CSUMB Science Faculty, Researchers, and Students are at the Forefront of Agricultural Innovations
July 18, 2019
The state of California is aiming to establish more sustainable, safe and efficient agricultural practices - and CSUMB faculty, researchers and students are leading the way!
CSUMB research was recently highlighted in two articles on the California State University’s (CSU) Farms of the Future page.
"Cleaner" Dirt
Researchers at CSUMB and San Jose State University are actively working towards reducing pesticide runoff from local agricultural fields. Scientists recently discovered microorganisms that have the ability to naturally break down and process environmental pollutants used in agricultural practices. In an effort to reduce the presence of these pollutants in soil and groundwater, CSUMB researchers have begun sequencing the genome of varying strains of microbes to determine natural solutions.
Dr. Nathaniel Jue, Dr. Arlene Haffa, John Silveus and several students are collaborating on this effort. To read more about their work, check out “Cleaner” Dirt.
Zero-Waste Watering
Increased awareness of conservation and sustainability have led many in the agricultural sector to find innovative technology. Precision agriculture utilizes global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), and remote-sensing to help manage farming practices. Forrest Melton, CSUMB Executive Director of the Agricultural Center for Education and Research, collaborated with the UC Cooperative Extension to develop CropManage. CropManage is a cutting edge agricultural software that allows farmers to efficiently manage fertilizer and water usage based on crop type, satellite imagery, and weather data. To discover more about CSUMB’s involvement in precision agriculture innovations, check out Zero-Waste Watering.
To learn more about the incredible work that is currently being conducted at the CSU Agricultural Research Institute, check out The Farm of the Future.