Back

Discover CALS

See how our current work and research is bringing new thinking and new solutions to some of today's biggest challenges.

Share

Semagn-Asredie Kolech sees a lot of potential in the potato. The doctoral candidate in the field of horticulture shuttles between Ethiopia and Ithaca to examine and research efficient agricultural practices in the shadow of climate change, and he believes the tuber is a good strategy crop for global warming. It has a short growing season, it offers higher yields, it’s less susceptible to hail damage, and you can grow 40 tons per hectare, compared to the 10 ton yield commonly captured from wheat and corn. Five other faculty members – David Wolfe, horticulture; Donald Halseth, horticulture; Walter DeJong, plant breeding and genetics; Fouad Makki, development sociology; and Tammo Steenhuis, biological and environmental engineering - will travel with Kolech to Ethiopia this summer to meet with potential government and nongovernmental collaborators as part of a project funded by the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future and the CARE-Cornell Impact through Innovation Fund.

Keep Exploring

A monarch butterfly on milkweed.

News

Monarch butterflies and other pollinators are essential to ecosystems and agriculture, supporting the reproduction of flowering plants and the production of fruits and vegetables. But decades of habitat loss, pesticide use and the disappearance...
  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Horticulture Section
A white cup with a blue label on the side.

Field Note

Hale’s product isn’t your average pudding – it’s a low-sugar, high-protein treat catering to fellow fitness enthusiasts and others looking to incorporate more protein into their diet. While traveling in Europe, Hale came across more than a dozen...
  • Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture
  • Cornell AgriTech