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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

@danforthcenter.bsky.social
610 followers 117 following 295 posts

Our Mission: To improve the human condition through plant science 🌱 Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is the largest independent non-profit institute dedicated to plant science in the world.

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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Can a plant remember a heat wave? Danforth Center principal investigator Ru Zhang is studying how photosynthetic cells retain "heat stress memory" to help breed more heat-resilient crops. 🌿
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
St. Louis has spent 25 years building an ecosystem where world-class science stays and grows. Here's how. 🔬 @stlmag.bsky.social
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Nebraska farmers are weighing a shift away from corn — and sorghum may be one of the smartest alternatives. Danforth Center scientist Andrea Eveland explains why this drought- and heat-resilient crop requires fewer inputs and is built for what's ahead.
Researcher Andrea Eveland wears a straw hat as she examines a sorghum panicle in a sun-lit field, with rows of tall sorghum crops stretching into the background.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Real-time crop stress monitoring. Soil sensors. Field environment data. The PheNode system is helping farmers adapt to a changing world — and Dr. Nadia Shakoor broke it all down for John Fuller on FOX 2: www.danforthcenter.org/news/agricul... #PrecisionAgriculture #FoodSecurity
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
New research! Danforth Center PI Erin Sparks & Bayer 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 👇
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
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
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Joint Genome Institute @jgi.doe.gov · 20/05/2026
From our FY26 New Investigators: Leading two sorghum projects, Nadia Shakoor will generate deep-soil DNA maps and a time-resolved activity dataset. @danforthcenter.bsky.social Full portfolio: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio
Community Science Program New Investigator (FY26) Congratulations to our 2026 CSP New Investigator recipients! Nadia Shakoor Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Multi-stage RNA-seq of sorghum to uncover diurnal and developmental gene regulation; & Deep soil metagenomes of sorghum bioenergy systems: Interactions of management, crop and depth.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Agtech startup Agrela Ecosystems 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: www.danforthcenter.org/news/agrela-...
danforthcenter.org
Agrela Ecosystems Expands Nationally as PheNode Platform Moves from Agricultural Research into Transportation Infrastructure - Danforth Plant Science Center
Danforth Center spinout Agrela Ecosystems grows PheNode platform from plant research into transportation infrastructure and specialty crops.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
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.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Snouffer, the new Director of our Plant Transformation Facility! From cassava regeneration breakthroughs to pioneering work with emerging tools, her research is helping unlock the future of crop improvement.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
It's #EarthDay every day at the Danforth Center, where our scientists are advancing resilient crops and sustainable farming systems.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Here's some new research worth celebrating this #EarthDay: Dr. Nadia Shakoor's lab shows how regenerative farming practices paired with drone and field data can help sorghum growers build healthier soils without sacrificing profitability. Read more: www.danforthcenter.org/news/regener...
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Meet our Committee for Scientific Training and Mentoring Member of the Month! Elisa is a scientific research contract and technology specialist who works to protect scientific breakthroughs via patents and legal agreements. She's a scientist, legal translator, and problem-solver. Congrats, Elisa!
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Dr. Giles Oldroyd sat down with @kgrumke.bsky.social on @stlpublicradio.bsky.social @stlonair.bsky.social to talk about the science that brought him here — and why he believes we're at a turning point for how the world feeds itself. Listen here: www.danforthcenter.org/news/st-loui...
