THE MAGAZINE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

VOL. 9 • ISSUE 1 • 2019

Protecting New York City’s UNFILTERED water at its source

inside [ VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 1 | 2019 ]

02 DEAN’S MESSAGE 03 READERS’ LETTERS 04 AROUND THE QUAD Cornell AgriTech; new dean of SC Johnson College of Business; cross-college environmental and sustainability major; Intergroup Dialogue Project 08 Q&A Insights from communication and social behavior scientist Neil Lewis Jr. ’13 09 CALS IN QUOTES 10 UPSTREAM, DOWNSTREAM Delivering clean water to New York City 14 A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Supporting food entrepreneurs 16 NEW ROOTS ARE FOUNDATION FOR BIG CHANGES Reimagining how apples are grown 18 ADAPTATION Understanding plant evolution 19 MAPPING THE LIPID UNIVERSE OF COWS Researching insulin resistance 20 THE GREAT DISRUPTION Addressing global food issues 22 URBAN EXPANSION Helping farmers in cities across New York 23 ACTIVE LEARNING ENERGIZES CLASSROOMS Prepping students to be ‘problem solvers of tomorrow’ 24 A NEW SOCIAL ORDER Studying social media’s influences 26 THEN AND NOW Current and former students share stories 28 DETERMINED BEAUTY Alumni inspirations 31 IN MEMORIAM 32 ENDNOTE

LEFT: Healthy soil is vital to a healthy planet. The Cornell Soil Health Lab analyzes samples from all over the world, providing clients with comprehensive insights into the biological, physical and nutrient properties of their soil.

Photo: Allison Usavage Photo: COVER ILLUSTRATION: Cristina Eagan dean’s message periodiCALS

THE MAGAZINE OF hroughout U.S. history—including CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S during the early days of our college COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES at the turn of the 20th century— T farms and rural communities have Volume 9 • Issue 1 • 2019 faced immense pressures from disruptive factors. Chronic stresses in agriculture periodiCALS is published two times a year by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, include always being at the mercy of a unit of the State University of New York, nature, while needing to maintain a labor Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s force and to secure a reliable market. In heritage. We are an employer and educator addition to these ongoing challenges, recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. more recent stresses include long-term low commodity prices, trade uncertainty THE RONALD P. LYNCH DEAN and an increasingly unpredictable Kathryn J. Boor ’80 climate. These conditions have an impact EXECUTIVE DEAN on the rural and upstate communities Max J. Pfeffer we serve as New York’s Land-Grant university and the rural economies across SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEANS our nation and around the world. Jason Koski Photo: Beth A. Ahner In the face of such challenges, Dean Kathryn Boor ’80 and New York State Amy McCune Department of Agriculture and Markets innovation and technology are essential. Commissioner Richard Ball open the ASSOCIATE DEAN OF MARKETING For example, farmers in the 1930s faced renovated Cornell Food Venture Center AND COMMUNICATIONS pilot plant at Cornell AgriTech. a great global economic depression and Samara Sit extended drought conditions. For those ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS able to invest in new technologies—such AND DEVELOPMENT as replacing draft horses with tractors— classroom experience to an active learning Sharon L. Detzer ’88 farm productivity and yield improved. environment to engage students who EDITOR By 1945, tractors overtook horse power are used to immediately accessing any Matt Hayes on U.S. farms, helping to provide better possible fact with the swipe of a finger. returns. We are at a similar turning And you’ll read about our newly PRODUCTION MANAGER point today. Low commodity prices renovated Cornell Food Venture Jenny Stockdale are constraining resources available Center, which offers state-of-the-art COPY EDITOR to farmers for reinvesting in new food-processing technology to help Hope M. Dodge capital equipment at a time when such New York’s food businesses of all sizes DESIGNER investments are more important than turn their innovative ideas into safe Cristina Eagan ever to ensure a farm’s future. commercial food products while fueling Cornell CALS aims to help farmers, our economy from upstate to downstate. periodiCALS ONLINE communities and businesses embrace These advancements illustrate the Laura Caruso new technologies through innovation college’s goal of meeting the changing Hillary Creedon and the application of pioneering needs of our world through investments SEND ADDRESS UPDATES TO: solutions to today’s vexing challenges. in innovative research, teaching and periodiCALS Address Updates, 248 Roberts In this issue of periodiCALS, you’ll extension. I hope these examples—along Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853-5905, or email alsaa@ read about our investment in innovative with the rest of the content featured in cornell.edu (please include “periodiCALS Address Update” in the subject line). programs, collaborations and technologies this issue—inspire your optimism for that are focused on today’s needs while the future. Help the Big Red go green by opting out of receiving the print edition at anticipating tomorrow’s areas of inquiry. Thank you, as always, for your periodicals.cals.cornell.edu/go-green. Specifically, you’ll learn about our cross- continued support and interest in CALS. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences campus research, teaching and extension has sustainability as a core value. The initiative focused on digital agriculture. magazine was printed regionally using soy-based inks on post-consumer fiber paper This pan-university initiative leverages certified by the Forest Stewardship Council in Cornell’s strengths at the intersection of an eco-friendly process that recycles virtually all chemical, paper and metal waste. engineering, data and information science and food systems research. Kathryn J. Boor SEND STORY IDEAS TO THE EDITOR AT You’ll also discover how we’re Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the [email protected] transforming the traditional lecture-style College of Agriculture and Life Sciences VISIT US ONLINE AT CALS.CORNELL.EDU

2 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES readers’ letters

Recent research on sleep problems Maureen McCann suggest that it’s healthier if you’re not @MaureenMcCann13 THE MAGAZINE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

VOL. 8 • ISSUE 1 • 2018 watching TV or using an iPad, cell phone or Kindle for reading in bed before Great to see @AlanSealls mentioned in latest @CornellCALS sleeping. I like to read before I go to magazine! @cornellweather sleep, and I often read magazines, which help me relax before sleeping. Even though I have the option of reading the alumni magazine online (during the day at my computer), I prefer to receive the hard copy print version of periodiCALS at home and recycle it when I am done. By the way, I enjoyed the latest print NE LEN issue received at my home a few days nnovations that ago (before getting it via email). 30 May 2018 improve how we feel, —Lee B. Kass, Ph.D. ’75 N ELT eat, move and live —Maureen McCann ’02, commenting on Alan Sealls ’85 being named by Reddit as periodiCALS arrived at about 2 p.m. “Best Weatherman Ever” yesterday, and I totally devoured it—from cover to cover! I can’t even We want to hear from you! pick a favorite article. They were all so interesting: international, health, science, Connect with us on social media environment—it was all there. Great or send story ideas to the editor issue! THANK YOU!!!! at calsnews cornell.edu. —Gail Clauer @ Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

The Cornell CALS Online Store A new way to show your college pride

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SPRING 2019 3 around the quad

CORNELL AGRITECH GROWS LEGACY OF INNOVATION

For more than a century, innovations developed at our New York State Agricultural Experiment Station have propelled economic development and delivered practical solutions that help farmers and businesses thrive. In August 2018, our historic scientific institution was given a new name: Cornell AgriTech. Agriculture and food are multibillion-dollar industries in New York, and the name change underscores the value Cornell AgriTech brings to improving the health of the people, environment and economy of the state and beyond. Located 50 miles from Ithaca in Geneva at the northern end of Seneca Lake, Cornell AgriTech is home to more than 300 of our faculty, scientists, staff and graduate students working together at the leading edge of food science, entomology and plant sciences research. Cornell CALS scientists in Geneva have developed more than 280 new varieties of fruits and vegetables, pioneered insect attractants for pest control, and invented advanced technologies to improve crops and food safety. Today, Cornell AgriTech has expanded to more than 900 acres, including a dozen research farms, more than half a million square feet of laboratory and greenhouse space, and two associated laboratories in the Hudson Valley and Lake Erie regions. Guided by our Land-Grant mission, the Cornell AgriTech community continues to grow and evolve, working together across disciplines to reimagine the future of food and agriculture systems.

» Cornell AgriTech has a vibrant vision to improve the health of the people, environment and economy of New York and beyond through innovative food and agricultural science. “Our strategy for innovation in agricultural and food science encompasses three key areas,” says Cornell AgriTech’s Goichman Family Director Jan Nyrop. “Our expert scientists are leading the way through successful plant breeding, crop management and implementation of techniques by industries.” « Graduate student Larissa Osterbaan innoculates plants in a walk-in growth chamber in Barton Hall.

