Collaborating on agricultural climate solutions, from plants to animals

By: Erica Moser Date: Nov 22, 2024

Andrew Hoffman — Penn Vet Dean Andrew M. Hoffman (Image: John Donges/School of Veterinary Medicine)

When Doris Wagner looks at her fellow faculty members in the Department of Biology, she sees a strong group of faculty working on plant biology, complementing her own work coming up with an epigenome approach to increasing drought resistance in crops. Brent Helliker and Brian D. Gregory are researching what makes sorghum more drought-resistant than corn, Corlett Wood is working on plants that acquire nitrogen from bacteria, and Scott Poethig is studying changes between young and adult leaves. And there’s Aman Husbands looking at robustness in leaf development and Kimberly Gallagher examining how different parts of the plant communicate with each other to coordinate responses to environmental signals.

They’re specifically interested in how plants can address challenges stemming from climate change, such as food security, fresh food and other challenges specific to urban settings, and biodiversity. These seven researchers are all part of the Penn Plant Adaptability and Resilience Center (PlantARC), a center within the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) that launched in September.

The Center recently held its first event, a symposium called Climate Solutions for the Living World that featured faculty from SAS along with the Weitzman School of Design, Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science.

About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 34,600 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,200 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 18,700 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.