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

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  • Cornell AgriTech
  • School of Integrative Plant Science

Kaitlin is on a mission to make melon growing more sustainable. Growing a melon is not as simple as planting a seed and waiting for a sweet summer harvest. From tiny seedlings to the fruit on your picnic table, melons face nonstop pressure from insects, diseases and weeds.

Many growers rely on chemical sprays to protect their crops, but Kaitlin focuses on the farmers who choose a different path. Her research supports sustainable and certified organic melon growers who want effective tools without synthetic chemicals. Instead of reacting to problems after they appear, Kaitlin studies smart, preventative strategies that help farmers stay ahead of pests and diseases while keeping their production systems healthy.

Her work is helping growers protect their crops, strengthen their farms and bring delicious melons to your table in a more sustainable way.

 

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a woman sits in front of a microscope

Field Note

Xingtan (Vera) Yu PhD’27 is a doctoral student working in the lab of Jingyue (Ellie) Duan , assistant professor of functional genomics. Vera’s research focuses on the effects of heat stress on the mammary gland of the dairy cow. We spoke to her...
  • PRO-DAIRY
  • Animal Science
  • Genomics
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News

A doctoral candidate and Semlitz Sustainability Fellow and his Colombian partners seek to protect birds and biodiversity in the Amazon via sustainable rubber tree agroforestry.

  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section