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 strong with less fertilizer than expected, according to new research from the University of California, Davis.

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 supplies grows.

A new University of California, Davis, economic study finds that drought in California pushes the price of water from rivers, lakes and reservoirs up by $487 per acre-foot, more than triple the cost during an average wet year. The research appears in Nature Sustainability.

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 increase yield and productivity, helping to reduce methane emissions.

Demand for cattle milk and meat in Africa is growing each year. High costs for feed without adequate nutrients reduces productivity and contributes to emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

For every juicy tomato or crunchy almond California grows, there’s a pile of pulp, hulls or scraps that often goes to waste. A new online tool, created by University of California, Davis researchers, tracks those agricultural byproducts aiming to find innovative ways to put them to use.

Imagine walking into a field, plucking a leaf off a grapevine, scanning it and knowing within seconds if the plant is healthy, needs fertilizer or is showing signs of stress.

A team from the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at University of California, Davis, has done just that.

Meet the Leaf Monitor, a mobile tool paired with a handheld spectrometer backed by artificial intelligence and predictive modeling that could revolutionize how farmers monitor and manage crop decisions by providing real-time nutrition and trait information in the field.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have developed wheat plants that stimulate the production of their own fertilizer, opening the path toward less air and water pollution worldwide and lower costs for farmers.

When you think of UC, you may think of higher education or research, but you should also think of the grocery store.

At the end of a grocery run, shoppers in Berkeley are now more likely to face fruits and nuts than candy and soda in the checkout lane. A first-of-its-kind city ordinance that took effect in 2021 requires large grocery stores and other retailers to replace sugary drinks and sweets at checkout with healthier options like water, nuts, seeds and fruit.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, used artificial intelligence to help plants recognize a wider range of bacterial threats — which may lead to new ways to protect crops like tomatoes and potatoes from devastating diseases. The study was published in Nature Plants.

Over a decade ago, researchers at UC Davis noticed something unusual while studying yeast: tiny oil droplets sinking to the bottom of a flask. The strain of yeast was producing a natural compound with soap-like properties, and now it’s being developed as an ingredient in cleaning products that are gentle on skin and environmentally friendly.