Convincing consumers to love ‘imperfect’ foods with new USDA grant

October 30, 2023

A new grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will fund a new project aiming to reduce food waste by finding opportunities for foods that were previously considered undesirable to enter grocery stores and other sectors of the market across the United States.

Trip to Uganda has a profound impact on Penn State graduate student

October 27, 2023

For doctoral student and agricultural educator Mia Sullivan, traveling to Uganda this past summer with Penn State’s Global Teach Ag Network will be the foundation for her studies and future career.

TikTok may help farmers cultivate empathy around climate change

October 4, 2023

Farmers are used to growing crops and producing other goods, but a new study led by Penn State researchers suggests the social media platform TikTok may help them cultivate something new: empathy around the issue of climate change.

Penn State's 'Stories from the Field' returns with fall lineup

October 2, 2023

Penn State’s “Stories from the Field” conversation series is returning with two fall sessions. Speakers will share stories and lessons learned from programs devoted to farmers’ mental health and workers affected by substance use disorders.

Penn State researchers explore how gender affects agriculture in Ghana

September 5, 2023

A team of Penn State researchers recently held a workshop in Ghana on how gender affects dynamics within the agriculture industry. The trip capped a multi-year effort to better understand time poverty among women peanut farmers.

Minimum dairy pricing policy could expand milk production, affect water quality

August 29, 2023

A dairy pricing policy originally proposed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic could have resulted in dairy farmers getting 10% more for their products if the policy had been passed, according to a Penn State study.

Kaplan named ‘International Ambassador’ at Intergenerational Ambassador Awards

July 11, 2023

Matthew Kaplan, professor of intergenerational programs and aging in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was recognized as the “International Ambassador” at the inaugural Intergenerational Ambassador Awards gala presented by the Macrosad Chair in Intergenerational Studies at the University of Granada, Spain.

'Growing Impact' podcast examines effects of flooding on substance use, support

July 7, 2023

The latest episode of the "Growing Impact" podcast explores the world of substance use and addiction through the lens of environmental disasters, specifically how flooding in rural areas can affect drug use and the support needed by those impacted by substance use disorder.

Penn State Global announces Collaboration Program awards with Monash University

June 28, 2023

Penn State and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, announced the awarded grants of the third round of the Collaboration Program, a jointly financed seed program with the aim to collaborate on research and education projects. The first two cycles of the program provided funding to 34 projects. The two institutions committed these seed funds for a third round, and funded five projects around the topic of Global Challenges or Matters of Bilateral Importance to Australia and the United States.  

Climate disasters, traumatic events have long-term impacts on youths' academics

June 28, 2023

Experiencing household “shocks” — sudden, traumatic events such as the death of a parent, loss of family income or a natural disaster — may negatively affect not just a child’s well-being but their academic progress as well, according to Penn State researchers.

World Campus business and management portfolio prepares students for success

June 21, 2023

Penn State World Campus is highlighting its business and management degree programs that are offered online as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

'Teach Ag' students in Penn State’s College of Ag Sciences build community ties

June 15, 2023

Building community relationships is a fundamental aspect of the curriculum for future teachers majoring in agricultural and extension education. The 2023 Teach Ag cohort in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences participated in two projects to develop their skills in this area and learn more about food insecurity across the commonwealth.

Digital divide hinders rural innovation, study shows

June 9, 2023

Cloud-based computing directly contributes to business innovation, but rural businesses lacking sufficient broadband capacity to access cloud services are missing out on their innovation-boosting potential, according to a team of researchers from Penn State and the National Science Foundation. The findings can be used by policymakers and business-support organizations to foster greater opportunities for rural innovation.

Penn State Extension launches spotted lanternfly survey for the 2023 season

June 6, 2023

The Penn State Extension Grape and Wine Team is calling on farmers and vineyard owners in the mid-Atlantic region to participate in a survey aimed at tracking the spread and severity of spotted lanternfly populations during the 2023 season.

Student groups win top prizes at 2023 Ag Springboard pitch contest

June 6, 2023

Two Penn State student teams took home cash prizes from the 2023 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest held during the spring semester.  

Fact sheets provide new insights into agritourism and direct sales for US states

June 2, 2023

A new set of fact sheets provides comprehensive insights into the demographics of U.S. farms that offer agritourism activities or sell food directly to consumers or both. The fact sheets are available for all 50 states and are intended to help local decision makers, farmers and the organizations that support them in their efforts to strengthen and expand agritourism enterprises.  

