On the Plate Dinner

Investigate the science that strengthens your dinner! Click on the chicken, broccoli, rice with beans, corn on the cob, milk and apple pie to learn more.

Dinner

Chicken

Americans buy more chicken than any other food as for their main course. With chicken consumption rising nearly every year since the 1960’s, our nation’s “broilers” production is valued at around $26 billion.

See stories about Chicken

Stories about Chicken

University of California, Davis
Breaking the Code - Using Discoveries in Genetics to Make Poultry More Resistant to Disease and Heat Stress

In rural African villages, chickens provide families with much more than meat and eggs....

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Washington University in St. Louis
Protein-rich Diet May Help Soothe Inflamed Gut

Immune cells patrol the gut to ensure that harmful microbes hidden in the food we eat don’t sneak...

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Texas A&M University
U.s. Decline in Meat Protein Consumption Raises Concern for Texas A&m Scientist

A 14 percent decline in U.S. consumer meat consumption over the past decade has caused alarm with...

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University of Tennessee
Utia/mtsu Partnership Establishes Organic Forage Cropping Systems

Across the U.S., there is a growing market for organic forages due to increased consumer demand...

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Vegetables

Vegetables are part of a balanced daily diet and provide essential nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, vitamins A and C, and folic acid. In 2016, the U.S. produced vegetables with a value of $19 billion.

See stories about Vegetables

Stories about Vegetables

University of California, Davis
Beyond Nutrition: How Uc Davis Research Is Expanding the Boundaries of Human Health

UC Davis is partnering in a global plant-breeding consortium fighting malnutrition and poverty in...

Read More
Cornell University
Blocking Pathogenic Bacteria With Nanoengineered Surfaces

Foodborne illnesses can be caused by food coming in contact with bacteria on surfaces in...

Read More
University of Florida
Creating an Early Detection System for Florida’s Diversifying Agriculture Sector

In Florida, agriculture is diversifying. Farmers in the state produce the most oranges,...

Read More
Colorado State University
Csu Researcher Aims to Help Colorado’s Beekeepers With New Knowledge to Improve Pollinator Health

Arming Colorado’s beekeepers with new knowledge to improve pollinator health is the goal of...

Read More
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Discovering the Impacts of Flavonoids and Interpersonal Gut Variations to Improve Cardiovascular Health

The American Heart Association notes a recent study that showed millions of people worldwide...

Read More
University of Florida
Do You Love Seedless Watermelons in the Hot Summer? Uf Scientists Are on the Case

Some people love to eat a juicy, seedless watermelon for a tasty, refreshing snack during a hot,...

Read More
Iowa State University
Engineers Make Wearable Sensors for Plants, Enabling Measurements of Water Use in Crops

Iowa State University plant scientist Patrick Schnable quickly described how he measured the time...

Read More
Michigan State University
Enhancing Great Lakes Landscapes for Healthy Pollinators

Tiny but mighty pollinators are an essential contributor to many of Michigan’s high-value fruits...

Read More
Texas A&M University
Feds Approve Wider Testing of Spinach Defenses Against Citrus Greening Disease

In a landmark step in the fight against citrus greening disease, the U.S. Environmental...

Read More
Texas A&M University
Field Trial Help Identify ‘top Tomatoes’ for Texas Producers, Gardners

For more than a half century, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in collaboration with a...

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North Carolina State University
Fighting to Save Cassava

Cassava is one of the most important crops in Africa. It’s a starchy, potato-like vegetable used...

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Texas A&M University
Ground-penetrating Radar Could Help Producers Dig Potatoes Early

Ground-penetrating radar might help the potato industry save water, according to Dr. Dirk Hays,...

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Helping Honey Bees

Insect pollinators are essential to U.S. growers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Honey...

Read More
Purdue University
High Tunnels Boost Yield, Along With Plant-damaging Insects

Growers of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables can extend their growing season and increase...

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Cornell University
In Bee Decline, Fungicides Emerge as Improbable Villain

When a Cornell-led team of scientists analyzed two dozen environmental factors to understand...

Read More
Washington University in St. Louis
Manganese Speeds Up Honey Bees

Asked to name one way people have changed the environment, many people would probably say “global...

Read More
Maximizing Biodegradable Mulch

Vegetable and fruit growers pay for a lot of plastic – $3.4 billion in worldwide sales in 2017....

Read More
North Carolina State University
Nc State Team Helped Growers Transition Away From Methyl Bromide

A recent news story by the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged an NC State research and...

Read More
Cornell University
New ‘tomato Expression Atlas’ Dives Deep Into the Fruit’s Flesh

From fried green tomatoes to pizza pie, the world savors the tomato across many stages of...

