Food & Agriculture

Solar’s threat to NYS agriculture may be overstated

New York state farmers with solar leases say they’ll use the added revenue to invest in their farms, with many stating they don't plan to change their agricultural practices at all.

How much would you pay for this bread?

Growing climate-smart crops is half the battle. Consumers need to understand sustainability claims and, more importantly, be willing to pay a premium for them. 

Exploring plants, insects and floral microclimates

Jonathan Chai ‘24 explored whether squash floral humidity plays a role in pollen viability and behavior of squash pollinators and floral predators.

Around Cornell

Fungi could transform leftovers into lifelines

Mycelium, the vegetative, root-like network of fungi, has the power to transform food waste into new, life-sustaining food.

$1.1M from NY attorney general to promote climate-smart ag

New York Attorney General Letitia James has directed $1.1 million to support the new Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences New York Soil Health Climate Smart Agriculture Fund, aimed at working with farmers to promote healthy soils.

Around Cornell

‘Unprecedented’ emissions maps will hone mitigation

The new, high-resolution maps calculate global emissions from croplands by region, crop and source – enabling hyper-local mitigation. 

How food shortages reprogram immune system response

When food is scarce, stress hormones direct the immune system to operate in “low power” mode to preserve immune function while conserving energy.

Removing southern African fences may help wildlife, boost economy

Across parts of southern Africa, fences aim to separate cattle from other animals to prevent the spread of diseases, but they also restrict wildlife migrations. 

Are we asking the right questions to prevent tick-borne illnesses?

Research on prior surveys finds very few people have been asked why they chose not to take preventative actions.