4 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Faculty are using innovative Cornell AgriTech expertise does not Plant breeders are working ways to understand and stay on campus. Researchers are with some of the most popular manage crops and the disseminating expertise and resources food crops to improve flavor conditions that affect them. to grow the food and agricultural and nutrition and breed plants industries of New York. optimized to climate conditions. Photos: drone, Allison Usavage; others, Justin James Muir Justin others, Allison Usavage; drone, Photos:

SPRING 2019 5 around the quad

KEVIN HALLOCK NAMED DEAN OF SC JOHNSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Economist tapped to lead business programs

Economist and scholar Kevin F. Hallock has been named dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. His term extends through June 2024. Hallock, a compensation and labor market expert whose term started in December 2018, served previously as dean of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). Among his achievements, Hallock guided the school through a strategic planning process, made important investments in the student experience and student well-being and introduced an ILR initiative to bring together students, staff and faculty around a common theme. Launched in 2016, the SC Johnson College of Business comprises Cornell’s three accredited business programs. It jointly administers the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management with CALS, and oversees the School of Hotel Administration and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

CROSS-COLLEGE PROGRAM IN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY LAUNCHES Major expands to offer humanities perspective

Launched in fall 2018, our program in environment and sustainability is guided by a single principle: Understanding and resolving environmental problems require an interdisciplinary approach. With that insight firmly in mind, the environmental and sustainability sciences (ESS) major has been broadened to include a brand-new concentration in The environmental and sustainability sciences major expands a curricular focus that incorporates humanities, opening opportunities for strengths in environmental sciences, social sciences and humanities, which are dispersed across multiple departments and colleges. students to explore how art, literature, music and communication influence how humans perceive and respond to environmental issues. The expanded major is a cross-college that’s not how humans respond,” Kraft said. “I think there are collaborative effort available to students in both the College of instances where through literature, through art, through music Arts and Sciences and CALS. you can actually better understand how people interpret the Bringing in the humanities perspective is crucial to helping environment surrounding them than using either the social or society act on science, said Cliff Kraft, who directs the cross- natural sciences.” college major and is a professor in the Department of Natural Deans of both colleges are making resources available to Resources. “Scientists often fall into this trap of thinking, help faculty create new interdisciplinary courses in support of

‘Here is the answer; now the world will go out and do it.’ But the ESS major. Jason Koski provided; Photography; Winter Jesse left: top from clockwise Photos,

6 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES HACKING THE FARM

THE PLANET IS BECOMING MORE CROWDED.

The global population is EXPECTED TO EXCEED 9.8 billion people by 2050. Ikenna Onyekwere ’19 and Sarah Aiken ’18 joined other Intergroup Dialogue Project facilitators for a training session as they prepared for new student orientation.

TO KEEP PACE with the population, INTERGROUP DIALOGUE PROJECT world FOOD PRODUCTION will have to BROADENS STUDENTS’ WORLDS at least double by 2050. Diversity program expands to all incoming students

College is a time to connect authentically with people across TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING FARMS cultures and identities. The Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP), AND BUSINESSES RESPOND. established at CALS in 2012, uses a structured process that operates on the premises that empathy can be learned and that students can practice creating a community in which people In 2016, FARMERS accounted for nearly feel they can bring their full selves, without fear that they must one-fifth of all commercially used change to be part of it. unmanned aerial vehicles, IDP has become one of the main programs on campus COMMONLY KNOWN to offer peer-facilitated courses and workshops that teach AS DRONES. communication and collaboration across social, cultural and power differences to promote equity and democracy. In the fall, for the first time, all of Cornell’s 3,325 incoming The Cornell Initiative for Digital first-year students took part in IDP sessions during orientation. Agriculture (CIDA) was formed to generate Experiential learning is a crucial component of the program. research across five colleges at Cornell at Participants reflect on their personal experiences while the intersection of agriculture, computer learning how they might be related to broader social and science and engineering. cultural structures, and everyone chooses a research topic related to their identity and to campus life. “CALS is an extremely diverse college and was the first on More than 100 faculty campus to make diversity coursework mandatory, which was members from FIVE DISCIPLINES » an important move because it ensures a variety of perspectives are collaborating on DOZENS Turn to page are represented in the classroom,” says IDP director Adi 20 to learn OF PROJECTS. more about Grabiner-Keinan. “This is crucial for learning about oneself CIDA and its and for engaging empathetically in a way that invites diverse efforts. perspectives in an effort to create shared meaning.” * Data from the National Academy of Sciences SPRING 2019 7 q&a

NEIL LEWIS JR. ’13, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Trained as a social psychologist, Lewis works in his Motivation and Goal Pursuit Lab to examine how and why people’s identities and social contexts interact to influence their motivation to pursue their goals and success in achieving them. His research aims to understand processes underlying social disparities, especially in education and health, in order to better develop policies to address them.

As a social scientist, you explore how people’s identities and their social context shape the meaning they make of their experiences and how that affects their behavior. What’s the biggest takeaway from your research? I really try to understand what motivates people to pursue their various goals in life and try to figure out what are things that we could do to help people achieve those goals. The domains that I focus on the most are education and health because the implications of that work are very clear. I want as many people as possible to attain a good education and good health. My research examines just how much the interactions between people’s identities and their social context influence the meaning they make and their behavior. These interactions can matter a lot in trying to predict how people behave in particular situations.

American life is much different today than it was even 20 years ago. Do you feel as if we are moving in the appropriate direction to I also have a broader goal of making that work useful. That sustain the progress that has been made? often involves going out in relevant real-world settings— That’s a tough one. I’d say yes and no. On the optimistic side, I whether that’s a school, a health clinic or the community see more companies and policy makers incorporating scientific where the issues are happening—and studying those evidence into their decisions and policies, and that can help processes there. And that allows us to figure how useful the us sustain some progress. The pessimistic side is that we work can be in addressing the problems that we are facing. sometimes overestimate the amount of progress that we have But then, in addition, we sometimes have to go outside of the made. Americans tend to overestimate progress in economic academic box to communicate more broadly. Writing op-eds, and racial issues. And that’s a problem because if we perceive meeting with policy makers, engaging on social media—these more progress than has really been made and don’t understand are a few ways that I engage with communities more broadly the reasons behind (lack of) progress, then we can start to think to make sure the results of our work gets out there and makes we don’t actually need those policies—the very policies that a difference. enable progress to happen. That’s a big problem. These are huge, systemic problems you are tackling. What keeps Why is there that misperception? Is it because Americans are you motivated? optimistic in general, or do we not realize the depth of the problem? One of my mentors in graduate school, Professor Frank Yates, Both, actually. One example that comes up a lot when thinking used to tell us that we should study the things that keep us up about racial progress is Obama’s presidency. His election has at night. Whenever I pick up a new report—about education, led many to believe that things must be fine now. Don’t get me health and/or increasing environmental disparities—I have a wrong—a lot of good things have happened. We’ve had a great hard time sleeping, and I feel as if I have to do something. The deal of economic growth for instance. But at the same time, thing I know how to do best is research, so I put those skills to there’s rising inequality; not everyone is benefiting equally from use to study the issues. Then, when we learn something useful, that growth. So if we are only looking at part of the picture, we work with practitioners and policy makers to disseminate then we can misperceive what the whole reality is. the research results so that it can hopefully move the needle on some of these disparities. How does your work drive progress to make the world better?

I study basic communication and psychological processes, but  @NeilLewisJr Allison Usavage Photo:

8 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES CALS in quotes

“ Climate change is one of the “ Almost every ant you’ve ever seen is female. most important issues of They’re the workers that go out and gather young people’s time. It’s food. They’re the soldiers that battle other more than just flicking off colonies. They’re the caregivers for young ants. the lights at home. We have People think of toughness and industriousness to engage people.” as male traits. With ants, it’s just the opposite. — Jeff Niederdeppe, associate professor I love that.” in the Department of Communication, speaks to Reuters about what drives —Corrie Moreau, professor in the Department of Entomology, speaks young people to act on climate change. to National Geographic about insect evolution and the role of gender.

“ We were looking to develop “ Another five years will help us strengthen the very flavorful grapes with long-term global sustainability of cassava—a large berries and large crop important for food security and predicted clusters, and we’ve achieved to stand up to climate change and extended that with Everest Seedless.” periods of drought or rain.” —Bruce Reisch, professor in the School of —Ronnie Coffman, the Andrew H. & James S. Tisch Distinguished Integrative Plant Science, talks to University Professor, director of International Programs at CALS Finger Lakes Times about a new seedless and principal investigator of the Next Generation Cassava Breeding grape he developed that is larger than a Project, talks about the second phase of the project to Nigerian traditional Concord. Tribune, the oldest private newspaper in Nigeria.

