College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University

Farmed oysters are mixing with and potentially adding to populations of wild oysters – a once-abundant species in New York’s estuaries and rivers that has declined drastically over the last century.

Now, a new study offers genetic evidence and the first documented proof that farmed eastern oysters are adding to and breeding with wild eastern oyster populations in the western and central Long Island Sound.

“Oyster farms might provide ecosystem services to the natural system, with one of those being a boost to oyster populations that are dwindling,” said Matthew Hare, associate professor in the Cornell CALS Ashley School and senior author of the paper.

“If a farm is near an oyster population and there’s any reproduction on the farm, it’s possible that it can provide a demographic supplement and basically build up populations nearby, because the offspring from the farm could end up in the wild population.”

A rise in oyster populations could be good news for these waterways because they eat organic matter such as algae, essentially filtering the water. This allows sunlight to travel further down the water column, benefiting plant life and other animals. Oysters also sequester polluting nutrients and deposit them on the estuary floor.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/06/farmed-oysters-may-boost-new-yorks-dwindling-wild-populations.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2026 Academic Venture Fund!

📌 Read about the awardees: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/06/cornell-atkinson-awards-drive-progress-tech-ag-sustainability

The Academic Venture Fund supports bold, interdisciplinary research that is often too novel, early-stage, or high-risk for traditional funding sources. This year's six funded projects will explore emerging sustainability challenges, from safeguarding coral reef ecosystems and strengthening food system resilience to investigating environmental drivers of wildlife disease.

By supporting new ideas and new collaborations, the fund helps researchers generate the knowledge needed to advance the next generation of sustainability solutions.

→ Awardees represent campus partners: Cornell Engineering College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Cornell Research & Innovation

Patrick Webb, a globally influential scholar of nutrition, food and agriculture policy and of humanitarian assistance, will join Cornell CALS on July 1 as the inaugural executive director of the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment. https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2026/06/patrick-webb-renowned-international-scholar-lead-ashley-school

"As Cornellians, we often talk about doing the 'greatest good.' I have come to believe that the greatest good is much closer and more personal than we imagine."

Lara Patz ’20, an Ithaca native and alumna of CALS’ Department of Communication, shares how coping with a neurological disorder and supporting local disabled athletes has taught her the importance of showing up for others.

Building on the support she received growing up and during her time at CALS, Lara has dedicated her career to uplifting her local community, both on and off campus. In her current role as the marketing and recruiting coordinator for Cornell’s 14 Master of Engineering programs, she facilitates workshops that help students build the skills needed to clearly communicate their strengths and confidently promote their work.

For many years, she has been involved in the Dryden Games, a Special Olympics–type event celebrating its 10th anniversary this June, which brings together students with physical and cognitive disabilities from school districts across Tompkins County.

Learn more in Lara’s personal essay, published in the Cornellians:

‘Real Impact Does Not Always Begin with Grand Gestures’ - Cornellians | Cornell University Coping with a neurological disorder and helping local disabled athletes have taught me the importance of showing up for others

New low-THC h**p fiber cultivar flourishes in NYS climate | Cornell Chronicle Ursa Alta will supply material for multiple product streams, including textiles such as denim, animal bedding and wall insulation.

Every year, millions of gallons of wine are pressed, leaving behind a mountain of pulpy residue – grape skins, seeds, stems and peels – that wineries struggle to dispose of. Now, researchers say this overlooked byproduct could find a new life on the farm, as a replacement for the antibiotics routinely added to chicken feed.

The study, published May 7 in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes by a team of Cornell food scientists, tested grape pomace as an additive in broiler chicken diets, comparing it head-to-head against zinc bacitracin, one of the most widely used antibiotic growth promoters in the poultry industry.

The results are striking, said corresponding author Elad Tako, associate professor in the Department of Food Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, suggesting that a modest half-percent inclusion of grape pomace in feed can nearly match the antibiotic’s performance – improving weight gain, feed efficiency and gut health in birds raised on an inflammation-inducing diet.

As biodigesters go, Cornell’s new unit will be small: two 10,000-gallon tanks on a concrete pad that might not be much to look at. But this little system, which will transform food scraps and cow manure into energy, will have an impact far beyond its footprint.

“This is such a great opportunity for research, education and extension,” said Lauren Ray, senior extension associate and agricultural sustainability and energy engineer for PRO-DAIRY, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University (CALS). “It has this element of practicality, because it really will supply energy to the university, but at the same time it’s a platform for learning and even playing, as well as providing hands-on demonstrations for farmers and students.”

The digester is one of the newest additions to Cornell’s Living Lab: a long-standing approach that uses campus operations to research and advance sustainability. It will be installed this summer at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM) Teaching Dairy, where it will take in a portion of manure from the 180-cow herd, as well as food service scraps and byproducts from campus.

Microbes in the sealed tanks will anaerobically convert the organic waste into biogas, a combination of methane and carbon dioxide, and nutrient-rich, liquid digestate. The biogas will provide energy to the dairy – offsetting fossil fuel use – and both the gas and digestate will provide raw materials for Cornell researchers who study cutting-edge processes for carbon capture or the conversion of waste streams to biofuels.

Funding and project management came from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/living-lab-small-biodigester-fuel-research-extension.

Microcredentials are now available to help CALS undergraduate students expand their skillsets and get a head start in the ever-changing job market!

In partnership with eCornell, CALS is now offering online certificate programs in AI and leadership this summer.

Students will gain experience in fields highly sought after by employers, while earning verified credentials they can easily share on their resumes and LinkedIn.

Microcredentials were developed as part of our E3 initiative, which focuses on equipping students with real-world experiences to better prepare them for careers after CALS. We will continue working with industry partners to expand these offerings.

“Preparing students for today’s workforce means going beyond the classroom, said Benjamin Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS. “These microcredentials give CALS students practical, in-demand skills they can apply immediately in a rapidly changing job market.”

The first round of eCornell certificate programs start up on May 13. Learn more: https://cals.cornell.edu/education/experiential-learning/microcredentials-cals