UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

11 Join the Ranks of Hellman Fellows Eleven faculty members are receiving support for their work through this year’s Hellman Fellowships, and it comes right when they need it most: early in their careers.“It can be immensely helpful to p...

Congrats to Runzi Wang, assistant professor of landscape architecture + environmental design, who is among 11 #UCDavis faculty members in the 2025-26 class of Hellman Fellows! Kudos, Runzi!
www.ucdavis.edu/news/11-join...

In the fields, artificial intelligence creates the opportunity to increase yields and quality while saving resources. (Courtesy of AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems)

Scout, an AI firm that uses photos & geolocation data to map vine health in vineyards, was named to the TIME Best Innovations of 2025 list. Cheers to Scout, which grew out of a #UCDavis project launched by Mason Earles & alum Kia Behnia! 🍷🍇
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/uc-facu...

Aptly Named Aggies: Celebrating UC Davis’ Aptronyms What’s in a name? For these UC Davis employees, quite a lot. Known as aptronyms, their names happen to perfectly match the type of work they do.

Some names just fit. We have a Bloom, Haven and Wild in our college who are perfectly named for the work they do. Check out more of the aptly named Aggies on campus: hr.ucdavis.edu/news/aptly-n...

Amanda Guyer with the Dept. of Human Ecology leads NIH-funded research that’s helping understand what’s going on in the minds of teens, showing that everyone’s brain develops differently & how the right support can make a big difference during those formative years. www.ucdavis.edu/research/lab...

Principal investigator Yi Wang, right, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering examines a petri dish with graduate student Xu Kang

In a new federally funded project, UC Davis researchers are finding a more sustainable way to extract valuable components modern technologies from acidic wastewater. 💧⚡

https://ow.ly/NP8i50XAVIU

UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences | UC Davis College of Letters & Science

Rising Heat Leads to Minimal Losses for California Processing Tomatoes California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry is highly efficient and likely will be able to withstand higher temperatures and traffic congestion with minimal postharvest losses, according to res...

A climate change bright spot: California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry is highly efficient & will be able to withstand higher temperatures & traffic congestion with minimal losses, new #UCDavis research finds.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/rising-...

A Microbial Blueprint for Climate-Smart Cows Each year, a single cow can belch about 200 pounds of methane. The powerful greenhouse gas is 27 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. For decades, scientists and f...

🚨Research alert🚨

One cow can belch about 200 pounds of methane in a single year. A team from #UCDavis, #UCBerkeley and the Innovative Genomics Institute is working on ways to engineer the gut microbes of cows to reduce the production of this potent greenhouse gas.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/microbi...

How Does a Parasitic Nematode Infect a Wide Variety of Plants? Nematologists at the University of California, Davis, including Valerie Williamson, professor emerita in the Department of Plant Pathology and associate professor Shahid Siddique, Department of Entomo...

Root-knot nematodes are major agricultural pests. A new UC Davis-led study of the worm's genome shows how it can adapt to a wide variety of host plants @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/blog/how-doe...

New film: Redwoods inspire Moore to explore their secrets Scientist Zane Moore, of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, discusses his passion for coast redwoods in the documentary film, "Giants Rising," by Lisa Landers/Tangent Productions. Streaming an...

#UCDavis grad Zane Moore appears in the PBS documentary Giants Rising about the iconic redwood forests. In the film, plant biologist & science teacher Moore plays a tune on his horn while standing among majestic redwoods.

www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/moore-f...

Hayfeeders and Other Tools Can Improve Health, Welfare of Stabled Horses Simple items like hay feeders, giant rubber activity balls and shatter-proof mirrors can improve the health and welfare of stabled animals while also reducing frustration behaviors, according to Unive...

Stabled horses don’t get nearly the same time to forage and roam as wild horses. New research from #UCDavis finds that giving stabled horses hay feeders, giant rubber balls and other enrichment tools can help their mental and physical health. @u

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/hayfeed...

Bringing Nutrition Knowledge to Every Table The holidays are full of flavorful dishes and family traditions. Whether it’s homemade stuffing or a cookie swap, all foods are meant to be enjoyed this time of year. Maintaining a healthy approach to...

