Internship in Africa proves 'transformative' for graduate student

January 5, 2025

As a second-year master’s degree student in rural sociology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Zoe Chambliss seeks ways to expand her knowledge in the role of women in agriculture and rural development.

Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows

December 20, 2024

In a study recently published in the Journal of Melittology, an international team of researchers looked at the heat tolerance for a variety of species of bees and flies in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Their findings suggest that rising temperatures pose a greater threat to flies than bees, as bees can tolerate much higher temperatures than flies and have a wider habitat range.

‘Triple burden’ of invisible labor major stressor for farm women, study finds

December 16, 2024

A team of researchers has found that farm women experience a “triple burden”: simultaneously juggling different roles on- and off-the farm, often handling the invisible labor of caring for their households, children and farms. Their new study, recently published in the Journal of Agromedicine, revealed a significant portion of stressors these women face are mostly invisible, such as the mental load of childcare, researching farm needs, working off the farm, planning meals, organizing medical appointments and more — in short, all of the things needed to make a household and farm run.

Penn State ranks second in the US in 2025 QS sustainability rankings

December 12, 2024

Penn State tied for No. 2 among 237 ranked universities in the United States in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability for 2025, released Dec. 10. Internationally, the University rose 18 places in this year’s rankings to tie for No. 19 out of 1,743 participating institutions worldwide. Penn State also ranked at No. 1 among Big Ten institutions and No. 2 among all U.S. public universities.

Q&A: Penn State COP16 delegation contributes to biodiversity efforts

December 4, 2024

delegation of Penn State faculty and graduate students attended the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia. The delegation, registered as official observers, included Mónica Medina, professor of biology; Siela Maximova, research professor of plant biotechnology and director for Latin America and the Caribbean for Penn State Global; Margarita Lopez-Uribe, associate professor of entomology; Estelle Couradeau, assistant professor of soils and environmental microbiology; Camila Gonzalez Arango, a doctoral student studying agricultural and biological engineering; and Julian Prieto, doctoral student studying education policy and leadership. Medina, who led the delegation, participated in more than a dozen COP16 events, including leading panels on the preservation of coral reefs and associated ecosystems in the International Coral Reef Initiative Pavillion, hosting a public screening of a feature-length documentary on the decline of the world's coral reefs and a follow-up panel discussion, and launching the "SciArtsSymbiosis" initiative, which brought together scientists and artists to work together toward biodiversity conservation.

E3!: Agrifood systems educator program launched by the Global Teach Ag Network

December 3, 2024

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Global Teach Ag Network is launching a new program focusing on professional development for teachers in agriculture, thanks to new funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The program — called Educators Empowering Educators, or E3 — will gather master educators from across the nation passionate about expanding global agricultural literacy as framed by USDA’s six Agriculture and Food Research Initiative priority areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; bioenergy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agricultural economics and rural communities.

Penn State receives replica of historic ceramic vessel from Ecuador government

December 3, 2024

In recognition of Penn State’s impactful contributions to cacao and chocolate research — spanning the improvement of the chocolate tree, the social and ecological impacts of cacao cultivation, chocolate manufacturing and marketing, and health benefits — the government of Ecuador presented the University and its College of Agricultural Sciences with a replica of an ancient ceramic vessel.

International food science summer school comes to Penn State

December 3, 2024

A two-week food science summer school was hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences this past July, giving undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to learn from experts both internal and external to the University.

Researchers to study how to make carbon-storing product safer, more sustainable

December 3, 2024

Able to store carbon to offset emissions and prevent soil degradation and pollution, charcoal-like biochar could offer a sustainable solution to a lot of environmental challenges — if its production can be made greener. Supported by a three-year, $799,883 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an international team led by researchers at Penn State will address the so-called “dark side” of biochar, assessing the threat of organic contaminant residues in biorefinery char products.

