Danforth Center

Read the release here: danforthcenter.org/news/short-sta…

New research! Danforth Center PI Erin Sparks & @Bayer4Crops used the SMURF device to show that shorter corn plants have more flexible roots — helping them take wind damage at less than half the rate of conventional corn. Watch the SMURF in action 👇

This month's On the Vine is here! If you don't already know, our monthly e-newsletter is the easiest way to follow along with all that's going on at the Center. 📨 Check out our latest issue and be sure to sign up today: conta.cc/3RczVRv #ScienceNews #PlantScience

From our FY26 New Investigators: Leading two sorghum projects, @NadiaShakoor will generate deep-soil DNA maps and a time-resolved activity dataset to support improved productivity and resilience. @DanforthCenter Full portfolio: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/s…

STL agtech startup @AgrelaEco just closed a $500K funding round and is scaling its PheNode® sensor platform nationally. It's now being used for everything from research to specialty crops to transportation infrastructure, and it started here in St. Louis: danforthcenter.org/news/agrela-ec…

Sabita Gyawali is our May Committee for Scientific Training and Mentoring Member of the Month! She studies plant-microbe interactions in the Bravo Lab and aims to eventually grow into a lead independent research role working on sustainable agriculture.

On a recent trip to the UK, Giles attended a meeting at @royalsociety, and joined @niabgroup for a panel on regenerative agriculture. He then headed to the @theNASciences annual meeting in DC.

Two prestigious academies. Two countries. One leader bridging them in service to plant science. Our President, Dr. Giles Oldroyd is among the few scientists elected to both the US @theNASciences and the UK's @royalsociety. 🧵

Dr. Ru Zhang is leading a DOE grant bringing together top research institutions to study sorghum photosynthesis, and the implications could shed light ☀️ on other crops, too—like maize, wheat, and rice: danforthcenter.org/news/danforth-…

There's a reason the world's leading food and ag companies call St. Louis home. And BRDG Park, located on the @DanforthCenter campus, sits at the heart of it all. rejournals.com/more-than-1-bi…

Danforth Center scientists are co-authors on a landmark study published today in @Nature: the first comprehensive sorghum pangenome. Breeding better sorghum varieties has always been limited by an incomplete picture of its genetic diversity—until now. danforthcenter.org/news/global-so…

901 curious minds showed up for PlantTech Jam 2026 to connect with Danforth Center scientists. Thanks to you, we had a blast! See the highlights and photos from the day: danforthcenter.org/news/planttech…

I'm running a booth at @DanforthCenter for the @ArchReactorSTL Maker Space!

Plants can indicate environmental hazards with color changes, a breakthrough that could transform agricultural practices. Researchers at the @DanforthCenter unlock keys to developing these plants. farmprogress.com/crops/tomorrow…

I am excited to share that my first-author paper from my PhD research is now published online in New Phytologist! You can read the article here: doi.org/10.1111/nph.70…. I would love to hear your thoughts.

🌟New Editor on Board🌟 Meet 𝐃𝐫. 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐱 Asst. Prof. Biology @WashU Asst. Member @DanforthCenter The Cox lab maps gene activity in plants to understand how genes are organized and regulated across tissues. To know more👉thecoxlab.org Welcome to TPJ!!

Regenerative ag took center stage at the @BioSTL Global AgriFood Innovation Summit. President Giles Oldroyd sees great opportunity to use advances in crop genetics, AI, & new tech to boost productivity & profitability in regen farming systems. via @stlmag: danforthcenter.org/news/st-louis-…

We were proud to host #agtech innovators and leaders from across the globe who are here for the @BioSTL Global AgriFood innovation Summit.  🎥 Tune in to @FOX2now to see what makes St. Louis a powerful hub for global collaboration and innovation in agtech: fox2now.com/news/missouri/…

🔥 @Spearhead_Bio has been named a startup to watch in 2026! Their breakthrough genome editing technology, developed through research at the Danforth Center, supports the development of resilient crops and more secure harvests: danforthcenter.org/news/st-louis-… @Slotkin_Lab @stlouisbiz

NEW: Tune in as @DanforthCenter's new president discusses how local research supports farmers at home and abroad, and how St. Louis can become a leader in plant science. hubs.li/Q03_V4nG0 Hosted by @sarahfenske @RyanWKrull Sponsored by @RoyalBanksOfMO @STLpubLibrary