“ Flatfishes are total freaks of nature.” “ You don’t have these years where you can kick back and —Claire Fox, doctoral student in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology, speaks to National Geographic about her research into fish locomotion do what you normally do. You and what it reveals about evolutionary traits. have to worry about bringing water in. You have to worry about irrigating your crop. You “ These phages can detect their host bacteria in sensitive have to worry about whether situations, which means we can provide low-cost bacteria you can get into the field early detection assays for field use—like food safety, animal enough to plant corn because health, bio-threat detection and medical diagnostics.” it may be too wet to get —Sam Nugen ’99, Ph.D. ’08, associate professor in the Department of equipment in there.” Food Science, tells Forbes about the genetically engineered viruses his lab has created to test water in hard-to-reach areas around the world. —Art DeGaetano, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, discusses in The New York Times the way unpredictable weather affects farmers in the state. “ She feeds them well past the period when they can forage on their own, and the nursing enhances their survival.” If Canada has to give up and reform —Linda Rayor, senior lecturer and the whole (dairy) system, it’s going senior research associate in the Department of Entomology, tells The to have a gigantic impact.” Atlantic about jumping spiders that stay together as a family far longer than —Andrew Novakovic, professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of most spiders and continue to provide Applied Economics and Management, talks to CNN about nutritious milk to their offspring. the U.S. government’s efforts to restructure NAFTA.

SPRING 2019 9 Cornell CALS helps deliver clean water to UPSTREAM New York City DOWNSTREAM Photos, from top: Jason Koski; Deposit Photos top: from Photos,

10 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Millions of times each day, people living and working in the downstate New York area turn on their faucets and rely on a supply of unfiltered water from the Catskill Mountains about 125 miles away.

Delaware County, with its breathtaking scenery in the Catskills, price tag equivalent to nearly $10 billion in today’s dollars. is home to the watershed’s headwaters, part of the largest The New York City Department of Environmental Protection municipal water supply in the United States. The entire (NYCDEP), which has jurisdiction over the reservoirs and the system covers more than 1 million acres, delivering about 1 surrounding land, received a “filtration avoidance” variance billion gallons of water daily through a vast infrastructure of from the EPA. To qualify, the department needed to enlist the reservoirs, aqueducts, tunnels and pipes to a million residents support of farmers, residents and other stakeholders in the in Orange, Putnam, Ulster and Westchester counties and 8.6 watershed to keep the water clean. million New York City residents. The mission was straightforward but desperately complex Nineteen reservoirs on both sides of the Hudson River in its implementation: Assist the watershed’s farmers in supply the New York City area’s water. Those fed by older spreading nutrient-rich manure in an environmentally watersheds close to the city and east of the Hudson require sensitive way, and balance the needs of animals and cropland filtration. But west of the Hudson, about 125 miles northwest so that the manure improves soil health but its nutrients do of Broadway, the Catskill-Delaware watershed’s six major not trickle into drinking water. reservoirs—Cannonsville, Pepacton, Rondout, Neversink, For years, Cornell’s New York State Water Resources Ashokan and Schoharie—supply the unfiltered bulk. Institute had been providing practical knowledge for the Behind every drop of clean water traveling from Delaware region, so the agencies and farmers again turned to the County is a team of Cornell CALS scientists and Cornell university for additional scientific guidance. “The various Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators. For three decades, organizations needed a framework to work together,” said Karl these experts have partnered with farmers, local and federal Czymmek ’86, senior extension associate in Cornell’s PRO- agencies and municipalities to develop custom plans to protect DAIRY Program, which assists New York’s dairy industry in nearby streams from runoff, keeping drinking water pristine economic development. “Science was the key,” he said. and affordable. The effort was accelerated by the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program, led by Professor Quirine ‘SCIENCE WAS THE KEY’ Ketterings in the Department of Animal Science. Ketterings, Agricultural land dominates the watershed. Cannonsville, one who joined CALS in 1999, pioneered an approach that accounts of the largest reservoirs, is surrounded by nearly 200 dairy, for nutrients entering a farm system and where they all go. The beef, sheep and goat farms. Across the entire area, hundreds nutrient mass balance software her team developed provides of farms are home to thousands of cows. Their nutrient-rich precise accounting to manage feed and waste. manure poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and downstream “We can calculate how much phosphorus, nitrogen and drinking water supplies. In the late 1980s, new surface water potassium arrives at the farm and then how much of it leaves treatment laws set by the U.S. Environmental Protection by way of milk production—and how much stays on the Agency took effect. The EPA told New York City officials that farm and is potentially subject to loss to the environment,” the state would need to build a filtration plant—with a likely Ketterings said.

SPRING 2019 11 Professionals working in the watershed were among the few around the country to develop and execute this style of precision feed management, said Paul Cerosaletti ’89, M.S. ’98, an agronomist and dairy cattle nutritionist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. “Importantly, we went from developing the science to implementation on a large scale across a number of farms. It’s more than a field-laboratory experiment,” Cerosaletti said. “It’s a water-quality program implemented across farms that’s efficient and fits into the conservation world.” Tools to measure and prevent runoff continue to be improved. Mike Van Amburgh, Ph.D. ’96, professor in the Department of Animal Science, is the driving force behind the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System, now one of the most widely used cattle nutrition models in the world. CCE educators input a farm’s data into the model to evaluate the cattle rations “ It’s a water-quality and use the model’s output to develop detailed, precision feed management program implemented recommendations. “We can tailor decisions to the across farms that’s forages and the cow to create a diet that maximizes cow health and minimizes efficient and fits into the the environmental impact of food production,” said Van Amburgh. conservation world.” Efforts to mitigate farm runoff into the —Paul Cerosaletti ’89, M.S. ’98, agronomist streams, along with upgrades to poorly and dairy cattle nutritionist for Cornell functioning wastewater treatment plants Cooperative Extension of Delaware County proved successful. From the late 1980s to 2010, these projects caused the amount of phosphorus going into Cannonsville to drop by 55 percent, and 51 percent at York. On dry days, he walks the cows sustainable,” he said. “A dairy cow nearby Pepacton Reservoir, according to from the barn to a rotation of pastures drinks 30 to 50 gallons of water a day, the agency’s statistics. for grazing. On average, each cow and milk is about 87 percent water—so produces 2,430 gallons of milk it’s in my best interest to maintain good ‘THE WATER STARTS HERE’ annually, and Reinshagen perpetually water quality.” Seven full-time professionals from CCE organizes feed, milks cows and spreads The partnership among the farmers, offer best-management practices backed manure. But he remains mindful that governmental agencies and Cornell is by Cornell CALS science and experience. his farm and hundreds of others in the unique. “You don’t really see this around They help nearly 300 farms manage nearby area affect the drinking water of the country, but it is an integral part soil excellence, produce high-quality 9.6 million people in and around New of our watershed program,” said Craig crops, feed balanced rations, maintain York City. Cashman, executive director of the herd health and, most importantly for “The water starts here,” said Watershed Agricultural Council. “This New York City’s water supply, prevent Reinshagen. “It’s something to be kind of expertise is critical to watershed manure runoff from wending its way proud of. Water quality is important success. Cornell scientists and Cornell into the streams. to people who live in New York City, Cooperative Extension bring a skill set Dennis Reinshagen tends to Holstein and it is important to farmers, too, as that is unmatched.” and Jersey cows in South Kortright, New the watershed helps keep agriculture —Blaine Friedlander Jason Koski Photo:

12 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES FARMS AND MILK PRODUCTION IN NYC’S CATSKILL-DELAWARE WATERSHED 290 farms Milk 1 cow 1 cow IS ABOUT PRODUCES ABOUT CONSUMES 1 million 87% water 2,430 gallons 30 to 50 gallons ACRES OF OF MILK ANNUALLY OF WATER A DAY FARMLAND

THE CATSKILL-DELAWARE WATERSHED CATSKILL-DELAWARE BY THE NUMBERS WATERSHED

125 miles FROM NYC 1 billion gallons OF DRINKING WATER TO NYC PER DAY 1.8 million+ WATER-QUALITY TESTS AND ANALYSES PER YEAR

APPROXIMATELY $10 billion NEW YORK STATE SAVED BY REDUCING NEW YORK NEED FOR CITY FILTRATION PLANT Water flow (aqueducts and tunnels)

Learn more at cals.cornell.edu/unfiltered

SPRING 2019 13

A RECIPE FOR

How the Cornell Food Venture Center SUCCESS supports food entrepreneurs

Olga Padilla-Zakour, Ph.D. ’91, director of the Cornell Food Venture Center, back left, with, clockwise, Bruno Xavier, Ph.D. ’08, Sue Brightman, Cynthia James and Shannon Prozeller in the pilot plant at Cornell AgriTech.