Strategic city planning can help reduce urban heat island effect

May 23, 2023

New Penn State research suggests that certain urban factors can reduce the tendency of cities to trap heat — a phenomenon called the “urban heat island.”

Annual substance use conference examines stigma, opioid crisis

May 10, 2023

The Penn State Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction recently hosted its fourth annual conference in the HUB-Robeson Center at the University Park campus. 

Analysis of U.S. farms offers clearer, more nuanced picture for policymakers

May 8, 2023

A new Penn State-led study set out to analyze U.S. farming counties to better understand the diversity of farms across the country, which researchers say suggests that agricultural policies should not be designed with a “one size fits all” approach.

Students learn about science, and themselves, conducting undergraduate research

May 8, 2023

Three undergraduates who presented posters at the 2023 Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo talked about the stories behind their research, with an eye toward offering other Penn State students inspiration to pursue their own “passion projects” in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Agribusiness management student excels in PepsiCo internship

April 24, 2023

For Penn State student Michael Loucas, of Westport, Connecticut, one summer as a sales management intern with PepsiCo offered him his best opportunity for growth so far.

Penn State recognizes Outstanding Adult Student Award winners

April 24, 2023

Penn State’s Adult Learner Programs and Services announced the winners of the Outstanding Adult Student Award. The award — which includes a Penn State diploma case and a $500 grant — recognizes an exceptional adult learner or student veteran at University Park who has overcome obstacles while furthering his or her education. Nominees balance multiple responsibilities, serve as role models for other students, and achieve academically.

Low use of nutrition labels contributes to health disparities in China

April 20, 2023

Nutrition labels can help guide consumers toward making healthier food choices, but new research suggests that a lack of knowledge about how to use them may be contributing to nutrition gaps between people in urban and rural China.

Opening farms to visitors boosts nearby farms’ direct sales, and vice versa

April 18, 2023

Farmers use many marketing strategies to diversify their incomes and stay in business. New research suggests that two of these strategies — agritourism and direct farm sales — complement one another when they occur within the same community. The findings could help farmers and the local organizations that support them plan strategically for farm resilience and growth.

Penn State Global announces 2022-23 faculty, staff, student awards

April 12, 2023

The winners of the Penn State Global awards are, left to right: Alexandra Persiko (Penn State Global), Mark Brennan (College of Agricultural Sciences), Deanna Behring (College of Agricultural Sciences), Karen Saunders (College of Medicine), Noel Habashy (College of Agricultural Sciences), Ram Neupane (College of Agricultural Sciences), Jasna Kovacs (College of Agricultural Sciences), Camila Arango (College of Agricultural Sciences), Madhura Patil (College of Engineering), Smit Patel (Penn State Abington), and James Marden (Eberly College of Science, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences). Credit: Penn State.

Forty graduate students recognized with prestigious University awards

April 11, 2023

Recipients of the Alumni Association Dissertation Award are given the Distinguished Doctoral Scholar Medal engraved with the recipient's name and the words research, discovery, knowledge creation and innovation. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

Thirteen graduate students honored with Alumni Association Dissertation Award

April 6, 2023

Thirteen graduate students received the Alumni Association Dissertation Award, one of the most prestigious awards given to Ph.D. candidates at the University. The award was made possible through a gift from the Penn State Alumni Association and provides funding and recognition to outstanding full-time research doctorate students who have passed their comprehensive examinations and have received approval of their dissertation topic.

First-gen students explore Costa Rica through College of Ag Sciences course

March 31, 2023

Studying abroad can be a transformative experience. However, first-generation college students may face additional challenges and feel that international experiences are out of their reach. A course in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences was created to help first-gen students achieve their travel goals.

Wildfire proximity associated with asthma cases in rural Alaska

March 30, 2023

It’s been widely reported that Alaska is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. Penn State researchers are examining the resulting impacts, such as wildfires, and how they affect health conditions like asthma.

Princeton economist will present M.E. John Memorial Lecture on March 24

March 13, 2023

Janet Currie, Henry Putnam Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, will speak at Penn State University Park on Friday, March 24, at 2 p.m. as this year’s M.E. John Memorial Lecture speaker.