danforthcenter.org
(St. Louis Public Radio) Plant science could spark a new Green Revolution, says Danforth Center's new president - Danforth Plant Science Center
Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd recently sat down with Kate Grumke from 90.7’s St. Louis on the Air.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Last night, Dr. Giles Oldroyd took the stage for his first public address as president of the Danforth Center, and he came with a vision for how plant science can save the world. Thanks to everyone who joined us—we hope you're feeling inspired. Learn more: campaign.danforthcenter.org
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Botanical Society of America @botsocamerica.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Evaluating nitrogen uptake: Methods and applications for plant research A new #AppsPlantSci review by Pierce, @razda5.bsky.social, Huddell & @erinsparks.bsky.social bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... @danforthcenter.bsky.social #botany #plantscience #nitrogenfertilization #nanoSIMS
Close-up view of maize roots growing in soil within a rhizobox. Three roots are within clear plastic tubes with liquid and have an associated post-it note with details of the treatment next to the tubes. Photo credit: Erin Sparks
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Nadia Shakoor, PhD, has been selected to receive the inaugural Innovation Award from the Academy of Science – St. Louis! Nadia is a principal investigator at the Danforth Center and the Chief Science Officer of Agrela Ecosystems, a St. Louis–based technology company. Congratulations, Nadia! 🎉
A photo of Dr. Nadia Shakoor in the Danforth Center's greenhouses with text overlaid reading: Congratulations, Nadia Shakoor! Nadia Shakoor, PhD, has been selected to receive the Innovation Award from the Academy of Science-St. Louis.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
From lab bench to field—celebrating farmers and ag innovators who feed the world. Happy #NationalAgricultureDay #NationalAgDay
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Meet our CSTM Member of the Month! Josh is a data scientist in our Data Science Facility, where his work focuses on supporting research projects and developing & maintaining the PlantCV and PCVR softwares. He's known for his fluency in the programming language R. Congrats, Josh! 🎉
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
This Sunday is #WorldWaterDay! Plant science can develop crops that need less water and that protect our watersheds. Take cover crops: not only do they help prevent soil erosion, but they absorb runoff to keep our streams and rivers clean 🦦🫧🐟🪷🦆 youtu.be/Umz5UADY45A?si=6zB88Amf2ng…
youtu.be
SINC Animated Video
Mitigating environmental threats may have a simpler solution than you might imagine. Scientists at the Subterranean Influences on Nitrogen and Carbon Center (SINC) are looking to the underground world to discover new ways to create a sustainable future.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Dr. Ru Zhang is leading a DOE grant to study sorghum photosynthesis. The implications could also shed light ☀️ on other crops—like maize, rice, & more: www.danforthcenter.org/news/danfort…
danforthcenter.org
Danforth Center Scientist Leads New Department of Energy Grant to Unlock the Secrets of Sorghum Photosynthesis - Danforth Plant Science Center
A new grant will fund a multi-institutional effort to improve how sorghum captures and manages energy through photosynthesis.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Danforth Center scientists are co-authors on a landmark study published today in @nature.com: the 1st comprehensive sorghum pangenome. Breeding better sorghum has been limited by an incomplete picture of its genetic diversity—until now. www.danforthcenter.org/news/global-…
danforthcenter.org
Global Sorghum "Pangenome" Published in Nature Accelerates Discovery of Resilient Crop Traits - Danforth Plant Science Center
Danforth Center scientists publish a sorghum pangenome in Nature, revealing hidden genetic diversity to accelerate breeding of drought- and heat-resilient crops.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
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: www.danforthcenter.org/news/plantte…
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
President @gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is energized by the power of plant science—and by the strength of the #STL community rising to meet the moment. Don't miss the interview in @stlmag.bsky.social: www.danforthcenter.org/news/st-loui…
danforthcenter.org
(St. Louis Magazine) St. Louis Business 500: Q&A with Giles Oldroyd - Danforth Plant Science Center
St Louis Magazine has selected Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd, PhD for their 2026 “St. Louis Business 500” list.