14 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Bisharo Ali prepares bottles of apple fenugreek juice in her commercial kitchen in Buffalo.

isharo Ali and her family arrived reproducible formula that is revised to the CFVC and professor and chair of the in the U.S. as refugees from ensure safety—without compromising Department of Food Science. Somalia in the mid-1990s. At their the quality of the final product.” The family-owned, Rochester-based B home in Buffalo, New York, Ali With Ali, the center worked closely grocery chain Wegmans, with 98 regularly experimented with family to optimize her products so that they stores across New York, Pennsylvania, recipes using fenugreek and tamarind, conformed to food safety regulations. New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and traditional ingredients known for their The Cornell food scientists recommended Massachusetts, has long relied on its health benefits in Somalia. Over time, she acidity adjustments to keep the sauces partnership with CFVC food science perfected an apple fenugreek drink and stable on the shelf and offered guidance experts. Collaborations to ensure safety, marinade, and dipping sauces made from on creating a standard overall production stability and shelf-life extension of more a tamarind base. process, like shifting from fresh tomatoes than 400 products have enabled them to Friends and family who tasted Ali’s to canned to accommodate larger focus on innovation. sauces recognized something special, scheduled production. The Wegmans deli operations, for and they encouraged her to start her own Today, Ali sells her healthful sauces example, which rely on sandwich company. Najah Foods, using the Somali in eight stores in the Buffalo area, with a toppings prepared in bulk and word “najah,” which means “success,” goal to “move my product through every shipped to stores across the chain, was born. store in America,” she said. would not have been possible without Entering into the startup world is no More than 500 small food manufacturers collaboration with the CFVC, explains easy task, so Ali turned to the Cornell like Ali work with the CFVC each year Kathleen O’Donnell ’83, M.S. ’95, Food Venture Center (CFVC) for help in on food safety standards and regulations director of food science and regulatory turning a family favorite into a store- as the experts provide tools, techniques affairs at Wegmans Food Markets. ready product. and solutions for meeting those codes. “The Cornell Food Venture Center “Experienced cooks can make the Now in its 30th year, the center helps in is an invaluable resource for New York same delicious food without ever bringing approximately 2,000 products companies. We use it not just for writing a recipe down, but a set to market each year, aiding startups and what we are doing at Wegmans, but formulation and manufacturing process established companies alike. we’ve sent many of our suppliers is the first step to ascertain safety of the “Technology-driven solutions are key to Cornell to develop and work on final product,” said Bruno Xavier, Ph.D. to advancing today’s food industry, and their products,” O’Donnell said. “It’s ’08, a food microbiologist and extension our facilities here at Cornell allow food something that we have in New York associate at the CFVC. “So, our first entrepreneurs across New York and the state that is so important to the food goal is to work with the manufacturer Northeast to develop products that are industry and agriculture.” to translate the recipe into a scheduled safe, stable and marketable,” says Olga —Hillary Creedon and

Photos: left, Justin James Muir; right, Jason Koski Justin left, Photos: process—which is an exact and Padilla-Zakour, Ph.D. ’91, director of Krishna Ramanujan

SPRING 2019 15 NEW ROOTS ARE FOUNDATION FOR BIG CHANGES

Rootstock program reimagines how apples are grown

ite into an apple, and you’re tasting the fruit of scientific progress with deep roots. Apple-growing operations over the past half-century have undergone a stark Btransformation. Large, stately trees have given way to diminutive ones spread across wires like grapevines. But the story of the modern apple orchard begins in many ways below ground. Almost all commercial growers now graft branches of a preferred apple variety—say Gala or SnapDragon or any one of the thousands of other options—onto chosen rootstocks. These rootstocks provide optimal attributes below ground while allowing growth of any fruit variety above. Rootstock breeding has made a dramatic shift in orchards around the world, influencing attributes such as the size and shape of the trees and their resiliency in withstanding disease. The Cornell University/U.S. Department of Agriculture bushes, made harvest simpler and production less expensive. apple rootstock breeding program at Cornell AgriTech in East Malling’s standard-bearer rootstock, the M9, is still planted Geneva is one of only six functioning programs worldwide in orchards throughout Europe and America. and the only one in the western hemisphere. The Cornell But while that rootstock improved production in many ways, program has released 15 apple rootstocks since 1982, and it it also introduced vulnerabilities, particularly to a disease called continues to influence major changes in orchards across New fire blight. This bacterial pathogen infects the flowers of apple York, the U.S. and around the world. trees as they bloom. The disease gets its name because of the “Dwarfing rootstocks have allowed fruit growers to plant way leaves and flowers of infected trees look as though they’ve apple trees only two to three feet apart and to develop tall, been burned. Plus the pathogen spreads like wildfire: One slender, spindle-type trees that have much higher yield and epidemic in Michigan in 2000 caused an estimated $42 million better fruit quality resulting in much greater profitability for in damages, and the disease has ravaged orchards from New New York apple growers,” said Terence Robinson, professor York to Washington. in the School of Integrative Plant Science and co-leader of the “The Washington apple-producing region has experienced program since 1994. “The dwarfing rootstocks are central to increasing fire blight pressure for the last five years,” said Tom this progress.” Auvil, a grower and researcher from Washington state. “In The first shift in apple orchards started more than a century 2018 the losses have reached epic levels. Several leading firms ago when scientists at East Malling Research in the United have been transitioning to new rootstocks from Geneva as the Kingdom discovered rootstocks that produced shallower roots. cornerstone of efforts to combat this disease.” In turn, the tree above grew shorter and produced earlier than In 1968, visionary Cornell CALS apple breeders James traditional apple trees. The resulting trees, which look more like Cummins and Herbert Aldwinckle recognized the Deposit Photos Illustrations:

16 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES “Dwarfing rootstocks… have much higher yield and better fruit quality resulting in much greater profitability for New York apple growers.” —Terence Robinson, professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science

“When you lose a large number of trees like that, you end up having costs for replacements, missed revenue for each tree lost, costs of infrastructure and wasted spray treatments,” said Gennaro Fazio, a USDA-Agricultural Research Service scientist and adjunct Cornell professor who took over as head of the rootstock breeding program in 2002. Fazio estimated that the G.41 trees saved the orchards hit by the blight more than $20 million. The Geneva rootstock line has flourished in recent years as fruit growers and researchers have discovered additional shortcomings of M9 and established the rootstock breeding benefits beyond fire blight resistance. G.41 is also resistant to program at Cornell with the express purpose of producing apple replant disease, which causes new apple trees to grow rootstocks that were resistant to fire blight. The researchers poorly in soil that previously had apple trees. The rootstock retained the useful “dwarf” feature but worked to find roots is cold hardy and can withstand the extremely cold winters that could also withstand real-world orchard villains: bacteria in northern states and Canada. Additionally, it is resistant to and viruses, fungi, drought and flooding, among others. woolly apple aphids, produces almost no root suckers (shoots) The first fire-blight-resistant Geneva rootstock was released and increases yields up to 20 percent. Those characteristics in 1991, and 13 more have followed. have resulted in worldwide interest in the line. One of those, G.41, now makes up 20 percent of the national “Our newest rootstocks produce many more fine roots than market for apple rootstocks. Released in 2005, it was selected normal rootstocks, and we think this allows them to explore the as an elite variety for its high productivity and resistance to soil more efficiently,” said Fazio. diseases like fire blight and crown rot, and to pests. By 2011, Apple growing combines the beauty and the patience of about 1 million plants were in production. G.41’s popularity good science. The newest rootstocks released in the last few has since soared, with 5 million plants in production in 2017, years were first crossed in 1976. The varieties have undergone and it is the primary rootstock used in the launch of the new trials for disease, stress and drought, and have been planted in apple variety Cosmic Crisp. dozens of test orchards across the country. A company in Washington planted two orchards of 150,000 “And yet, even after all the testing, we still find new things trees each—one with G.41 rootstock and another with M9. None about these rootstocks,” Fazio said. “We’re always learning of the G.41 trees were lost during the 2018 spring fire blight new things.” epidemic, while about 20 percent of the M9 rootstock was lost. —Krisy Gashler

SPRING 2019 17 ADAPTATION The world is changing; plant evolution shows how life responds

lants develop and change constantly throughout their crucial to understanding how they might adapt in the future— lives: One plant growing in the sun might grow shorter especially under the existential threat of global climate change. and stockier to support more fruit, while another In the Costus genus, for example, plants were once P in the forest might change the size or abundance pollinated only by insects. Over time, they evolved certain of its leaves to maximize photosynthesis. Over time, these forms that enabled them to be effectively pollinated by modifications have resulted in the development and evolution hummingbirds. To understand why the plants evolved that of a breathtaking abundance of forms and functions among way, among many other questions, Specht’s lab is cataloguing plant life. roughly 115 species in the genus. This process will inform “Plants can’t get up and walk away, so they have to questions about how genetic or environmental factors may constantly adapt,” said Chelsea Specht, the Barbara McClintock have interacted to shift the way the plant evolves new species Professor of Plant Biology in the School of Integrative Plant and diversifies its form over time. Science. In her lab and from research field trips conducted “Plants have a whole toolkit of genes that they can deploy to around the world, she combines molecular genetics, comparative enable them to adapt to different environments and eventually genomics and evolutionary biology to study diversification in evolve new traits,” Specht said. “Can this evolution happen plants and the forces creating and sustaining that diversity. quickly? We hope so, because it’s going to need to.” Understanding how plants have evolved in the past is —Krisy Gashler

Neotropical species such as Costus curvibracteatus (left) have evolved structures that allow pollination by hummingbirds from ancestral insect pollinated species native to Africa, such as Costus maboumiensis (right). The graphic (top) indicates the phylogeny of the order Zingiberales, with

branches colored to indicate known pollinators. Maas Specht and P.J.M. Chelsea Specht. Top: Photos:

18 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Joseph McFadden, right, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science, inspects a newborn calf with graduate student William Myers at the Harford Animal Science Teaching and Research Center.

