Current Research by Department

Soil scientist Yan Jin awarded University’s highest faculty honor: youtube.com/watch?v=Rh__5gorAvo

Research News
  • Celebrating excellence in agriculture and natural resources

    May 16, 2024 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    As the spring semester headed into its final stretch run, the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources gathered together to honor a few deserving faculty and staff. At the college’s Celebrating Excellence event, the 2024 stars of the show were Sue Barton, Larry Armstrong, and Kent Messer.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small sits down with Blue Hen students, tours UD’s Newark Farm and laboratory facilities

    May 13, 2024 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    On her cross-country college tour of our nation’s land-grant universities, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small toured the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and sat down with Blue Hen students. UD faculty and staff showed off UD’s 350-acre Newark Farm and laboratory facilities. Torres Small conversed with students about opportunities for young people, what USDA is doing for the next generation of agriculture, and the benefits for people in every sector of agriculture, food, and forestry.
  • Advancing knowledge on wooden breast syndrome

    May 08, 2024 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photo by Michele Walfred
    University of Delaware researchers in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have made a new discovery in their work on wooden breast syndrome in chickens. The UD team found white blood cells filled with fat surrounding broiler chickens’ veins and showing signs of swelling are key contributing factors to this muscle degeneration disease in these birds that can ultimately affect their meat quality.
  • Faculty members elected American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows

    April 29, 2024 | Written by Tracey Bryant
    Two University of Delaware professors, Rodrigo Vargas and Deborah Allen, have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) — one of the largest scientific societies in the world and publisher of the Science family of journals. The 2023 class includes 502 scientists, engineers and innovators across 24 disciplines, who are being honored for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.

Inspiring discovery

With cutting-edge innovation, our faculty and students transform exploration into impact. We apply classroom and laboratory knowledge to tackle real-world challenges. And we're leading the way in cross-disciplinary unique strengths to create more sustainable and equitable ecosystems.

From understanding migratory wildlife patterns or predicting consumer behaviors, to identifying pest resistant plant genetics and pioneering new techniques in veterinary medicine, our research helps define the world around us. Explore our areas of expertise and discover the exciting advances we're making today.

Animal and Food Sciences

Improving performance and health of animals and the safety and quality of food

Applied Economics and Statistics

Agribusiness management, food marketing, the economics of environmental and resource management, and statistics

Entomology and Wildlife Ecology

UD research investigates migratory birds’ habitat concerns on coffee farms

Plant and Soil Sciences

Plant biology, agronomy, horticulture, landscape architecture and environmental soil sciences

Cooperative Extension

Brining knowledge to the people of Delaware