Turkey, stuffing & pumpkin pie – the holiday feast is almost here! Maintaining a healthy approach to eating during the festive season may feel overwhelming, but @ucdavisnutrition.bsky.social has some helpful pointers to enjoy holiday foods & gatherings! caes.ucdavis.edu/news/bringin...

How climate change brings wildlife to the yard As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA researchers found one overlooked side effect: people report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are scarce.

Pumas, bobcats & bears, oh my: Study finds people clash more with wildlife in drought years. Climate change will likely increase such animal, human interactions, said Kendall Calhoun, a UCLA postdoctoral researcher & #UCDavis conservation ecologist.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/how-cli...

Study Shows Very Dense Olive Orchards Thrive on Less Fertilizer Rows of tightly packed olive trees stretch across California’s Central Valley. These super-high-density orchards, where trees are planted close together for faster, mechanized harvesting, can grow str...

A #UCDavis study finds super-high-density olive orchards can grow strong w/ less fertilizer. Researchers tested how different levels of nitrogen fertilizer & compost & found that trees produced the same yields & high-quality olive oil even when using 25-50% less fertilizer. https://bit.ly/4oMKMxK

A student with a roving sensor and the words: Measuring heat exposure to safeguard students

A slide that reads: Schools in California are losing tree cover, which means students on playgrounds, courts and fields could be exposed to extreme heat under a glaring sun. A #UCDavis team measured temps of up to 120 degrees at schoolyards. With this information districts can protect students by planting trees and preparing for a hotter future.

A sign that reads: The U.S. Forest Service and Green Schoolyards America funded this research.

California schools are losing tree cover, which means students could be exposed to extreme heat outdoors. A #UCDavis team measured temps of up to 120 degrees at schoolyards. Knowing this, districts can protect students by planting trees & preparing for the future. caes.ucdavis.edu/news/researc...

An Extreme Tree Hunt in the Sierra Nevada “Here, Jeffy, Jeffy!” Hugh Safford is calling out into the woods for a tree. That’s normal enough for a forest ecologist, but the tree he’s searching for — the Jeffrey pine — was not, until recently, ...

How long is your commute? For one #UCDavis team, it was 240 miles at elevations above 11,000 feet across 24 peaks – all in search of the Jeffrey Pine. “Jeffries” are normally found in lower elevations and this trek focused higher finds mean for climate change. caes.ucdavis.edu/news/extreme...

Ecology Ph.D. student Megan McDaniels won a MAB Young Scientist Award from UNESCO to study a skin disease called sarcoptic mange and how it affects animals, plants and ecosystems in Argentina’s San Guillermo Reserve. Congrats, Megan!
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...

California Surface Water Costs Triple During Drought California often swings between climate extremes — from powerful storms to punishing droughts. As climate change drives more intense and frequent dry and wet cycles, pressure on California’s water sup...

Drought isn’t cheap. New research from #UCDavis finds that California droughts can push the price of water to $487 per acre-foot, more than triple the cost during an average wet year. Recharging groundwater basins could provide some relief.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/califor...

Too much fertilizer can pollute water supplies and harm crop production. #UCDavis researchers are working on ways to evaluate crop health from the sky with tree-by-tree specificity. This can help farmers pinpoint treatment, safeguarding human health & the environment. bae.ucdavis.edu/news/new-res...

Research on Racism and Maternal Health Faces Funding Challenges A University of California, Davis research project that aims to improve maternal health for Black women, who face high rates of pregnancy-related complications, needs funding support to continue onto ...

Researchers with the CARE Lab are working to advance maternal health equity & provide tools to better care for Black mothers & their families. A fundraising effort is underway to help support this important research that’s making a difference in people’s lives: caes.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davi...

A sheep wearing an orange Halloween-themed collar with pumpkin and flower designs, standing on grass.

Happy Halloween, Aggies! Make sure to stop by Wellman Hall today (before 3 p.m.) to see the @ucdavissheepmowers in their spooky costumes. #ucdavis

New Species of Spider Discovered, Just in Time for Halloween UC Davis scientists have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider in California's coastal sand dunes.

