February 2019

UC Davis, wine industry cultivate relationship

Under the hot summer sun of the San Joaquin Valley, just south of Merced, Miguel Guerrero of The Wine Group is trying a new high-wire act. In collaboration with University of California-Davis Cooperative Extension, Roduner Ranch vineyard manager Guerrero is experimenting with Cabernet Sauvignon vines and other varieties elevated by a single wire at 66 inches – plantings that are 2-3 feet higher than the traditional winegrape canopy.

FST student wins spot in the Grad Slam Top 10

Food Science and Technology

Mackenzie Batali is a 2nd year graduate student in FST. She recently learned that she won a spot in the Grad Slam Top 10. The Grad Slam is an annual contest in which master’s and Ph.D. students across UC campuses – in disciplines ranging from hard sciences to humanities – compete to sum up their research for a general audience. Students should present the significance and fundamental points of their work at UC Davis in a clear, direct, and interesting manner.

California Aggie features FST research of Drs. Nitin and Young

Food Science and Technology

FST Professors Nitin Nitin and Glenn Young have been working together with Professor Gang Sun of Textiles to create a barrier to protect fruit from harmful bacteria sometimes found in transport bins.

On February 5, The California Aggie featured an article about the project. Read all about it on the California Aggie's website.

Professor Emeritus Bamforth to work with Sierra Nevada as Senior Quality Advisor

Food Science and Technology

Dr. Charlie Bamforth, Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences Emeritus, retired at the end of 2018 after twenty years at UC Davis.

On Wednesday, February 13, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. issued a press release titled "'Pope of Foam' Charlie Bamforth Joins Sierra Nevada Brewing Company". As the company's Senior Quality Advisor, Bamforth will evaluate all areas of production and train employees on beer quality.

FST Professor Maria Marco joins ISAPP board of directors

Food Science and Technology

Congratulations to our own Dr. Maria Marco, who has just joined the board of directors of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics!

From the ISAPP website: "ISAPP is an association of academic and industrial scientists involved in research on fundamental and applied aspects of probiotics and prebiotics, and more broadly that of human microbiomes and gut health."

Biodiversity Museum Day

Viticulture and Enology

Looking for a family-friendly, free activity for President’s Day weekend? On Saturday February 16, 2019 from 9AM to 1PM you can learn about the importance of microbes in research, biotechnology, and food and beverages, and about the proud history of two of the world’s prominent microbe collections. UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day features twelve biological collections, including the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection in the Food Science & Technology department, and the Viticulture & Enology Culture Collection.

Biodiversity Museum Day

Food Science and Technology

Kaan Kurtural's Interview on SiriusXM Radio

Viticulture and Enology

Dr. Kaan Kurtural joined the faculty at University of California Davis in November 2015. His work focuses on vineyard mechanization and precision viticulture interpreting ecophysiological response of the grapevine to inherent variabilities that may exist in large landscapes. His laboratory is at the historic Oakville Experimental Vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley of California.