Fruitful Work
After a decades-long hiatus, Evan Lentz ’19 ’22 (CAHNR) is reviving UConn’s fruit orchards on a 6-acre site at the University’s Plant Science Research Farm. Lentz, an extension educator specializing in commercial fruit crop production, has plans to share the fruits of his labor with Husky Nation and Connecticut residents.
Sustainable Agriculture
Mary Anne Amalaradjou patented a probiotic spraying method to improve hatchability and health
Progress in Poultry Sustainability
CAHNR establishes UConn as national leader in poultry science innovations
In 2020, CAHNR researchers received a $10 million grant from USDA-NIFA to enhance antibiotic-restricted broiler production for the poultry industry. The grant was one of the largest in UConn history.
Since then, they have continued to make important strides in this area of research and extension engagement, all of which support chicken, human, and environmental health.
Organic Poultry Farming
A $3.34 million USDA-NIFA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension grant led by UConn researcher Abhinav Upadhyay, assistant professor of animal science, uses cutting-edge scientific expertise to address some of the challenges associated with this increasingly important approach to poultry farming.
There are nearly 2,000 organic poultry farms in the U.S. according to 2021 data from the USDA, including seven egg-producing farms in Connecticut. However, this sector still faces numerous obstacles, including disease management, feed availability, production efficiency, food safety, and effective marketing.
Field of Dreams (and Challenges)
Modern farmers face a lot of challenges. CAHNR’s Zwick Center for Food and Resource Policy is working to help identify and effectively face them.
CT Farmers’ Needs Are Changing, and They Say UConn Can Help
UConn Study Finds Squeeze from Labor Shortage Tightens on Connecticut Farmers
“We are hoping that we can turn this trash into a treasure — or at least into value-added products.” - Yangchao Luo
Green Gold
Chitin is the second most abundant biological polymer on Earth, with an estimated 100 billion tons produced each year by fungi or creatures like insects and crustaceans.