Read More
New Mexico State University
Nmsu Receives Grant for Integrated Pest Management Education, Research

With increased awareness that misuse of synthetic pesticides are a health risk, the...

Read More
New Mexico State University
Nmsu, Nm Wrri Researchers Join Others to Help Address Water Scarcity Issues

Southeastern New Mexico is facing water scarcity issues, and with an increased demand for...

Read More
Washington University in St. Louis
Plotting the Path of Plant Pathogens

In a sneak attack, some pathogenic microbes manipulate plant hormones to gain access to their...

Read More
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Potato Beetle Genome Gives Insight Into Major Agricultural Pest

The Colorado potato beetle is notorious for its role in starting the pesticide industry — and for...

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University of California, Davis
Reducing Cross-contamination in Fresh Produce Processing

Dr. Nitin and his team are discovering multiple techniques to minimize cross-contamination, which...

Read More
University of Tennessee
Research Shows Drones Could Help Crop Management Take Off

UT Institute of Agriculture Study Shows Devices May Improve Plant Stand Assessment

Read More
Colorado State University
Study Led by Csu, Usda Finds National Plant Germplasm System Critical for Plant Breeding

Drivers heading south on East Drive or north on Mason Street in Fort Collins may not know that...

Read More
University of Tennessee

Corn

Valued at around $47 billion, corn accounts for 35% of our nation’s crop area and serves as an important source of food, feed, and fuel.

See stories about Corn

Stories about Corn

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Breeding Highly Productive Corn Has Reduced Its Ability to Adapt

Stuck where they are, plants have to adapt to their environments, responding to stresses like...

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Collaborating on Corn

U.S. farmers produce 41 percent of the world’s corn on 400,000 farms located primarily in the...

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Elevating Water Management

To ensure proper moisture content for productive soils in the U.S. Corn Belt region, farmers use...

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Iowa State University
Engineers Make Wearable Sensors for Plants, Enabling Measurements of Water Use in Crops

Iowa State University plant scientist Patrick Schnable quickly described how he measured the time...

Read More
Michigan State University
Enhancing Great Lakes Landscapes for Healthy Pollinators

Tiny but mighty pollinators are an essential contributor to many of Michigan’s high-value fruits...

Read More
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Integrating Two Types of Crop Models to Predict the Effect of Climate Change on Crop Yields

Scientists now have a new tool to predict the future effects of climate change on crop yields....

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Iowa State University
Isu Agronomists Show Nitrogen Fertilizer Feeds Healthy Soil in Corn and Soybean Production

Newly published research from Iowa State University agronomists shows that the application of...

Read More
Iowa State University
Isu Project: Prairie Strips Yield Big Environmental Benefits

A long-term research project at Iowa State University is marking a major milestone by publishing...

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Iowa State University
Isu Researcher Recieve $1 Million Grant to Advance Organic Corn Genetics

Organic agriculture practices eschew many synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, putting pressure...

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
New Study Identifies Genetic Basis for Western Corn Rootworm Resistance in Maize

Farmers are stuck. Western corn rootworm can destroy cornfields – and profits – but populations...

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Purdue University
Optimizing Vitamin B1 Delivery in Food Products

In 1889, a physician studying beriberi (now called thiamin deficiency) discovered that the...

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North Carolina State University
Scientists Unravel Mysteries of Dna Replication in Corn

DNA replication is among life’s most important processes, providing a way for an organism’s...

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Purdue University
Study Uncovers Distinctions in Major Crop Genome Evolutions

Sometime between 5 million and 13 million years ago, both maize and soybeans underwent genome...

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University of Tennessee
Cornell University
Vitamin E Genes Identified in Maize May Help Biofortify Crops

New research has identified genes that control vitamin E content in maize grain, a finding that...

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Beans

Beans are an excellent source of vegetable protein and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. They are rich in folic acid and soluble dietary fiber. The common bean has been grown for about six thousand years in the Americas.

See stories about Beans

Stories about Beans

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Can Yogurt Each Day Keep the Doctor Away?

Diabetes, heart disease and inflammatory disorders threaten the health of many Americans....

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Integrating Two Types of Crop Models to Predict the Effect of Climate Change on Crop Yields

Scientists now have a new tool to predict the future effects of climate change on crop yields....

Read More
Iowa State University
Isu Agronomists Show Nitrogen Fertilizer Feeds Healthy Soil in Corn and Soybean Production

Newly published research from Iowa State University agronomists shows that the application of...

Read More
Iowa State University
Isu Project: Prairie Strips Yield Big Environmental Benefits

A long-term research project at Iowa State University is marking a major milestone by publishing...

Read More
Washington University in St. Louis
Nanoparticles Present Sustainable Way to Grow Food Crops

Scientists are working diligently to prepare for the expected increase in global population — and...

