News Stories - Page 2

Renowned ecologist and science communicator Sonia Altizer has been named head of the University of Georgia Department of Entomology, bringing a collaborative vision and decades of research and public outreach experience to the role. A longtime UGA faculty member, Altizer is focused on honoring the department’s strong legacy while advancing innovation, interdisciplinary research and community engagement through Extension.

Now that we’ve announced the winners of the tomato sandwich slicer showdown and your plants are taking off, it’s time to address our first tomato gardening issue: supporting unwieldy tomato plants through staking and pruning. For the best chance at productive plants with healthy fruit, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension consumer horticulturalist Bob Westerfield urges home gardeners to invest in providing plants a strong support structure all season long. “No other vegetable comes close to bearing as much produce in such a limited space,” Westerfield said.

Not everyone likes the look of a traditional vegetable garden — or has the space for one. Maybe you already grow vegetables and want to integrate more edible plants into your existing landscape. Either way, edible landscaping offers an attractive and practical solution to planting out your yard. Edible landscaping is the practice of incorporating food-producing plants into ornamental garden spaces, following basic landscape design principles.

The Delta Air Lines Foundation has committed $5 million to the University of Georgia Hospitality and Food Industry Management program, which is housed in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. A leader in the hospitality and travel sector, Delta’s commitment to investing in communities and enhancing the student experience at UGA will make an impact on the industry for years to come.

The University of Georgia’s Rural Engagement Workshop for Academic Faculty has awarded a series of seed grants to help faculty address challenges in rural Georgia ranging from veterinary practices to telehealth clinics and early childhood care. The 2025 seed grants range from $5,000 to $10,000 and will support faculty from a wide array of disciplines as they engage with rural Georgians on issues that are critical for their communities.

Multifaceted research on the social and environmental impacts of diversified agriculture from institutions around the world, including the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been named one of three International Frontiers Planet Prize winners. An initiative of the Frontiers Research Foundation, the Frontiers Planet Prize recognizes transformational research that shows the greatest potential to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.

University of Georgia food science alum Andrew Vasina leads Biospringer by Lesaffre’s North America Culinary Center, a laboratory-kitchen hybrid where his team designs prototypes and learns how to use these natural ingredients in new ways. Here, they may tackle a specific product need for a client company or develop an entirely new product for the market. Describing his role as part technical salesperson and part product developer, Vasina and his team partner with food manufacturers across North America to develop new products and taste profiles using one versatile product: yeast extract.

From peach orchards to porch conversations, weather is always part of the story in the South — and University of Georgia climatologist Pam Knox brings clarity, science and common sense to every weather event. Whether you’re wondering why the seasons feel out of sync, how climate change plays out in your backyard, or what to expect before the next storm, Knox offers answers grounded in decades of research and a deep connection to the land. It’s your forecast with context.

The Heirloom Collards Project is a nationwide, community-driven effort to preserve and evolve heirloom collard varieties through seed saving, education and collaborative research. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has joined the effort to promote seed sovereignty and strengthen resilient food systems across the South, engaging students in hands-on seed stewardship.