MAPPING THE LIPID UNIVERSE OF COWS Insulin resistance research in cows may have human health implications

s diabetes cases—particularly insulin resistance, their ceramide levels research for humans and cows suggesting gestational and Type 2 diabetes— are elevated. If ceramide rings familiar, that through diet, ceramide production steadily increase in Americans, it’s because it is sometimes found in can be controlled. Using livestock models A research into what causes insulin shampoo for its moisturizing properties. to study human conditions is “something resistance in cows is holding promise In cows, McFadden believes the molecule we should do more of,” said McFadden. as a way to inform care for cows and is driving a process that contributes to Though his primary research is on cows, humans alike. milk synthesis. Understanding it better he hopes the biomedical community can Cows do not develop diabetes, but could improve their milk production and learn from some of his work. they do develop a form of insulin overall health. —Kelsey O’Connor resistance. This serves the important “We’re testing different pharmacological purpose of supporting milk production; and primarily nutritional approaches to however, if uncontrolled it may impair modulate ceramide supply. With that, the health of the animal and dramatically we hope to influence sensitivity and reduce fertility and longevity. The swirl milk production,” McFadden said. “This of complex lipids—fat-like substances is opening new avenues to keep cows “This is opening known in the aggregate as the lipidome— healthy and productive.” in cows holds clues to the way insulin The lipid ceramide is also found in new avenues resistance develops. Joseph McFadden, humans and Type 2 diabetics and might assistant professor and the Northeast be part of the innate physiology of all Agribusiness and Feed Alliance Partners mammals, McFadden said. Ceramide to keep cows Sesquicentennial Fellow in Dairy Cattle is being used as a diagnostic tool for Biology, is using the analytical technology cardiovascular disease and is considered healthy and mass spectrometry-based lipidomics to a diagnostic and prognostic tool for biochemically map hundreds of complex diabetes, too. lipids inside cows. By studying this “Although we study the dairy cow, we productive.” constellation of lipids, McFadden has are also actively interested in determining —Joseph McFadden, assistant professor been able pinpoint ceramide, a known whether ceramide is a predictor for and the Northeast Agribusiness and causal agent of insulin resistance. diabetes in humans,” he said. Feed Alliance Partners Sesquicentennial

Photo: Justin James Muir Justin Photo: When cows develop their own form of McFadden said there is promising Fellow in Dairy Cattle Biology

SPRING 2019 19 THE GREAT

Nearly 10 billion people will live on Earth by 2050; digital agriculture DISRUPTION will help to keep them fed

arrett Miller ’07 moves deliberately decades, reaching nearly 10 billion agriculture, including food production, through the dairy barn, looking people by 2050. processing and distribution; how natural for specific new and expectant “Critical resources needed to meet resources are used and conserved; and G mothers after an alert on his this challenge are already strained,” said the ways social and agricultural systems computer indicated signs of illness. Susan McCouch, Ph.D. ’90, the Barbara interact to support healthy individuals, As with human mothers, pregnancy McClintock Professor of Plant Breeding communities and the environment. can stress bovine health. Previously, cows and Genetics. “Globally, most arable land “Cornell, with its prestigious Ivy at Oakwood Dairy in Auburn, New York, is in production. The planet’s supplies of League researchers and Land-Grant were examined daily by farmers. Now, freshwater and energy are being tested, mission to serve, is uniquely positioned the more than 1,200 animals at the dairy and food security is being jeopardized to transform collaborative insights from wear collars equipped with sensors that by climate change, harvest loss and food the lab into applied solutions in the field. provide constant health monitoring, waste. The world is at a precarious point.” The combined passions and talents of our which translates into individual care. To address some of the most critical faculty, staff and students manifest into “The sensors catch cows so quick issues affecting the future of the global creative approaches and solutions needed sometimes we don’t know what’s wrong food supply, the Cornell Initiative for to tackle these intractable challenges with them. Sometimes they look fine, and Digital Agriculture (CIDA) was created and to do it sustainably,” she said. then have a disease,” said Miller, who by faculty to leverage interdisciplinary The work is diverse and vast: manages the herd at Oakwood. “My job research strengths across the university. Researchers in one project are working has changed to provide overall higher More than 100 faculty have partnered on real-time sensors to provide up-to-the- levels of care. I grew up on a 200-cow on projects that integrate information minute weather forecasting predictions dairy; I love cows, and it’s why I chose to and data science, engineering, and for farms, while elsewhere engineers farm. We’re working to feed the world.” food and agricultural systems. These collaborate with plant scientists to These types of rapid and radical collaborations are creating disruptive and develop soft-touch robots that count changes are happening across agriculture cutting-edge technologies and fostering vineyard grape clusters and predict yield. as digital technology expands a farmer’s a pipeline of practical innovations that Cornell research is revolutionizing the capacity to produce high-quality, improve real-time decision making 10,000-year history of plant breeding, nutritious food. The stakes are high: throughout the food system. as robots, artificial intelligence (AI) Global population is expected to increase McCouch, who directs CIDA, said and machine learning are deployed to

by more than 25 percent in the coming now is the time to re-envision global measure plant traits in real time. Mike Lindsay France Photo:

20 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Gore, Ph.D. ’09, associate professor of nitrogen and phosphorus to identify how plant breeding and genetics in the School Learn more at to improve farm production efficiency and digitalagriculture.cornell.edu of Integrative Plant Science, and his minimize environmental impacts. team are developing AI for autonomous At Oakwood and other dairy vehicles that can count individual plants, farms, Julio Giordano, St. John Family measure plant height and check individual Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow in Dairy leaves for disease. The data inform Cattle Management in the Department breeding decisions, which can speed of Animal Science, is combining sensor release of new plant varieties by years. “The combined data with AI machine learning to Maricelis Acevedo, associate director improve disease diagnosis and predict for science for the Delivering Genetic passions and talents future performance. Gain in Wheat project, managed by These and other digital agriculture International Programs at Cornell CALS, of our faculty, staff and technologies offer cost-effective solutions is collaborating to develop forecasting for farms of all sizes. For small enterprises, and prediction models that guide students manifest into reducing labor-intensive tasks can open decisions on fungicide use and resistant room for growth. For large operations, wheat varieties with near-real-time creative approaches enhancing or replacing hard-to-find labor data. Multispectral cameras, drones and can ensure financial stability. sensors are being used to help plant and solutions needed to “There is a great need for agriculture breeders select better wheat germplasm and food systems at large to be resilient, for variety development. tackle these intractable efficient and equitable,” said Jan Nyrop, Freely available shareware, apps associate dean and director of the Cornell and databases created on campus are challenges and to do University Agricultural Experiment expanding Cornell’s outreach. Kristan Station and Cornell AgriTech. “Digital Reed, assistant professor in the Department it sustainably.” agriculture is not just about solving of Animal Science, is creating an open- current issues; it’s also about anticipating source model that looks at the farm, —Susan McCouch, Ph.D. ’90, the challenges and designing the future from crops to cows, as a whole system. the Barbara McClintock Professor of farm to meet them.” The model simulates flows of carbon, Plant Breeding and Genetics —Julie Berry ’97

