UC Davis Feeding a Growing Population News

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

Andy Fell — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:28:53 PDT

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 — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:37:15 PDT

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 — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:27:49 PDT

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 — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:12:10 PDT

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 — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:23:01 PDT

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 UC Davis Maize Geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra

Andy Fell — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:45:02 PDT

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.

Tomato Industry Taking Steps to Stop Spread of Parasitic Weed

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:51:37 PDT

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

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

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:05:00 PST

UC 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.

Helping Beekeepers Fight Mites Through More Effective Treatments

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:18:34 PST

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

Mirror Image Pheromones Help Beetles Swipe Right

Andy Fell — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:26:26 PST

There are many ways to communicate with prospective romantic partners: If you are a Japanese scarab beetle, it’s a matter of distinguishing left from right. New work from U.S. and Chinese scientists, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how these beetles use mirror-image pheromones to find a mate. The work could lead to better monitoring and control of significant agricultural pests.

Grant to Expand Self-Cloning Crop Technology for Indian Farmers

Andy Fell — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 09:40:53 PST

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 — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:02:56 PST

UC 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.

Plant Biologists Win VinFuture Prize for Developing Self-Cloning Crops

Andy Fell — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:11:16 PST

Two researchers at the University of California, Davis, have been awarded a VinFuture Prize in recognition of their work developing self-cloning crops, a breakthrough for sustainable agriculture.

Rising Heat Leads to Minimal Losses for California Processing Tomatoes

Katherine E Kerlin — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:00 PST

California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry is highly efficient and likely will be able to withstand higher temperatures from climate change, as well as traffic.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s Long Memory Revealed

Amy M Quinton — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:33:09 PST

UC Davis scientists find chemical "switches" that control gene expression in cabernet sauvignon remain stable across hundreds of years of clonal reproduction.

A Microbial Blueprint for Climate-Smart Cows

Amy M Quinton — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:00:00 PST

UC Davis research reveals which gut microbes in a cow could reduce methane, bringing them a step closer to engineering microbes to create climate-smart cows.

Study Shows Very Dense Olive Orchards Thrive on Less Fertilizer

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:00 PST

UC Davis researchers found olive trees produce the same yields and high-quality oil when using 25-50% less fertilizer.

Plants Balance Adaptability in Skin Cells with Stability in Sex Cells

Andy Fell — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:10:04 PST

Mutations drive evolution, but they can also be risky. New research led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, published Nov. 10 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how plants control mutation rates in different stem cells to balance adaptability with safety and stability. The findings have implications for breeding some of the world’s most important fruit and vegetable crops, such as potatoes and bananas.

Bezos Earth Fund Grants $2M to UC Davis and American Heart Association to Advance AI-Designed Foods

Andy Fell — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:35:09 PDT

The Bezos Earth Fund has announced a $2 million grant to the University California, Davis, the American Heart Association and other partners to advance “Swap it Smart” as part of its AI for Climate & Nature Grand Challenge. The funding will support research that could help redesign foods, for example optimizing for flavor profile, nutritional properties and lower costs and environmental impact.

Turning Food Scraps into Opportunities

Amy M Quinton — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:05:16 PDT

UC Davis researchers have created an online tool to track food scraps and turn them into useful products.