Scientists at the UC Davis have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider lurking in California’s coastal sand dunes. Read more about the discovery and the challenges its facing: https://ucdav.is/4npQVhx #OurUCDavis #spider

A flooded rice field with the words: Helping Farmers Make Crop Choices

A slide that reads: Drought takes a toll on rice crops, but now farmers have help deciding what to plant. UC Davis and partners developed a tool that explains the cost of transitioning to less thirsty crops like dry beans, sunflower or tomato. This helps farmers adapt to drought and other environmental issues while feeding a growing population.

A slide that reads: The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture helped support this research.

Drought takes a toll on rice crops, but now farmers have help deciding what to plant. #UCDavis & partners developed a tool that calculates the cost of transitioning to less thirsty crops like dry beans, sunflower or tomato.
#UCDavisDelivers…economic stability #UCDD
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/new-too...

The latest edition of our Highlights newsletter is out & full of some great college updates, including research news on schoolyard heat, reducing methane emissions via diet & upcycling food scraps. It also has photos, awards & a note from Dean Stokes! mailchi.mp/caes.ucdavis...

Measuring Schoolyard Heat One Step at a Time A team of researchers from University of California, Davis, spent the summer at elementary schools across the state measuring tree canopies and just how hot playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fiel...

Schools in California are losing tree canopy & that could mean hotter temps for the state’s public-school students. A #UCDavis team spent the summer walking 25K steps at schoolyards measuring how hot playgrounds & outdoor spaces can get. The answer: 120 degrees.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/researc...

A parasitic weed growing among tomatoes with the words: Answering all your weedy questions.

A slide that reads: Is that a weed or a plant? It can be hard to tell, but now there’s help. #UCDavis researchers developed WeedChat, an AI-powered chatbot to help growers, gardeners and anyone with green space identify and treat weeds, helping stop the spread of unwanted plants.

A slide that reads: WeedChat was funded via the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in partnership with states.

Is that a weed or a plant? It can be hard to tell, but now there’s help. #UCDavis researchers developed WeedChat, an AI-powered chatbot to help growers, gardeners and anyone with green space identify and treat weeds, helping stop the spread of unwanted plants.
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/weedcha...

Mobile App Seeks to Reduce Dairy Methane Emissions in Africa, Asia A team of international researchers led by University of California, Davis, released a mobile tool recently that will help small-scale farmers in Asia and Africa craft the right diet for cattle to inc...

Reducing methane emissions in the livestock sector will be critical to combating global warming. An app created by #UCDavis helps farmers in Asia and Africa formulate feed diets for cattle to improve productivity, requiring fewer animals.
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/new-mob...

Andrea C. Alfaro Appointed Director of the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute - Office of Research The Office of Research at UC Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea C. Alfaro as the new director of the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) effective January 1, 2026...

Congrats to our new Aggie, Andrea Alfaro, who will be director of the #UCDavis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute starting Jan. 1! Alfaro was previously a professor of marine ecology & aquaculture at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. research.ucdavis.edu/andrea-c-alf...

Aerial view of vivid multicolored geological formations in Alaska, with text overlay reading "Finding answers in Alaska" and the UC Davis logo below "From Labs to Lives."

When Alaska’s most pristine rivers & creeks began turning a rusty orange, #UCDavis researchers sped into action. They uncovered that thawing permafrost was exposing minerals to weathering & staining water supplies. #FromLabsToLives #SpeakUp4Science
https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

Researcher in a lab coat examining samples under a microscope at UC Davis, with text overlay reading 'Investigating the prospects of lab-grown meat - From Labs to Lives' and the UC Davis logo.

#UCDavis researchers are examining if burger patties, sausages & other foods grown from cell lines in a lab can be tasty, sustainable & affordable. These products could help supplement animal-based foods.#FromLabstoLives
https://bit.ly/3jESVCN

An adult smiling at a baby who is wearing a yellow outfit, with text 'Helping babies thrive - From Labs to Lives' and the UC Davis logo.

UC Davis researchers have learned how breast milk nurtures the good bacteria that help babies thrive from the very beginning. This scientific discovery is key to protecting infant health, especially for the most vulnerable. #FromLabsToLives #SpeakUp4Science https://bit.ly/4n440Nm