SPRING 2019 21 Cornell specialists help grow URBAN EXPANSION agriculture in cities across New York rom the rooftops of New York City are coming into it with a commercial Refugee Agricultural Program. to the weathered sidewalks of vegetable-growing background.” The produce they grow is sold locally inner-city Buffalo, urban farms are The Cornell specialists host workshops through farmers’ markets and in local Fsprouting across the Empire State. sharing the latest in plant science restaurants, and shared with families in Working these small plots are farmers research and food safety best practices the inner-city neighborhood. young and old from backgrounds as to help current and prospective growers For the past four years, the farm has diverse as their agricultural needs and improve profitability. The pair provide relied on Cornell Vegetable Program challenges—and urban agriculture educational programming and on-site specialist Judson Reid for technical specialists from Cornell Cooperative technical assistance in all five boroughs expertise and horticultural experience. Extension (CCE) are helping these for commercial vegetable growers and “Experts like Jud help us decide when, farmers make the most of these nonprofits operating commercial where and what to plant and help us distinctive environments. urban gardens. troubleshoot plant disease issues,” said In New York City, growing space is They also provide one-on-one farm manager Jenna Walczak. a major limiting factor. Farmers there technical assistance on certification Reid, who consults on urban farming are being helped by urban agriculture requirements and help create initiatives in cities across New York, has specialists Sam Anderson and Yolanda food safety plans. Gonzalez said helped the Buffalo farm grow tomatoes Gonzalez, who joined CCE’s Harvest consultations on food safety using vertical trellises and employ New York program in 2017. certifications options with large- advanced integrated pest management “One thing I love about working in scale urban farms have allowed those and soil fertility techniques. Reid said agriculture in this city is that there’s operations to sell produce directly to CCE puts research-based knowledge in such variety,” said Anderson. The New distributors and retail outlets, such as the hands of people—in this case, those York City specialists work on everything the Wegmans supermarket slated to who want to grow their own food to eat, from rooftop farms in Manhattan to open in Brooklyn. or grow food as a business. shoreline farms on Rockaway Peninsula On Brewster Street in Buffalo, a tiny “We often find that urban agriculture along the coast of Queens. “People in the organic farm sits among apartment gives people an opportunity to develop city are coming into agriculture from complexes and convenience stores. a sense of belonging, a sense of a gardening background or from an Newly resettled refugees from around contribution to the greater community,” activist background or from an interest the world farm the two-acre operation said Reid. in food or social justice. Not many at Green Shoots for New Americans —R.J. Anderson

In the shadow of Hell Gate Bridge, Cornell Cooperative Extension urban agriculture specialists Yolanda Gonzalez, left, and Sam “ One thing I Anderson, center, scout for harlequin bugs and consult with farmers at Randall’s Island Park love about Alliance’s Urban Farm in New York City. working in agriculture in this city is that there’s such variety.” —Sam Anderson, urban agriculture specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension

22 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Faculty are shifting emphasis away from the traditional lecture to techniques that use hands-on learning while dedicating classroom time to problem solving and engagement. ACTIVE LEARNING ENERGIZES Technique preps students to be CLASSROOMS ‘problem solvers of tomorrow’

umbled on the classroom tabletop lay cards scrawled with CALS is supporting faculty with grant funding that promotes words that, when properly arranged, tell an exquisite active learning. This academic year, six proposals split $500,000 story: the complicated flow of genetic information in a cell. to help hundreds of students sharpen critical-thinking skills, J Students in the introductory microbiology class broke develop in-the-field experience and become equipped with skills into small groups and conferred with each other about the best to tackle scientific problems rather than be passive learners. way to organize cards with words like “RNA polymerase,” “Students today are used to having all possible information “start codon,” “mRNA” and “promoter.” When they felt at their fingertips,” said Kathryn J. Boor ’80, the Ronald P. confident they had it right or had a question, they called over Lynch Dean. “As a consequence, universities have to be able to an instructor and explained the process in detail. teach them differently than the classic 50-minute lecture. Here The students were given reading assignments outside class at CALS, we are committed to preparing our students to be the to learn the flow of information in the cell. Classroom time problem solvers of tomorrow.” was dedicated to learning the intricacies of DNA replication, —Kelsey O’Connor transcription and translation in a more engaged way. Chloe Carpenter ’20 said learning actively in this manner enhanced her ability to understand the subject matter. “Working with the material in this way is better for your “ It’s learning as you go, cognition level. It’s learning as you go, so you’re much better prepared for exams,” said Carpenter, a biological sciences and so you’re much better animal science double major. Research shows that the more students are involved in their prepared for exams.” own education, the better they learn. Teaching techniques like these are increasingly being used in classrooms at CALS and —Chloe Carpenter ’20, biological sciences

Photos: opposite, R.J. Anderson. This page, from left: Jason Koski; Chris Kitchen left: This page, from R.J. Anderson. opposite, Photos: across the university. and animal science double major

SPRING 2019 23 A NEW SOCIAL ORDER How social media influences the way we engage with news, politics and each other

ime was, if you wanted to share “You have relatives, colleagues, “Something happens to you, but you your opinion about politics, you neighbors, high school friends, liberals, never see it talked about. So you feel had to do it deliberatively, by conservatives, independent friends isolated and fear being embarrassed, T sending a letter to the editor or all collapsed into a single network,” and so you don’t talk about it, which standing up at a public meeting. Or you Bazarova says. “It really complicates how continues the spiral. We have the ability could state your case in person, knowing people present themselves online. to undo a lot of spirals of silence with that you would immediately feel the platforms that enable and encourage social ramifications of your opinions. UNDOING SPIRALS OF SILENCE everyone to share their experiences,” Then came social media. And along with Social media amplifies mass expression— Margolin says. “Before social media, it, the ability to instantly post, tweet, pin of a mood, an ideology or a joke—in a the mainstream media might have said, and upvote every story or opinion that way never before possible. Connections ‘Sure, Harvey Weinstein is a criminal, crossed your path—and the simultaneous form online and build into full-blown but this is extreme behavior by a unique ability of your boss, your uncle and your movements, for good and bad. individual.’ Now the Twitterverse is there college roommate to see your opinions, and The #MeToo movement is one of the saying, ‘No, you need to pay attention to react to them, in real time. most potent expressions of social media’s this as a general social issue.’” People could once maintain control power. In the past, accusations of sexual Online organizing done in private and over their social boundaries and the misconduct may have made it onto the secret groups has also been crucial to topics they discussed within those news if the individuals involved were mass demonstrations like the Women’s groups, but on social media, all those famous, but many women felt trapped in March, the March for Science and Black contexts are “collapsed,” says Natalie a “spiral of silence,” says Drew Margolin, Lives Matter. Bazarova, associate professor in the assistant professor and the Geri Gay Secret and moderated groups on Department of Communication and Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow in the Facebook and other social media director of the Cornell Social Media Lab. Department of Communication. channels have allowed people to feel Deposit Photos Illustration:

24 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES safer about expressing their political “It’s not only people on the fringes opinions without fear of backlash who believe fake news. Fake news is an or repercussions from those in their extreme version of a click-bait world,” HOW DO YOU COMBAT offline networks, according to Brooke Margolin says. FAKE NEWS ONLINE? Erin Duffy, assistant professor in the AUTHENTICITY Department of Communication. Here are some tips, based “There’s a sense of community and Those old enough to feel jarred by the collective solidarity that can flourish in changes wrought by social media might on research by Cornell these spaces,” she says. learn some lessons from young people CALS’ social media experts: One reason that marginalized groups, who have never known a world without especially women, have sought out closed social media. How do they cope? • RE-ESTABLISH CONTEXTS on groups is to avoid the harassment common Duffy says young people are Facebook by joining or creating in more public media spaces. Pew Research continually concerned about how they groups based on your real-life Center found that while both men and are perceived on social media. There are associations, such as family, church women experience harassment online, implications of feeling that you’re being friends or colleagues. women are twice as likely to be harassed surveilled—and judged. If you want to discuss politics because of their gender. “Young people used to have spaces “The criticism women receive tends where they could share personal online but not with everyone you to focus on their gender rather than experiences and not fear retaliation, know, CONSIDER JOINING OR the content of what they post,” Duffy but because of collapsed social media CREATING A MODERATED GROUP says. “This problem is particularly contexts, many express concerns with people who are politically pronounced in domains that are about, ‘What happens if this material engaged and capable of discussing stereotypically masculine, such as gets in the wrong hands?’” Duffy and politics respectfully. sports, gaming and politics. Women doctoral candidate Ngai Keung Chan trying to participate in these spaces may argue that such “imagined surveillance” • For even more privacy, experience incredible backlash.” can be paralyzing. BE COGNIZANT OF YOUR One strategy is creating accounts that CUSTOMIZED PRIVACY SETTINGS. ANGER = ENGAGEMENT = re-establish real-world social contexts. Use your real name for your “public” MEDIA COMPANY PROFITS Users may keep a professional LinkedIn profile and a pseudonym for a profile Online advertising revenues are based account while allowing themselves to on attention: how many stories people be sillier on Facebook. Online there’s a just for friends. click and how “engaged” readers are constant tug between being authentic with the stories, based on time spent and circumspect about what you • RESIST THE URGE TO IMMEDIATELY reading, shares and online comments. publish. Some seek to protect their SHARE POSTS, fact-check every So, which emotion elicits the most privacy by creating multiple accounts: post before sharing and read engagement? Anger. a “rinsta,” or real Instagram with their articles—not just headlines—before Margolin studied people participating real name, which they maintain in a sharing or commenting. in social media groups during and highly curated form to give a certain after NFL games. He found that the impression to the world, and a “finsta,” • FACT-CHECK POSTS of friends who discussions that elicited sadness caused or fake Instagram, where they feel freer share your politics; they people to disengage while those that to express themselves, warts and all. It’s are more likely to reject fake aroused anger kept people hooked. one more irony of the digital age that the “The pattern we saw was that anger “fake” accounts are the ones where users news if it’s pointed out by a like- keeps people talking,” Margolin says. present themselves authentically. minded friend. Media companies work to maximize “The original idea behind social media engagement, and one method is through was that you would have this giant • CALL OUT MEDIA BIAS distorted headlines, according to public forum and people could attend SPECIFICALLY. If you see Margolin. In an effort to get people to to the views of people who think really a factual error, contact the click, media companies of all types run differently from them—from all around media company and request a headlines that go beyond the factual the world,” Margolin says. “But we never correction. If a headline on a news assertions in the stories themselves or tried to regulate the social norms online. story is biased or exaggerated that insert bias into a straight-news story. You can’t just have the technology—you to encourage clicks, complain Distorted headlines are particularly also need a considered approach to the about the headline specifically. damaging because on social media, technology. Media literacy isn’t just about people may only read an article’s interpreting what the media says; it’s also Crying “fake news” without headline and then “engage” based on its about how we interact with each other.” evidence increases polarization tone or exaggerated, unsupported claims. —Krisy Gashler without solving the problem.

