On the Vine

James Umen and a lab member studying a Petri dish.

An international team of researchers led by James Umen, PhD, has made a groundbreaking biological discovery: a new gene. Through this finding, the scientists have unveiled a model for how sex is determined in green algae, opening the door for improving traits in similar species– with important implications for biotech, biofuels, and agriculture. Read more.

Danforth Center Named 2023 Top Workplace

The Danforth Center continues to be a “Top Workplace” in St. Louis Post-Dispatch rankings for the third year in a row. This honor reflects the shared values of our “team of teams” in an environment characterized by excellence, trust, and interdependence. To see what some of our community members had to say about the Center, check out our new blog post.

IN2 cohort representatives touring the Danforth Center.

New Class of Innovation Incubator Startups

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) sustainable agriculture initiative pairs agtech startups with Danforth Center principal investigators to validate tech and accelerate progress. This week, the latest cohort was announced. The seven startups have a focus on climate-aligned agriculture and include three companies based in St. Louis and one with offices here. See the list on our website.

Dr. Bing Yang’s Research is Helping Feed the World

Growing up in a rice farming family in Szechuan, China, Danforth Center Principal Investigator Bing Yang, PhD knows first-hand the vital role rice plays in the lives of billions of people. That’s why he’s working to ensure farmers can grow healthy, bountiful harvests of this staple food security crop. Learn more.

EVENTS: IGNITE: A New Event Series | August 8

Join us for our inaugural IGNITE event featuring business futurist and bestselling author Nancy Giordano speaking on "the mindset we need to create the future we want." Tickets are complimentary. Save your spot today.

EVENTS: Conversations: Big Ideas 3.0 | August 31

Back by popular demand: three teams of Danforth Center scientists in a friendly competition, each presenting their “big idea” to address big challenges. The top team, selected by audience vote, receives a grant to pursue their idea. Reservations are free, but required.

Helping Plants Grow with Less H2O

Whether you prefer the beach or the pool, water is a treasured part of summer relaxation. It is also essential to life on Earth. Modern agriculture uses 70% of the world's freshwater supply. Danforth Center scientists are working to develop more drought-tolerant crops—and ultimately help grow more food with less water. Please support our efforts with a gift today.