Research Highlights 2022

Our researchers recognize that improving the sustainability and resilience of agricultural practices across New York state is an important path forward for our environment and economy. From introducing fruit and vegetables suited to the NYS climate to helping growers manage diseases and pests with less chemicals, we are helping New York state to remain a long-term leader in agricultural production.

Over the past fiscal year, faculty research centered on sustainability as a solution to enable New York state agricultural systems to feed a growing population within evolving environmental conditions.

145

peer-reviewed research papers

120K+

peer-reviewed research citations to date for current faculty

86

new grants for groundbreaking research

New varieties bred for New York’s climate

As the New York climate changes, crops are being impacted by sudden weather events and increased disease and pest pressure. Over the past year, our faculty members have introduced varieties that resistant common diseases and withstand New York state temperatures. Collaborating with outside partners has been key to the introduction of some varieties, as well.

a bunch of yellow grapes hanging on the vine with grape leaves

In March, we released a grape called Aravelle, which contains traits of Cayuga white, a grape developed at Cornell in 1972, which is relatively resistant against bunch rot and mildew diseases, is easy to grow, and is very productive when it ripens in early- to mid-September. The new variety combines those traits with the taste qualities of Riesling grapes, which grow well in New York’s climate and are fairly winter hardy but have been susceptible to fruit rot during wet periods.

Two men stand in a high tunnel with a row of seeded broccoli plants

A new broccoli variety now undergoing commercial trials is believed to produce good, high-quality yields – even under the stress of hot East Coast summers, thanks to a collaboration between Cornell AgriTech researchers Thomas Björkman and Phillip Griffiths and Bejo Seeds.

Nationwide, Honeycrisp is one of the most profitable apple varieties, but it is also one of the most challenging to grow. In 2022, a team of Cornell AgriTech researchers participated in sequencing the Honeycrisp apple genome and open sourced the information as a way to enhance national breeding efforts. The information may help breeders specifically target and select for favorable traits and select out unfavorable traits.

Creating a more resilient and safe food supply

Cornell leads $3M project to grow organic dry bean industry

Since the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, annual sales of dry beans outside of the Northeast have skyrocketed as consumers turn to more nutritious, shelf-stable and sustainable protein alternatives. Professor Sarah Pethybridge is leading a new four-year, $3 million multidisciplinary research project to increase the sustainability of the organic dry bean industry in the Northeast and upper Midwest by overcoming production challenges while developing improved management practices that build soil health and resilience to climate change while meeting consumer demand.

Read more about dry beans

NYS and Cornell launch new grapevine certification program

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in partnership with Cornell AgriTech, has launched a revitalized grapevine certification program to provide growers in New York and North America with clean, virus-tested plant material verified by the most stringent testing standards in the world. “The only effective way to deal with viruses in vineyards is prevention,” said Marc Fuchs, professor of plant pathology and plant-microbe biology at Cornell AgriTech. “Using clean, virus-tested planting stocks is the key to reducing the presence of viruses in newly established vineyards and lessening their detrimental impact on New York growers.”

Read more about grapevine certification

Developing scalable innovative solutions

In 2022-2023, Cornell AgriTech pursued a vigorous research agenda for digital agriculture with the goal of transforming agriculture through the development of practical innovations for farms in New York state and beyond.

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