which retailers fell short. Dive into this thorough report for all the important details!

Why your avocado oil may be fake and contain other cheap oils Scientists say adulteration is rampant in the avocado oil industry, and many people are being misled by some of the nation’s largest retail chains.

September is National Food Safety Month!

Visit our UC Food Safety webpage for top resources on keeping your food safe – from farm to kitchen. The site features tips, videos and insightful research on topics including foodborne hazards and kitchen food safety.

UC Food Safety Research and Extension faculty at UC Davis, Drs. Erin DiCaprio and Linda J. Harris, welcome you to the University of California Food Safety website. You can find resources including events and training, presentations, publications and website links related to the safe production, harvest and p...

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture and UC Davis CA&ES Global Engagement invites you to:

UC Davis 2024 Global Food Systems Agriculture Day
Thursday, October 24th (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
At the UC Davis International Center
With a reception hosted by the Department of Plant Sciences (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Space is limited, so please register at https://forms.gle/Xu4bDV2zn66Ri7vEA.

Seeding Food Systems Resilience: Global Food Systems Research Day at UC Davis | October 24th We are excited to invite you to the "Seeding Food Systems Resilience: Global Food Systems Research Day," hosted by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture and Global Engagement at UC Davis. This day will feature engaging presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities desi...

Check out this New York Times article featuring UC Davis Professor Rebecca Hernandez’s inspiring research! Her work highlights how solar farms can do more than just produce clean energy – they can also support local wildlife and improve natural habitats.

Solar Farms Have a Superpower Beyond Clean Energy The sites fight climate change and can help with another global crisis: the collapse of nature. But so far, efforts to nurture wildlife habitat have been spotty.

UC Davis topped over $1 billion in research funding this year, fueling groundbreaking projects! Among them, Dept. of Land, Air and Water Professor Gregory Pasternack's team is finding new ways to make California's urban streams safer and more sustainable with data-driven, nature-based solutions.

UC Davis Exceeds $1 Billion in Research Awards for Third Consecutive Year The University of California, Davis, once again exceeded $1 billion in new external research awards in the fiscal year 2023-24, surpassing the amount received in the previous year by $33 million. The funding, which totaled $1.039 billion, will enable scientific discoveries and innovations addressing...

Attention cat owners, animal scientists at are studying how caretakers and cats play interactively. If you’re 18, live in the U.S. and have a least one 1-year-old, researchers want to hear from you.

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

Congratulations to the latest class of fellows!

Meet our fifth class of Public Scholarship Faculty Fellows! Hailing from engineering, biology, psychology, law, nutrition and more, these 10 fellows will meet monthly to develop concrete tools for navigating the unique challenges of public scholarship. Learn more: https://publicengagement.ucdavis.edu/news/new-faces-public-scholarship-pse-welcomes-2024-faculty-fellows

The UC Davis Center for Regional Change is renewing its mission to drive meaningful impact. Professor Michael Rios has been appointed as faculty advisor to lead this effort, focusing on refreshing the CRC’s direction, expanding opportunities, and fostering stronger community partnerships.

“This will set the stage to invite faculty from across the college to write the next chapter of the CRC in ways that is responsive to community and societal issues,” said Rios.

Center for Regional Change Launches New Phase Focused on Mission and Impact Michael Rios, professor with the Department of Human Ecology and vice provost of public scholarship with the UC Davis Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement, was appointed faculty advisor to help guide the Center for Regional Change renew its mission.

A hearty Aggie congratulations to UC Davis geneticist and animal science professor Huaijun Zhou who was named a 2024 Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation for his work enhancing the health and productivity of poultry! Nearly 40 experts from around the globe working to transform food sectors.

Top Agri-Food Pioneer - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World In Spring of 2024 the World Food Prize Foundation opened submissions for the Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) List, a new initiative by the World Food Prize Foundation. The list featured 38 leading innovators from across the world working to transform food systems, in honor of the organization’s 38t...

Cow burps produce a lot of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In this story, the Washington Post takes a deep dive into research out of UC Davis and the Department of Animal Science that is working to change the microbes in a cow’s stomach to eliminate those very emissions.

Scientists may have found a radical solution for making your hamburger less bad for the planet Scientists are studying how to genetically modify the makeup of cows’ gut microbiomes to prevent their planet-warming methane emissions.

Congrats to Professor Adrienne Nishina, who has been named the new chair of the Department of Human Ecology!

Her goals include finding creative ways to help students build career skills and supporting faculty who are all doing important research that has direct ties to improving the lives of people locally and around the globe.

Professor Adrienne Nishina Named Chair of UC Davis Department of Human Ecology The UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) is pleased to introduce Professor Adrienne Nishina as the new chair of the Department of Human Ecology. She started her new role July 1. Nishina has been with the department’s faculty since 2006. She earned her bachelor’s an...