SPRING 2019 25 More online at THEN AND NOW cals.cornell.edu/thenandnow Since our founding, we have evolved continuously to meet the changing needs of our world. We invited current and former students to talk about challenges across generations.

The Cornell CALS experience empowers vegetable systems, and I’m more into in marketing food and agricultural us to explore the boundaries of knowledge, the business side. There are so many products has just changed tremendously, supported by the leading minds of today different backgrounds—people from and that has had an enormous influence and surrounded by the leading minds of farms, people from more urban areas— on what’s taught at the college. tomorrow. We sat down with agricultural that it allows you to see a variety of DANIEL There’s this growing disconnect science majors Daniel Frea ’18 and Aleah perspectives. I think our major does between the farm and the actual Butler Jones ’19 and former dean David Call an awesome job of connecting the dots consumer. More and more people are ’54, M.S. ’58, Ph.D. ’60 to discuss their within CALS. moving to urban areas. I think agriculture CALS educations, the state of agriculture and ALEAH Within the major, you have to needs to step up and take some of that how digital technologies are changing all of take an animal science course, you have power back and educate consumers. our lives. to take a business course, you have to ALEAH I think there are a lot of take soil science, you have to take field misconceptions in general about crops. And as you get more advanced agriculture, especially for people in the major, you hone in more on what who don’t come from agricultural AGRICULTURE EDUCATION AT CORNELL you are passionate about. I would think backgrounds. I’m from 45 minutes outside DAVID I came to Cornell in 1950. At that it is a very different array from what was of New York City. It’s a very interesting time, if you could graduate from high offered to you. thing to see, in terms of agriculture trying school and were raised on a farm, you DAVID Where you’re talking about to bridge that gap between urban and were pretty sure you could come to CRISPR and plant genetics, we were rural populations. That’s really important Cornell. I majored in general agriculture, talking about pollinating by hand. because [nearly] half the population and I met my future wife on the first day DANIEL It’s hard to think about college of the state lives in the New York City of classes. When I was here, it was almost without the internet. It’s also hard metropolitan area. 100 percent New York residents and to imagine just agriculture without DAVID Just about. probably 95 percent male. The college has technology being a big focus. The idea of ALEAH But the other half lives in a changed tremendously since that time. a tractor being monitored and guided by much more rural area. But, if you The student mix is quite different now, GPS is very cool. think about voting bases, that’s half and I think you’re all much brighter than DAVID I think your education is so of your constituents that agriculture we were. much better because of technology. You needs to remain relevant for. So I think ALEAH I’m not from a traditional ag have access to the world in a way that communication is definitely one of the background, but I’ve found that I was we didn’t have. Everything was hand biggest issues facing agriculture. really attracted to the major in terms of written, and when I graded papers, Related to that is getting people the study and its interdisciplinary aspect. you can imagine looking at a hundred interested in the field. Then, finally, I And I really love working outside. different types of handwriting. Another think a big issue is sustainability. DANIEL I come from a dairy and almond change is women’s diversity. And DAVID It’s very interesting that, currently, farm in California. I came to Cornell agriculture itself has changed just as more and more students at Cornell want thinking I would be pre-vet but realized much as Cornell has changed. to get a minor or want further depth in that I like business more than I like sustainability issues. I had never heard animals. I ended up in ag science with a PERSPECTIVES ON AGRICULTURE that word when I was an undergrad. business concentration. DAVID In the early 1950s, supermarkets ALEAH I’m from an urban area, and DAVID I’ve traveled a lot in the United hadn’t really shown up yet. When you when I told people in high school that States, and I’ve been on farms in a lot of went to buy food, you went to a grocery I was going to study agriculture, I got the states. When you mention the name store. You sat at the counter and [the quite a bit of backlash. Quite a few Cornell and agriculture, the doors open up. clerk] would take things off the shelf. people said something along the lines of, DANIEL The agricultural sciences major Now, you can have it delivered to your “Why would you waste your talents and creates many opportunities on campus. home. You can go on Amazon, and you intelligence studying agriculture?” Aleah is involved in plant genetics and can get anything you want. The transition DANIEL I know that when I tell people on

26 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES “ Agriculture itself has changed just as much as Cornell has changed.” —David Call ’54, M.S. ’58, Ph.D. ’60

“ I think there are a lot of misconceptions in general about agriculture, especially for people who “ I think our major does an don’t come from awesome job of connecting agricultural backgrounds.” the dots within CALS.” —Aleah Butler Jones ’19 —Daniel Frea ’18

campus that I’m an agricultural sciences whole life. This started in the 1950s, and In almost every single science class I’m in major, I get, “So you want to grow corn it’s still going on. today, they bring up how to communicate for the rest of your life?” DANIEL Robotic milking is becoming these ideas to the general public. DAVID When anybody asked me why I a big thing. A lot of guys in AGR DAVID It just hurts me to see people would want to be a dean of a college of [agricultural fraternity Alpha Gamma preaching anti-GMO. I guess I feel agriculture, I said, “Do you eat?” I just Rho] are starting to switch to robotic deeply about that because I was the look at the importance of the food system milking, and even small herd farms are one who put together a new program in the economy—not agriculture but the looking into it right now just because in molecular biology, and I brought in food system. We have to think—and I’ve labor is so expensive. five new faculty members all at once to preached this from day one —broader DAVID They’re expensive machines, capitalize on genetic engineering. I think than agriculture. We have to think about but they work quite well. It’s going in the long run, once people accept it, the food system. to continue. I mean, it has to continue like they have with grain production, because we have to increase not only U.S. it’ll become more widespread. As our DIGITAL AGRICULTURE productivity but world productivity as society has changed, the college has DAVID Have you had experience with well, if we’re going to feed the world. changed, and my thinking has changed. digital ag? And that’s when we get into the debate I sort of grew in that process. I had ALEAH Last summer when I was at about GMOs, because it’s the use of to understand sustainability. I wasn’t Cornell AgriTech, there were tractors plant breeding that’s going to allow us to educated in that area. So I think that rigged for GPS guidance. When you increase the productivity of agriculture we’re trying to get people to think of the looked at the end of the field, you’d see around the world. system, of the breadth, that here is what basically perfectly straight rows. ALEAH There’s such a huge history in you’re eating, and here’s your health, and DAVID It’s become quite common, genetic engineering and its development that agriculture is a part of that. We’ve particularly in vegetable production. at Cornell. People oftentimes fear what been lucky that in New York state we’ve The planting style has such an impact they don’t know and what they don’t gotten good support. on mechanical harvesting, which is necessarily understand. Communication is ALEAH I don’t think it will ever

Photos: Allison Usavage Photos: something that really grew through my one of those key things to bridge that gap. get boring.

SPRING 2019 27 DETERMINED BEAUTY Daily life can sometimes feel mundane. For these alumni, beauty inspires what they do and how they live.

TONY CRADDOCK JR. ’10 ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES MAJOR Saxophonist and recording artist at Cold Front Music

“Music and weather are canvases of natural beauty—one invisible, the other mostly visible. My love for them both began in my childhood, tuning into the Weather Channel’s smooth jazz, which led me to study atmospheric sciences in CALS. Now I uplift listeners with songs on the saxophone by using titles, sounds and accompanying lyrics that connect the messages of the songs with the emotions people experience through the weather. Whether it’s the radiance of a sunrise or the invisible force of wind, I hope my music paints pictures that help listeners feel the inspirational messages I created especially for them.” Photo: Hector Emanuel Hector Photo:

28 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES SUMMER RAYNE OAKES ’04 NATURAL RESOURCES MAJOR Author and founder of Homestead Brooklyn, an initiative to help people become more attuned to nature in New York City

“Ever since I was a young girl, I found beauty in that which often goes unnoticed—from the tattered remains of insect-chewed leaves to the thin filaments of mycelium festooned beneath the forest floor. As an environmental communicator, I find it’s a joy to be able to take these often-overlooked elements of nature and rekindle people’s love for the outdoors. Sometimes this starts off with something as humble as a houseplant. But once someone is hooked, it’s easy to begin to share the beauty in all of Earth’s creations.”