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Iowa State University
New Isu Research Details Genetic Resistance to Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans

An Iowa State University agronomist is charting mechanisms – gene by gene – that could lead to...

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Washington University in St. Louis
Protein-rich Diet May Help Soothe Inflamed Gut

Immune cells patrol the gut to ensure that harmful microbes hidden in the food we eat don’t sneak...

Read More
Colorado State University
Rice Bran and Beans - They’re What’s for Dinner

It’s a running joke in the laboratory of CSU researcher Elizabeth Ryan: After every presentation,...

Read More
Purdue University
Study Suggests New Targets for Improving Soybean Oil Content

Scientists working to increase soybean oil content tend to focus their efforts on genes known to...

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Purdue University
Study Uncovers Distinctions in Major Crop Genome Evolutions

Sometime between 5 million and 13 million years ago, both maize and soybeans underwent genome...

Read More
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Unusual Soybean Coloration Sheds a Light on Gene Silencing

Today’s soybeans are typically golden yellow, with a tiny blackish mark where they attach to the...

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Rice

Rice is the primary staple for more than half of the world’s population. While most rice is grown in Asia, the U.S. produces near $2.5 billion in cash receipts.

See stories about Rice

Stories about Rice

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Foiling Rice-spoiling Fungus

Rice blast spoils between 10 and 30 percent of annual rice yields worldwide — enough to feed as...

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Cornell University
Harnessing a Flood of Data to Improve Rice Production

For decades, the USDA and local organizations have compiled data that could help rice growers and...

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Purdue University
Optimizing Vitamin B1 Delivery in Food Products

In 1889, a physician studying beriberi (now called thiamin deficiency) discovered that the...

Read More
Kansas State University
Racing Against the Clock to Beat the Blast Fungus

The rice blast fungus is a feared pathogen, even after genetic research discovered how to...

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Colorado State University
Rice Bran and Beans - They’re What’s for Dinner

It’s a running joke in the laboratory of CSU researcher Elizabeth Ryan: After every presentation,...

Read More
University of Georgia
Uga College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Researchers Help to Sequence Rice Genome

Rice has been a staple food crop around the world for millennia, but little was known about the...

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Dairy

Dairy products are an excellent source of nutrients, vitamin D, and protein and are associated with better bone health, especially in children. Valued at $35 billion, there are over 40,000 dairy farms in the U.S.

See stories about Dairy

Stories about Dairy

Defending Dairy: Connecting Expertise to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The dairy industry is committed to reducing GHGs associated with milk production. The researchers...

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Elevating Evaluation: Developing New Tools to Understand Animal Genetics

Dr. Misztal and a team of international researchers are working to simplify genetic analyses for...

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Michigan State University
Estimating Effects of Genes: One Size May Not Fit All

For decades, animal breeders have benefited from databases of livestock performance information...

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Feeding Farm Animals: Using Computing Technology to Individualize Diets

Dr. White focuses on precision animal nutrition to improve livestock health and the efficiency of...

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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Having Cows Put Protein Into Milk, Not Waste, Is Researchers Goal

“On average, only about a quarter of the crude protein in a dairy ration goes to milk,” says...

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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Lactation Sensation: Laura Hernandez Works to Improve Milk Production, For the Benefit of Both Cows and Humans

When the city girl decides to study lactation, she must first learn to milk a cow. Laura...

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Purdue University
Rapid, Low-temperature Process Adds Weeks to Milk’s Shelf Life

A rapid heating and cooling of milk significantly reduces the amount of harmful bacteria present,...

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Colorado State University
Revolutionizing Understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance With Genome Analysis

Antimicrobial resistant-microbes (AMRs) pose a serious threat to public health. AMRs are found in...

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Fruit

Fruit is part of a balanced daily diet and provides essential nutrients that are important for health. The U.S. fruit and tree nuts industry generates, on average, over $25 billion in farm cash receipts annually.

See stories about Fruit

Stories about Fruit

University of Florida
A Glass of Oj May Soon Come From Citrus-greening Tolerant Fruit

Some people like to wake up and drink a glass of fresh Florida orange juice. With the greening...

Read More
University of California, Davis
Beyond Nutrition: How Uc Davis Research Is Expanding the Boundaries of Human Health

UC Davis is partnering in a global plant-breeding consortium fighting malnutrition and poverty in...

Read More
Cornell University
Blocking Pathogenic Bacteria With Nanoengineered Surfaces

Foodborne illnesses can be caused by food coming in contact with bacteria on surfaces in...

Read More
Boosting Bees: Improving Bee Health to Benefit Farmers

Because pollinators are critical for the production of most berry crops, Dr. Isaacs and his...

