August 27, 2025
Microgreens, which are young, edible plants that only take one to three weeks to harvest, are more than garnish at trendy restaurants — they could be the answer to global hunger, according to plant scientists at Penn State. Already densely packed with nutrients, microgreens can be made even more nutritious with a couple of minor growing adjustments. The research team that has experimented with different approaches for five years recently published the results of two new studies quantifying the nutritional results of supplementing microgreens with varied amounts of zinc during their growth, called agronomic biofortification, and exposing the plants to different amounts of light.
August 26, 2025
Salmonella Dublin, a type of bacteria that primarily infects cattle but some strains also can adapt to infect humans, is increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics, making it a growing public health threat, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers at Penn State investigated how strains of the pathogen — which can cause severe illness and death in cattle and blood infections and hospitalization in humans are evolving and spreading across humans, cattle and the environment in the United States.
August 5, 2025
For years, the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador have been at the center of a complex and ongoing struggle over land rights and the oil reserves beneath the surface. At the heart of the debate lies a critical tension between economic development and environmental protection. Proponents of oil extraction argue it offers a vital opportunity to boost national revenue, while opponents warn of the irreversible environmental damage and health impacts such activities could cause. On the latest episode of "Growing Impact," a team of Penn State researchers discusses how their seed grant project aims to identify environmental impacts from the oil extraction process.
July 23, 2025
Researchers use Penn State’s Cycles agroecosystem model to predict how nuclear war ramifications would impact crops; recommend preparing 'agricultural resilience kits.'
July 17, 2025
A grant program in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences aims to enhance student learning by empowering faculty and students to design immersive, hands-on projects that bridge classroom knowledge with real-world partnerships.
June 24, 2025
Three faculty members, representing three different Penn State colleges, have been named Huck Leadership Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year.
June 24, 2025
More than 30 researchers from seven Penn State colleges received seed funding to advance innovative, early-stage work addressing critical energy and environmental challenges, including SAFES Associates & Affiliates.
June 24, 2025
Climate can vary across large areas of land, but it also can vary within much smaller areas such as farms. A new study by researchers at Penn State examined whether these microclimates — the climate of a very small or restricted area — affect pollination by both wild and managed bees and resulting wild blueberry yields.
June 24, 2025
Congratulations to Dave Abler, SAFES Associate for being selected for the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Department Executive Officers (DEO) program.
June 16, 2025
Researchers find 18% of sampled wells have PFAS levels beyond drinking water standards; compounds detected most often, and in the highest concentrations, in wells in the southeastern part of the state
June 10, 2025
Even if we can’t see them, microorganisms are everywhere, inextricably linked to life on Earth at every level. They range from pathogenic bacteria and viruses that can make us sick to the microbes that live in the digestive tracts of every animal, helping break down food for important nutrients, to soil microbes vital to our ability to grow crops and feed the world, and many, many more.
May 28, 2025
Conservation district staff across Pennsylvania now have access to a new certification system aimed at increasing local capacity to implement agricultural conservation projects.
December 3, 2024
Ticks are a nuisance across many areas of the U.S., capable of spreading harmful pathogens to both animals and humans. A new study led by researchers at Penn State analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks that homeowners can use in their backyards.
November 27, 2024
In conjunction with National Teach Ag Day, undergraduate students in agricultural and extension education in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently put their budding teaching skills to work during a pilot career immersion event for high school students.
November 26, 2024
Funded by a USDA grant, an international team led by Penn State researchers aims to mitigate toxic organic compounds produced in manufacturing of the biomaterial known as biochar
November 18, 2024
Loss of phosphorus from agricultural lands is increasing due to heavier storms, potentially threatening crop growth, according to team led by researchers at Penn State
October 30, 2024
Microplastics have been steadily increasing in freshwater environments for decades and are directly tied to rising global plastic production since the 1950s, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers. The findings provide insight into how microplastics move and spread in freshwater environments, which could be important for creating long-term solutions to reduce pollution, the researchers said.
October 29, 2024
Pennsylvania in the Balance was awarded the 2024 Leadership in Action Award for fostering collaborative efforts between agriculture and environmental stakeholders in Pennsylvania. Since 2008, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and other partners have organized four "Pennsylvania in the Balance" conferences.
October 10, 2024
By combining the genetic sequencing and analysis of the microbes in a milk sample with artificial intelligence (AI), researchers were able to detect anomalies in milk production, such as contamination or unauthorized additives. The new approach could help improve dairy safety, according to the study authors from Penn State, Cornell University and IBM Research.
October 9, 2024
Two faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Ali Demirci and Juliana Vasco-Correa, recently received awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
October 8, 2024
Faculty members in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have launched a new project to help agricultural producers tackle the challenges of microgreens production.
October 7, 2024
There are nearly 4,000 native bee species in the United States, contributing to pollination in agricultural, urban and natural landscapes. Honey bees, however, are not native to the U.S., which has led to concerns that managed honey bee populations might negatively impact wild bees via competition for resources and sharing of pathogens, according to researchers at Penn State. However, the team recently found that of the 33 genera of native bees studied, only a small number seemed to be negatively affected by the presence of honey bees.
September 30, 2024
Karen Fisher-Vanden, distinguished professor of environmental and resource economics and public policy in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, has been appointed as a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)’s Committee to Advise the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). She will serve as a committee member for three years.
September 24, 2024
Weeds are a major factor limiting yield in organic vegetable and other horticultural crop systems, and the lack of effective biological weed-management solutions is a significant obstacle to the adoption of organic farming practices. To address this problem, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a four-year, $1 million grant to a team led by plant scientists and an economist from Penn State to investigate anaerobic soil disinfestation, a microbial-driven process to manage weeds, to support transitioning from conventional to organic production systems.
September 13, 2024
Nine Penn State researchers have been named fellows of the Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) for 2024. The program recognizes and assists the exceptional achievements and unparalleled research impacts of highly successful researchers in the areas of energy and the environment. Nominees for the fellowship were submitted by the University community.
August 26, 2024
Nitrate, a common chemical compound that occurs naturally and is found in plants, water and soil, can break down into molecules harmful to human, animal and ecological health and accumulate as a pollutant. Nitrate contamination in streams, lakes and estuaries is a critical problem in many agricultural watersheds, but water-quality data is limited, making monitoring stream health and making management decisions difficult, according to researchers at Penn State. To enhance available data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a four-year, $650,000 grant to a research team at Penn State.
August 26, 2024
Several faculty members and graduate students associated with Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recently received awards at the 70th annual North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Conference (NACTA) in Wooster, Ohio.
August 22, 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.
August 22, 2024
Cocoa may be the dark horse in the race against obesity, according to researchers at Penn State. Nearly one in three adults are overweight and more than two in five have obesity in the U.S., both conditions that come with inflammation-related health concerns. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a research team, led by Joshua Lambert, professor of food science in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, a three-year, $650,000 grant to continue their work studying the effects of dietary cocoa on the gut health of mice by characterizing the sex-specific beneficial effects of cocoa against obesity-related inflammation and fatty liver disease.
August 21, 2024
Pesticides reduce crop loss, helping to stabilize production, but excessive use of pesticides has brought huge negative impacts to the environment and human health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To address the problem, a team of Penn State researchers is developing a robotic precision pesticide sprayer capable of targeted application while minimizing unintended exposure.