Congrats to Professor Gerardo Mackenzie for being named the new chair of the Department of Nutrition! As chair, one of Mackenzie’s goals is to secure training grants for students, particularly in nutritional biology and in maternal and child nutrition, two areas where he said faculty have significant expertise.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of nutrition science,” Mackenzie said.

Professor Gerardo Mackenzie Named Chair of Department of Nutrition As the new academic year approaches, the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is pleased to introduce Professor Gerardo Mackenzie as the new chair of the Department of Nutrition.Mackenzie has been with the department faculty since 2016. Before that, he spent nine years as an i...

On the edge of the UC Davis campus sits Foundation Plant Sciences, a world-renowned facility charged with ensuring grapevines, strawberries, fruit and nut trees, roses and other crops are free of viruses and pathogens.

Learn more about the largest clean plant center in the nation:

Foundation Plant Services A Clearinghouse for Virus-Tested Crops On the edge of the UC Davis campus sits a world-renowned facility charged with ensuring grapevines, strawberries, fruit and nut trees, sweet potatoes, olives, pistachio, and roses are tested for viruses and pathogens.

🚨 Research alert 🚨

Low- and moderate-severity forest wildfires can reduce the intensity of future fires for as long as 20 years in certain climates, according to new research by University of California, Davis.

Less Severe Forest Fires Can Reduce Intensity of Future Blazes Not all forest fires have devastating effects. Low- and moderate-severity forest wildfires can reduce the intensity of future conflagrations for as long as 20 years in certain climates, according to new research by the University of California, Davis.

Congratulations to Seed Biotechnology Center Director Allen Van Deynze and others who were awarded a $1 million grant by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research to study how wild carrot traits can boost stress tolerance & disease resistance into breeds of commercial carrots!

Grant Studying Wild Carrots Seeks to Improve Stress Tolerance Carrot growers face a variety of climate and biological threats, including water access and diseases like Alternaria leaf blight, which can reduce yield by 40-60%. Some cultivated carrots are partially resistant to Alternaria but still require frequent fungicide applications to fully protect crops f...

In its first year, Berkeley's healthy checkout policy led to a 63% rise in compliant products and more than doubled healthy options at checkouts, according to a new UC Davis study.

“Stores replaced sugary drinks, candy and other sweets with unsweetened drinks, healthy foods like nuts, seeds, and fruits and nonfood items,” said Jennifer Falbe, lead author of the study and associate professor with the Department of Human Ecology.

Berkeley Ordinance Replaced Junk Food in Store Checkouts Parents shopping with their children in Berkeley, California, can now breathe a sigh of relief when they get to the checkout lane. Likewise, Berkeley shoppers looking for an impulse snack purchase now have healthy options at the checkout.That is because in March 2021, Berkeley became the world’s f...

Check out innovation in action at UC Davis, as researchers are advancing the future of food with cultivated meat. See their cutting-edge work and how it’s set to make our food system more sustainable in a video by ABC 10 Sacramento:

NorCal scientists join rush to invent lab-grown meat With experts forecasting a future shortage of meat to feed the world, more than 50 researchers at UC Davis are working to invent the protein of the future.Su...

Coastal redwoods and golden poppies – California’s natural wonders face unprecedented challenges from climate change. Check out this UC Davis study that highlights the urgent need for updated wildfire strategies and proactive conservation efforts.

“We need to be willing to modify traditional views of conservation. We need continual innovation,” said lead author Susan Harrison, chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy.

California a Botanical and Climate Change Hot Spot From coastal redwoods and Joshua trees to golden poppies and sagebrush, California is a global botanical hotspot. It’s also a place confronted with extreme heat, wildfires and crumbling coastlines. The state’s natural beauty and history of pioneering conservation efforts make it a test bed for p...

How do we produce aggregate estimates of crop yields in a given region? Do counties have accurate, up-to-date data to inform policy analysis?

Join us at (or remotely) to hear Dr. James Sayre illustrate how remote sensing and are revolutionizing this process, developing accurate models with data collected more efficiently and more frequently.

Wed., July 24, 12:00–1:00 PM

Enjoy lunch during the talk and a chance to engage with Dr. Sayre in person.

To register, visit https://aifs.ucdavis.edu/education-and-outreach/speaker-series.

Let’s give a big Aggie congrats to Tim Beatty, the new chair of the UC Davis Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics! His priorities include launching a new business major in 2025, supporting students and faculty and maintaining program excellence.

Tim Beatty Named Chair of Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Tim Beatty, who joined UC Davis in 2014, is the new chair of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, or ARE, which routinely ranks among the best agriculture and applied economics programs in the world. ARE trains both graduate and undergraduate students and its managerial economics m...

Exciting news! Distinguished Professor Venkatesan Sundaresan has won a 2024 Wolf Prize in Agriculture for his research on plant reproduction that created a method to produce high-yield hybrid crops more easily, benefiting farmers everywhere. Congrats to Professor Sundaresan and other winners of this prestigious award!

