On the Vine - March

Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, a new collaborative research project, co-led by Blake Meyers, PhD, will explore how plants secrete RNA and how it helps protect plants from certain infections. The information gained from this study could help bring about crops that are more resistant to disease — essential to feeding the world sustainably. Read more.

IMAGE: A student at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center.

Boeing Helps New Education Initiative Take Flight

The Danforth Center has received a grant from Boeing in support of afterschool STEAM+Ag education at the new Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture, & Nutrition Innovation Center in East St. Louis. This new partnership of the Danforth Center with University of Illinois and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center seeks to inspire K-12 students to careers in science, while being empowered to transform their lives and community. Read more.

Meet our New Principal Investigator

Armando Bravo, PhD, is the newest principal investigator at the Danforth Center. Formerly of the Boyce Thompson Institute in Ithaca, New York, Dr. Bravo focuses his research on the symbiotic relationship between plants and soil microbes — research that has the potential to make crop agriculture both more productive and more sustainable by lowering the need for synthetic fertilizers and irrigation. Read more.

Three IN ² Companies Named Top Startups

CoverCress, Plastomics, and Pluton Biosciences were all included in St. Louis Business Journal’s list of 10 startups to watch in 2022. All three of these agtech companies are participants in the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator, or IN² — a partnership with Danforth Center scientists to validate the sustainable ag technology of emerging startups. Read more.

IMAGE: 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid.

Danforth Center Achieves Highest Ranking Possible on GuideStar

The Danforth Center recently earned the 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from the charity rating organization Candid, owner of the leading website GuideStar.org. Out of nearly 1.8 million nonprofits listed on Candid’s website, fewer than one percent have reached the platinum level. This prestigious achievement serves as an indicator of the Center’s ongoing commitment to stewardship and accountability in our work. Read more.

You Don’t Need a Pot of Gold

You don’t need a pot of gold to make a big difference at the Danforth Center. In fact, for less than the cost of one shamrock Frappuccino per month, your donation could have a big impact. You could help feed the hungry and preserve the environment. You could help inspire a young person to become a scientist. You could help St. Louis attract and grow new businesses. Set up a sustaining monthly gift today.