The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the second funding pool through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity received over 600 applications from over 400 groups. While USDA is in the process of calculating the total requested amount for the second funding pool, the overall interest in the opportunity already exceeds more than $18 billion. “The results of the …

Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are looking for the perfect diet. Not just any diet, but one that’s special; a diet that encourages bugs to thrive. Most people have an aversion to bugs, so what Guadalupe Rojas and Juan A. Morales-Ramos are trying to do may seem a bit odd to some. But Rojas and Morales-Ramos, research entomologists at the ARS Biological Control of …

Mold is something that most people try to avoid, but NASA may soon welcome a certain type of mold aboard its spacecraft. On long-distance space voyages of the future, astronauts will have to grow some of their own food. That could be problematic, as there is notoriously little unused space aboard ship and crops take a long time to grow. …

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is defined by IBM as a phenomenon that “combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving.” In other words, AI is set up to solve problems that humans might not have been able to solve. As such, AI has seeped into various industries, as it continues to advance over the years. Unsurprisingly, AI has already …

What do you think of when you hear “seaweed”? Chances are, its sushi, nuisance at the beach, or something in a package at an Asian market. If that’s the case, you’re in for a surprise. Without knowing it, you might, literally, be up to your neck in seaweed; seaweed is a common ingredient in cosmetics, moisturizers, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory products, …

The importance of foods that are nutritious and healthy is on the minds of many Americans these days. Consumers demand food that is flavorful and tasty with health promoting properties. Yogurt, whether frozen, refrigerated, or blended into a smoothie, is one product that is getting an enormous amount of attention. What is yogurt exactly? Yogurt is a popular dairy product …

The California State Fair is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 California Commercial Wine Competition. The highly anticipated event returned last week for three days at Cal Expo. This year, a panel of 44 official judges led by Chief Judge Mark Chandler tasted and evaluated 1,953 California wines from 443 California wineries. The competition, which had been on …

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) announced the first cohort of fellows accepted into its Blueberry Industry Leadership Program. The program, launched in March, is designed to elevate up-and-coming leaders in the blueberry industry by providing in-depth training, industry education and connection to other ag leaders for passionate blueberry professionals across the supply chain. “We’re thrilled to welcome this group …

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced the return of the annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party to the National Mall on June 22, 2022. The Ice Cream Party has been an essential summertime event for members of Congress, their families, Capitol Hill staff and many other special guests since it began in 1983. However, IDFA did not hold the …

With one in five Californians currently struggling with food insecurity, partnerships between farmers and food banks are an essential tool in fighting hunger. In commemoration of World Milk Day on June 1, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced a partnership with Feeding American and the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) to provide access to nutritious dairy foods at …