Plant Biologist Venkatesan Sundaresan Wins 2024 Wolf Prize in Agriculture Venkatesan Sundaresan, Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Plant Biology and Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis, has been awarded a 2024 Wolf Prize in Agriculture for key discoveries on plant developmental biology of relevance to crop improvement.

As the dam removal project unfolds on the Klamath River, UC Davis scientists are at the forefront, studying the impact on salmon populations. This historic restoration aims to revive 400 miles of spawning grounds, offering hope for the river’s ecosystem and its cultural significance.

Check out this multimedia feature story, “The Salmon Diaries: Life Before and After Klamath Dam Removal,” which includes assistant professor Rob Lusardi with the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology.

“There’s nothing better we could do for fish and for people in Northern California and throughout the world than to remove these dams,” Lusardi said. “But if we don’t track and try to better understand how things are changing, we’re not going to understand their importance for future efforts.”

The Salmon Diaries: Life Before and After Klamath Dam Removal When salmon return from the ocean to the Klamath River after the world’s largest dam removal project ends this fall, they will regain access to 400 miles of historical spawning habitat their species has been cut off from for more than a century.From the river to the lab, looking at the very ear bo...

The latest issue of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Update tackles questions around the unintended consequences of clean food policies when it comes to emissions, land use and prices.

Bottom line: Prices for vegetable oils surged as renewable diesel demands outpaced supply.

The Unintended Consequences of Clean Fuel Policies Over the last two decades, both the federal government and state governments have enacted policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector. In a new Special Issue of ARE Update, University of California agricultural economists explore how these federal and state renewab...

Register now for the International Olive Sustainability Conference hosted by the UC Davis Olive Center! Join us September 5–7 for presentations and talks about sustainable olive farming, irrigation, soil health, olive oil production and more. The multi-day event also includes visits to Napa and the surrounding region. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about a greener future!

Home | International Olive Sustainability Conference Read about our Sponsors Welcome The UC Davis Olive Center is hosting an International Olive Sustainability Conference (IOSC) September 5 – 7, 2024 (registration and reception September 4). The conference will be held at the UC Davis Conference Center, with a half-day program in Napa. During this c...

Students, researchers, farmers and industry professionals stopped by UC Davis for its annual W**d Day recently. The event highlighted research and field work, as well as equipment demonstrations and networking opportunities.
Photos by Trina Kleist, UC Davis. https://wric.ucdavis.edu/events/weed_day_2024.html

Discover Fit Candy – a sweet, sustainable treat! UC Davis student Dion Skaria created the gummy candy that blends sweet and sour flavors, with only 20 calories and less than a gram of sugar per bag. The creation by the food science major is made from upcycled watermelon rinds, which are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

“People love to eat candy, but there’s not a whole lot of healthy, all natural, made with real fruit options out there,” Skaria said. “I wanted to create a product that is not only healthy for me and you, but something that is also healthy for the environment.”

Aspiring Food Scientist Creates Low-Calorie, Eco-Friendly Candy Product Driven by his passion for food science and brimming with ideas, UC Davis student Dion Skaria created Fit Candy – a nutritious treat that blends sweet and sour flavors while reducing food waste. This innovative gummy candy is crafted from upcycled watermelon rinds.

Growers often harvest tomatoes before they ripen in hopes of extending shelf life and avoiding crop loss, but removing the fruit from the vine and certain storage temperatures can hurt quality, flavor and shelf life. New research from UC Davis examines changes at the molecular level to enhance postharvest actions and potentially prevent waste.

Researchers Examine How Early Harvest, Storage Affect Tomatoes Growers often harvest tomatoes before they ripen in hopes of extending shelf life and avoiding crop loss. But that act of removing the fruit from the vine affects flavor. And storing tomatoes below certain temperatures also hurts quality and shelf life.

Professor Amanda Guyer from the Department of Human Ecology has been named co-director of the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, joining Ron Mangun from the College of Letters and Science. Their leadership is set to bring innovative research and increased public engagement at the center.

UC Davis Appoints Co-Directors To Guide the Future of the Center for Mind and Brain UC Davis has just appointed Ron Mangun and Amanda Guyer co-directors of the Center for Mind and Brain (CMB). As co-directors, they will lead the center for the next three years. They will build on the center's foundation of research on child development, aging, disease and many other areas related t...

Did you know that the bark of cork oaks can be harvested without hurting the tree?

Students, wine industry players and others gathered at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden recently to a cork harvesting exercise.

Cork Harvest Comes to UC Davis On May 30, 2024, under the shade of the UC Davis Arboretum’s 80-plus-year-old cork oak grove, a rarely seen exhibition of cork harvesting took place. This traditional practice, unfamiliar to most Americans, involves the careful stripping of a cork oak’s outer bark without harming the tree.