College of Ag Sciences spotlights research during Legislative Research Tour

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania legislators, agricultural advocates and industry leaders got a firsthand look at how Penn State research is helping shape the future of agriculture during a recent tour of research and innovation at University Park.

Hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Ag Council, the Sept. 16 Legislative Research Tour highlighted work in crop improvement, turfgrass management and sustainable crop protection — and gave participants an inside look at how that research is moving from the lab to the field.

“As Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant university, Penn State has a unique responsibility,” said Troy Ott, Peter and Ann Tombros Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “We are entrusted with public resources to conduct research, educate future leaders, and ensure that discoveries ultimately reach the people and industries we serve. That’s what makes a tour like this so important — it provides insight into how Penn State research can move from an idea to a discovery to something that creates real-world impact.”

Breeding better tomatoes

At plant science research facilities, Jonathan Bonfiglio, a postdoctoral scholar and co-founder of PennSelect Seeds, shared how decades of work through the Penn State Tomato Breeding Program are helping meet the needs of tomato growers and processors in Pennsylvania and beyond. The Pennsylvania-based tomato seed company builds on that breeding and genetics foundation to develop and commercialize tomato varieties, emphasizing improved fruit quality.

He co-founded PennSelect with Majid Foolad, professor of plant genetics and leader of the Penn State Tomato Breeding Program, and Scott Welsh, who brings expertise in agricultural business management and product development. The company collaborates with growers, researchers, processors and other industry partners and uses an on-farm trial network to gather performance data and grower feedback as it selects cultivars for commercial advancement.

Bonfiglio discussed how tomato breeding and genetics research can translate into practical benefits across the tomato supply chain. As varieties move toward commercialization, PennSelect values fruit quality — including deep red internal fruit color, flavor and marketability — and performance under real-world conditions on farms and in gardens. He added that improved disease resistance can reduce crop losses, while dependable yields and consistent performance across diverse environments matter to growers and processors.

Turf built to perform

At the Joseph E. Valentine Turfgrass Research Center, David Huff, professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics, shared how more than 30 years of Penn State research is helping address challenges facing the golf course industry. Huff began his work at Penn State in 1994, focusing on breeding and improving Poa annua, or annual bluegrass, for use on golf courses.

Over the course of his research, Huff identified and selected plants with traits that could improve turf performance and consistency under the demanding conditions of golf course management. He explained how Penn State provided the research environment, expertise and resources that allowed him to pursue the work over decades and ultimately translate the research into a practical application.

That research helped lead to PennPoa LLC, which provides seed for golf course establishment and renovation projects. Its stress-tolerant, high-performing turf is designed to help golf course superintendents and architects improve putting greens and fairways at courses of all sizes.

New tools for crop protection

Participants also heard from Tim McNellis, associate professor of plant pathology and environmental microbiology and founder of Immunagreen, a startup exploring sustainable approaches to crop protection, who discussed efforts to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to antibiotics used to protect crops from bacterial pathogens, including fire blight in apple trees.

His research focuses on novel biocontrol technologies designed to address crop diseases while avoiding some of the challenges associated with antibiotic resistance, with the long-term goal of developing new biopesticides for crop protection.

Advancing fermentation research

Attendees also visited the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility, led by Director Mekala Venkatachalam. The biotechnology pilot plant supports research- and pilot-scale production of microbial cells, recombinant proteins and other microbial products. Participants learned how the facility supports University-affiliated, government and industry researchers working in fermentation and related technologies.

Seeing the impact firsthand

State Rep. Michael Stender said he was particularly interested in the research focused on specialty crops, noting that two tomato processing companies are in his district. He also pointed to the challenges facing fruit growers, who he said were hit hard this year by an early spring freeze.

“It’s interesting to learn about how Penn State research is helping those businesses grow and succeed right here in Pennsylvania,” he said. “When we talk agriculture, a lot of people in Pennsylvania forget that agriculture is our No. 1 industry. It is helpful for me to see what’s occurring with Pennsylvania tax dollars, and it’s even better when we see the positive effects a university such as Penn State can have on our different sectors.”

Industry representatives from the Penn State Ag Council, including Peter Flynn of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, Ken Martin of Furmano Foods, Tom Bettle of the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, and Sarah Zost of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, complemented the presentations with perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing Pennsylvania producers and agribusinesses.

The collaboration underscored the value of bringing faculty and industry leaders together to exchange knowledge, align research with industry needs, and develop practical solutions to the complex issues facing Pennsylvania agriculture.

The tour also gave student leaders a chance to share how the college’s research, industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities prepare them for their futures. Among them was Wesley Doll, who is majoring in agricultural and extension education with minors in agronomy and international agriculture.

“Helping with this tour allowed me to interact, engage and express thanks to the folks in Harrisburg and beyond who make our education and the work that the college does possible,” Doll said. “Engaging with the incredibly talented people in the college doing groundbreaking work also was an opportunity not to be passed up.”

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, who serves as the Democratic chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said the experience brought together two perspectives familiar to him — those of an educator and a legislator — giving him ideas he could share with both his constituents and the people closest to him.

“As a former teacher, everything I saw during the tour is something that I want to share with my family, with my friends and, as a state representative, with my constituents,” he said. “Every Pennsylvanian should come to Penn State and see the incredible innovation, instruction and research. Their tax dollars and investment dollars are being used wisely. If they were to come to Penn State, I know they would be extremely proud, just like I am.”