Read More
North Carolina State University
Breeding Better Blueberries

It’s blueberry season in North Carolina, a time when the market for the fresh, locally grown...

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Building Blueberry Businesses

The Florida blueberry industry got its start in the 1970s when the University of Florida (UF)...

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University of Florida
Could an 8 Million-year-old Gene Help the Citrus Industry? Uf Researchers Think So

After 100 years of assertions about the roots of citrus, a global group of scientists – including...

Read More
University of Florida
Creating an Early Detection System for Florida’s Diversifying Agriculture Sector

In Florida, agriculture is diversifying. Farmers in the state produce the most oranges,...

Read More
Colorado State University
Csu Researcher Aims to Help Colorado’s Beekeepers With New Knowledge to Improve Pollinator Health

Arming Colorado’s beekeepers with new knowledge to improve pollinator health is the goal of...

Read More
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Discovering the Impacts of Flavonoids and Interpersonal Gut Variations to Improve Cardiovascular Health

The American Heart Association notes a recent study that showed millions of people worldwide...

Read More
University of Florida
Do You Love Seedless Watermelons in the Hot Summer? Uf Scientists Are on the Case

Some people love to eat a juicy, seedless watermelon for a tasty, refreshing snack during a hot,...

Read More
Iowa State University
Engineers Make Wearable Sensors for Plants, Enabling Measurements of Water Use in Crops

Iowa State University plant scientist Patrick Schnable quickly described how he measured the time...

Read More
Michigan State University
Enhancing Dry Food Safety With Pasteurization Technologies

Salmonella is a formidable foe in low-moisture foods (e.g., peanut butter, nut snacks, pet foods,...

Read More
Michigan State University
Enhancing Great Lakes Landscapes for Healthy Pollinators

Tiny but mighty pollinators are an essential contributor to many of Michigan’s high-value fruits...

Read More
Texas A&M University
Feds Approve Wider Testing of Spinach Defenses Against Citrus Greening Disease

In a landmark step in the fight against citrus greening disease, the U.S. Environmental...

Read More
Helping Honey Bees

Insect pollinators are essential to U.S. growers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Honey...

Read More
Cornell University
In Bee Decline, Fungicides Emerge as Improbable Villain

When a Cornell-led team of scientists analyzed two dozen environmental factors to understand...

Read More
Washington University in St. Louis
Manganese Speeds Up Honey Bees

Asked to name one way people have changed the environment, many people would probably say “global...

Read More
Maximizing Biodegradable Mulch

Vegetable and fruit growers pay for a lot of plastic – $3.4 billion in worldwide sales in 2017....

Read More
North Carolina State University
Nc State Team Helped Growers Transition Away From Methyl Bromide

A recent news story by the U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged an NC State research and...

Read More
Cornell University
New ‘tomato Expression Atlas’ Dives Deep Into the Fruit’s Flesh

From fried green tomatoes to pizza pie, the world savors the tomato across many stages of...

Read More
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
New Study Explains Antibiotic Resistance in Apple, Pear Disease

When humans get bacterial infections, we reach for antibiotics to make us feel better faster....

Read More
New Mexico State University
Nmsu Receives Grant for Integrated Pest Management Education, Research

With increased awareness that misuse of synthetic pesticides are a health risk, the...

Read More
New Mexico State University
Nmsu, Nm Wrri Researchers Join Others to Help Address Water Scarcity Issues

Southeastern New Mexico is facing water scarcity issues, and with an increased demand for...

Read More
Washington University in St. Louis
Plotting the Path of Plant Pathogens

In a sneak attack, some pathogenic microbes manipulate plant hormones to gain access to their...

Read More
University of California, Davis
Reducing Cross-contamination in Fresh Produce Processing

Dr. Nitin and his team are discovering multiple techniques to minimize cross-contamination, which...

Read More
University of Tennessee
Research Shows Drones Could Help Crop Management Take Off

UT Institute of Agriculture Study Shows Devices May Improve Plant Stand Assessment

Read More
North Carolina State University
Scientists Breed Better Fresh Market Tomatoes

With some 700 varieties grown around the world, tomatoes come in an array of colors, shapes and...

Read More
University of California, Davis
Setting a Benchmark--industry Upbeat About Revitalized Strawberry Breeding Program

Strawberry farmers and industry leaders say new science, education, and collaborations underway...

Read More
Colorado State University
Study Led by Csu, Usda Finds National Plant Germplasm System Critical for Plant Breeding

Drivers heading south on East Drive or north on Mason Street in Fort Collins may not know that...

Read More
Michigan State University
Through the Tunnel: Reinvigorating Raspberries in Michigan

Though Michigan is a national leader in fruit production, some crops, such as raspberries,...

Read More
University of Georgia
University of Tennessee

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