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Brandy A Freitas @brandy-syglass.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
The fruit fly of plant science for #3DThursday! 🌱 #ModelOrganism 🔬: #microCT, Zeiss @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social Versa 520 XRM (contrast-enhanced with OsO₄) 🌱: Arabidopsis thaliana 🥼: Keith Duncan @cygnusplantxray.bsky.social 🏛️: Danforth Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social 🎬: syGlass.io #syGlass
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Addgene @addgene.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Talk about multitasking. Sentinel plants developed at @danforthcenter.bsky.social may one day not only grow our food, but also act as living biosensors to report on the conditions of their own fields. 🌱🌱🌱
twp.ai
blog.addgene.org
Purple Plants that Report Pollutants
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Danforth Center Scientist Antonio Brazelton's research on heirloom collard greens at JJK FAN is blending community, culture, & science in powerful ways. 🥬 Watch to see how: www.danforthcenter.org/news/hec-med… #plantscience #collardgreens #urbanfarming
danforthcenter.org
(HEC Media) Cultivating a Better Collard Green - Danforth Plant Science Center
Antonio Brazelton, a scientist at Danforth Center, is working to improve a crop with a rich cultural history: collard greens.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
🚨LAST CALL FOR APPLICATIONS! In our Summer Undergraduate Research Program, you'll work alongside world-class plant scientists & learn about the broader impact of scientific discovery. Apply by 3/2: www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/edu…
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Our Plant Growth Facility team has transformed the way we manage pests by deploying beneficial predator insects as a natural line of defense. Read our blog to see how these tiny teammates work: www.danforthcenter.org/news/integra…
danforthcenter.org
Integrated Pest Management: Growing Greener with Beneficial Bugs - Danforth Plant Science Center
The Plant Growth Facility (PGF) team has spent over a decade developing innovative was to manage pests without relying heavily on chemical pesticides. One of our most successful efforts has been an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program built around beneficial arthropods—insects and mites that act as natural predators to common plant pests.nks to a six-week program led by our Baxter Lab.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
To every girl who's curious about how plants feed the world—you belong in science. 💡🌱 Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Regenerative ag took center stage at @biostl.bsky.social's Global AgriFood Innovation Summit. @gilesoldroyd.bsky.social sees great opportunity to use advances in crop genetics, AI, & new tech to boost productivity & profitability within regen farming systems. Read more in @stlmag.bsky.social:
danforthcenter.org
(St. Louis Magazine) Danforth Center sees big future in regenerative agriculture that actually returns profits - Danforth Plant Science Center
At BioSTL’s Global AgriFood Innovation Summit, Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd, PhD, spoke about how we can grow our food in a way that’s better for our planet, and for farmers.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
President Giles Oldroyd welcomed attendees of the @biostl.bsky.social Global AgriFood Innovation Summit and shared thoughts about the opportunities to use research & development to make regenerative agriculture profitable. #regenag #sustainability #agtech #foodsecurity
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
We were proud to host #agtech innovators and leaders from across the globe who are here for the @biostl.bsky.social Global AgriFood innovation Summit. 🎥 Tune in to see what makes St. Louis a powerful hub for global collaboration and innovation in agtech: fox2now.com/news/missour...
fox2now.com
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
The vitality of the #STL #agtech innovation community is on display this week as we welcome a delegation of 20 global leaders for the ARISE (AgriTech for Resilience, Innovation & Sustainable Ecosystems) initiative. Learn more: www.stlmag.com/business/arise-agtec…
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
🔥 Spearhead Bio is a startup to watch! Their breakthrough genome editing technology, developed through Danforth Center research, supports the development of resilient crops & more secure harvests. www.danforthcenter.org/news/st-loui…
danforthcenter.org
(St. Louis Business Journal) Spearhead Bio Named "Startup to Watch" - Danforth Plant Science Center
Spearhead Bio, is one of eleven companies included on St. Louis Business Journal’s “Startups to Watch 2026” list.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
This #BlackHistoryMonth, the Danforth Center is celebrating Black scientists and innovators whose work moves plant science—and opportunity—forward. Learn more about our scientists: www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/pri…
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is seeking an Information Technology Security Manager to join our team! Apply here: www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php…
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
🎉 Congratulations to @kmurphyphd.bsky.social, Principal Investigator and Director of the Phenotyping Core Facility at the Danforth Center—she has been selected to receive the Science Educator Award from the Academy of Science – St. Louis! Read more: www.danforthcenter.org/news/danfort...