Growing Impact' reflects on PlantVillage investment, success

December 3, 2024

The December episode of “Growing Impact” highlights an innovative project revolutionizing farming practices in Africa and beyond — PlantVillage. Leveraging the power of smartphones, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, PlantVillage has become a lifeline for millions of farmers across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Penn State water-energy-food nexus project takes a global approach

November 19, 2024

The Chesapeake Bay faces increasing human and environmental challenges, according to Michael Jacobson, professor of forest resources in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, including rapid population growth, environmental impacts from energy development and water quality deterioration. Focusing on these challenges within the water-energy-food nexus framework, Jacobson co-led the second Collaborative Learning School, a year-round virtual networking community of faculty, students and early career professionals that culminates in a two-week summer field workshop with U.S. and African scientists and practitioners. The school, which was held in Uganda last year, is funded by a five-year, $2 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant and is an initiative of the SustainFood Network.

American soil losing more crop nutrients due to heavier rainstorms, study shows

November 19, 2024

Phosphorus, a nutrient in soil essential for sustaining most forms of life, is increasingly disappearing from land as it is washed into waterways throughout the United States, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The study, published today (Nov. 18) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed data from 430 rivers across the U.S. and found that phosphorus loss from agricultural lands has increased over the past four decades, despite efforts to reduce it. This loss of phosphorus can potentially lead to decreased crop yields, which could drive up the cost of food, the researchers explained.

ne Health Microbiome Center awarded for global impact in microbiology

November 14, 2024

The Penn State One Health Microbiome Center has been selected as the winner of the 2024 WH Pierce Global Impact in Microbiology Prize by Applied Microbiology International. This prize “acknowledges and celebrates individuals, teams, or organizations that have made groundbreaking contributions to global challenges through applied microbiology.” As part of the decision-making process, the award also encompasses a broad spectrum of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating the versatile and wide-ranging impact of microbiology in various global contexts.

Distinguished professor in plant nutrition retires after long, impactful career

November 6, 2024

Jonathan Lynch, distinguished professor of plant nutrition, retired this fall after an innovative and impactful 33-year career in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, focused on conducting research to alleviate world hunger and enhance crop production by subsistence farmers in developing countries.

Penn State named site for World Food Forum Youth Food Lab

October 29, 2024

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has been selected to host a prestigious World Food Forum Youth Food Lab, a key initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to address global food security and climate change.

Water fern gains more evidence as safe potential global food insecurity solution

October 29, 2024

Is the floating freshwater fern commonly called Carolina azolla the potential answer to global food insecurity or a possible threat to humanity? On the heels of a study published earlier this year by researchers at Penn State on the plant’s nutrition and digestibility, the team learned of concerns about the plant’s potential toxin content. The researchers joined an international effort to test Azolla and found that it does not contain cyanotoxins, potent toxins produced by a type of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, associated with the plant.

Climate Consortium awards projects to drive climate solutions across key sectors

October 29, 2024

The Penn State Climate Consortium has awarded funding to four research projects through its Climate Solutions Accelerator Program. Through this program, the consortium aims to put promising climate solutions into action via interdisciplinary partnerships. Each of these projects were part of the Climate Solutions Accelerator Level 2 call for proposals.

Plant compound used in traditional medicine may help fight tuberculosis

October 29, 2024

A compound found in African wormwood — a plant used medicinally for thousands of years to treat many types of illness — could be effective against tuberculosis, according to a new study that is available online and will be published in the October edition of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

New project to support, learn from Indigenous communities facing climate change

October 29, 2024

An international team, including researchers from Penn State, has been awarded $1 million to compare climate risks and resilience in Arctic and Pacific Indigenous communities.

College of Ag Sciences doctoral student wins national foundation award

October 29, 2024

Ram Neupane, a doctoral student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, received a $10,000 research award given by the Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Foundation.

Program awarded $750,000 to train future educators in global food security

October 29, 2024

A project aimed at helping prepare undergraduate students to serve as future agricultural educators has received $750,000 in renewed funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Ag Sciences Global

Address

106 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802

Ag Sciences Global

Address

106 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802