STEVE LEFTON ’94 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MAJOR President and CEO of Kimley-Horn, a planning, engineering and design STEVE LEFTON ’94 consulting firm with projects LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MAJOR worldwide President and CEO of Kimley-Horn, “As a landscape architect, I have always a planning, engineering and design drawn my inspiration from the human consulting firm with projects condition. We create places for people, worldwide whether it’s a park, plaza, resort or “As a landscape architect, I have always downtown master plan. When you see a drawn my inspiration from the human child’s exuberance as she explores a park condition. We create places for people, or watch a young couple holding hands whether it’s a park, plaza, resort or as they stroll down a streetscape you downtown master plan. When you see a designed—to me, those human emotions, child’s exuberance as she explores a park elicited by the place they are in, are or watch a young couple holding hands beautiful. That is the reward of being a as they stroll down a streetscape you landscape architect!” designed—to me, those human emotions, elicited by the place they are in, are beautiful. That is the reward of being a landscape architect!” Photos, from top: Joey L.; Hector Emanuel L.; Hector Joey top: from Photos,

SPRING 2019 29 SARAH BELLOS ’04 NATURAL RESOURCES MAJOR CEO and founder of Stony Creek Colors, a Tennessee-based company offering naturally dyed clothing “The concept of beauty can be superficial and fleeting in the fashion world. I am inspired by conscious designers and consumers who look at beauty through the lens of an entire supply chain, rather than just through the merchandising or selling of a garment. What is or is not left behind in the parts to creating the sum too often are the invisible parts of fashion: a pair of jeans whose dye helped sequester carbon and nutrients in the soil where it was grown, a T-shirt made from responsibly farmed cotton where beneficial insects can thrive, a waterway not polluted due to responsible dyeing of a garment. The beauty that inspires me lies in the integrity of the garment and the intentions of the maker and the wearer.”

HOW DOES BEAUTY INSPIRE YOU? Share with us the ways beauty enlivens your work, your hobbies and your life. Send us a photo and a short quote to [email protected], and we might share it online! Photo: Alysse Gafkjen Alysse Photo:

30 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES in memoriam The CALS community remembers with gratitude faculty members who recently passed away.

MICHAEL H. DICKSON OLAN D. FORKER CARL F. GORTZIG ’52 (b. 1932) (b. 1928) (b. 1931) Professor emeritus of the Professor emeritus and chair Professor emeritus and chair Horticulture Section of the School of the former Department of of the former Department of Floriculture and Ornamental of Integrative Plant Science Agricultural Economics Horticulture

A prolific and multidisciplinary A dairy farmer, soldier and economist, Gortzig was a respected scholar, Dickson helped develop Forker researched the production floriculturalist and devoted teacher. disease-resistant cabbage, insect- and distribution systems of farm He held joint appointments in the resistant crucifers and cold-tolerant commodities, especially milk and eggs. former Department of Floriculture beans. A professor emeritus in the Forker was devoted to helping farmers and Ornamental Horticulture, where Horticulture Section of the School of worldwide: He and his family lived he was chair from 1975 to 1988, and Integrative Plant Science, Dickson in Turkey for a year while he worked at Cornell Plantations (now Cornell was best known for his work breeding for USAID, and he collaborated with Botanic Gardens), where he was the orange cauliflower. He worked for farmers and economists in Guatemala, Elizabeth Newman Wilds Director more than 20 years to cross a mutant- India and across Europe. He was from 1993 to 1995. His dedication variety orange cauliflower, high in department chair from 1976 to 1985. to the floriculture industry in New beta carotene, with traditional, better- Forker also served one year active York was recognized in 1989 with tasting white cauliflower. The result, duty in the U.S. Army in South Korea the George L. Good Gold Medal of “Cheddar,” was released in 2004, and and was in the U.S. Army Reserve Horticulture, the highest honor of has helped ameliorate the scourge for 24 years, attaining the rank of the New York State Nursery and of vitamin A deficiency—which can lieutenant colonel. Landscape Association. His care for his lead to blindness in children and students and advisees was celebrated compromised immune systems—in in 2002, when former advisee Joanna developing countries. Beitel ’92 created the Carl Gortzig scholarship in his honor.

RICHARD MCNEIL JOSEPH SIECZKA, M.S. ’73 (b. 1932) (b. 1939) Professor emeritus of the Department Professor emeritus of horticulture and coordinator of Natural Resources of Cornell’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center As a wildlife biologist, McNeil was a trailblazing scholar who helped broaden Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources Sieczka dedicated his career to vegetable research, with to include perspectives from social sciences, environmental a special focus on potatoes. He served as coordinator of sciences and ethics. McNeil argued for the importance of Cornell’s Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension discussing ethics in wildlife management decisions and for Center for more than 20 years, where he developed myriad ensuring that policy makers and the public were informed strategies to help growers with concerns including weed about and invested in natural resource management. A control; optimization of fertilizer application to reduce talented and devoted teacher, McNeil earned the SUNY costs and minimize nitrate pollution in groundwater; and Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994 and development of new, pest-resistant potato varieties. Sieczka the CALS Edgerton Career Teaching Award in 1996. was elected president and honorary life member of the Potato Association of America, among other roles, and he coauthored two editions of the association’s handbook, Commercial Potato Production in North America.

SPRING 2019 31 endnote

MY CORNELL STORY: CHRISTIAN YUNKER ’02

I’m the third generation of my family to farm the land my fertilizer use on the less productive soils. This saves us money grandfather bought in New York in 1951. Farming has always and makes us better stewards of the environment: Less fertilizer been heavily dependent on the weather, but every year, there runoff protects water quality. seems to be more weather extremes—greater temperature Teams of researchers at Cornell CALS and Cornell variations, more periods without rain and, when it does fall, Cooperative Extension are instrumental in helping our farm more extreme deluges. Wet conditions increase plant diseases succeed. Expertise means boots in the field: Cornell scientists and fungi that can hurt crops. Corn and green peas suffer, for are doing the research, looking ahead at problems and working example, from soilborne, with us to find solutions. moisture-loving The Cornell Initiative pathogens Pythium and for Digital Agriculture Phytophthora. When is exciting for farmers there are long periods like me. As problems with no rain, that’s grow every year, we problematic, too; this need folks who are year brought these little going to stay in front pests, thrips, that thrive of these challenges and in dry heat and feed on help us solve them. It’s plants. Thrips attack a perfect fit for Cornell many vegetables, but to take on this challenge. they can destroy an onion Biological systems, plant crop. Other pests that genetics, information previously would have science, robotics—all been killed off over the of these disciplines can winter are now surviving be brought together the milder winters. in one place to create Our operation, CY the knowledge that Farms in Elba, New agriculture needs to York, is trying to tackle respond. It’s very the problem of weather exciting to be a New extremes from many York state grower and directions. For one, we know that your Land- Christian Yunker ’02 with his are highly diversified. We daughter, Maisie, at CY Farms Grant university is farm 6,000 acres of crops in Elba, New York. leading change in the including fresh market agriculture industry. onions, processing peas, Farming is all about snap beans, spinach, corn, wheat and soybeans. We also grow overcoming obstacles. The more we improve—whether it’s alfalfa for our 3,500 dairy heifer replacement facility, and we putting in irrigation systems, increasing the accuracy of weather have 300 acres of commercial turf grass. forecasts or implementing digital agriculture technologies—the A wide variety of digital agriculture technologies is used on more we can get ahead of extreme conditions. I’m optimistic the farm to solve challenges. These techniques are helping us about the future. People around the world are recognizing the respond to problems and weather events in real time in ways importance of our industry and the opportunities that lie ahead. that were unimaginable even a decade ago. For example, GPS- Now is our time to seize the challenge. based soil samples in the fields are overlaid with historical yield maps and soils maps. Then we can program our equipment to vary our fertilizer and seed application. The equipment actually Christian Yunker ’02 is a third-generation farmer and Cornellian. does the work by changing application rates as the machine The family-owned CY Farms is located in western New York moves across the field, with accuracy to a degree of less than between Buffalo and Rochester. Christian returned to the farm in an inch. The ability to make these changes allows us to increase 2008 and became a partner in the business in 2010. productivity on optimal sections of our fields and limit our provided Photo:

32 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Join us for Reunion Weekend

June 6-9, 2019 Featured CALS events include: Liberty Hyde Bailey lecture CALS alumni breakfast Taste of CALS and the Finger Lakes

For the full schedule and to register, visit alumni.cornell.edu/reunion Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Rochester, NY Permit No. 491 Office of Marketing and Communications 248 Roberts Hall | Ithaca, NY 14853-5905

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