danforthcenter.org
Danforth Center Principal Investigator Honored for Her Contributions to the Advancement of Science - Danforth Plant Science Center
Danforth Center Principal Investigator Katie Murphy, PhD, receives the Science Educator Award from the Academy of Science – St. Louis for excellence in science education.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Our President, @gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is stepping up to the mic with @sarahfenske.bsky.social, where he shares what drew him to move to #STL and join the Danforth Center—and why he believes this region is uniquely positioned to make a global impact. 🎧 Tune in: www.stlmag.com/podcasts/314...
St. Louis Magazine Reporter & 314 Podcast Host Sarah Fenske stands alongside Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd, PhD. A quote attributed to Oldroyd is overlaid on the image. It reads: "I'm really optimistic. I think that for plant science, our time is now. The opportunities are right now. There is a transformation coming in the way the we approach food production, and I believe the Danforth Center can be the world leader in that place, and St. Louis can be the destination."
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Meet Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD, Member and Principal Investigator at the Danforth Center. Getu’s research is making a positive impact on some of the same food security crops he grew up farming in Ethiopia. www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/pri…
danforthcenter.org
Getu Beyene Duguma | Principal Investigator | Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Getu Beyene Duguma, PhD, is a Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Learn more about Getu's research.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
We are honored to welcome Dr. Cary Fowler as the Danforth Center’s newest Board Director. Dr. Fowler is President of the Food Security Leadership Council and the 2024 World Food Prize Laureate. His expertise and leadership make him an invaluable addition to our board. loom.ly/7bd4GiY
danforthcenter.org
Danforth Plant Science Center Elects World Food Prize Laureate to the Board of Directors - Danforth Plant Science Center
The Danforth Plant Science Center elects Cary Fowler, PhD, 2024 World Food Prize laureate and global food security leader, to its Board of Directors.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Danforth Center honors service to others—and recommits to science in service of all people.
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Nigel Taylor, PhD, helped lay the groundwork for modern research on cassava and works with partners in Rwanda and Kenya to develop more resilient and nutritious cassava. Meet Nigel and learn more about his work: www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/pri…
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Keith Duncan @cygnusplantxray.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Gratuitous X-ray microscopy imaging, a "bouquet" of developing soybean flowers. @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social @danforthcenter.bsky.social
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
In an international effort funded by the Gates Foundation, Nigel Taylor, PhD, & the Danforth Center are partnering on the new Rwanda Capacity Building (BioCap) Project, led by @cipotato.org, to establish a Rwandan Centre of Excellence for Crop Biotechnology & advance food security. loom.ly/4KW17iM
loom.ly
International Collaboration Aims to Improve Key Crops for Rwandan Farmers - Danforth Plant Science Center
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is part of a newinternational initiative to establish a Centre of Excellence for Crop Biotechnology at the RwandaAgriculture and Animal Resources Development B...
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Principal Investigator Dmitri A. Nusinow, PhD, and his lab study the circadian clock, aiming to learn more about how light and temperature shape plant growth and development. Learn more about his work on our website: loom.ly/ifAg5cI
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Big shoutout to Nadia Shakoor @nadiashakoor.bsky.social — featured in St. Louis Magazine’s Movers & Shapers! 👏 From plant genetics to leading Agrela Ecosystems & building real-time crop sensing tech — Nadia is advancing sustainable agtech and food security. 🌱 lnkd.in/g_5UHk2W #StLouis #Innovation
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Plants that turn purple to warn us about unwanted chemicals: Danforth Center scientists @meter76.bsky.social & @maliagehan.bsky.social led a team that enabled grasses—including corn—to act as living biosensors that change color when they detect specific chemicals. Learn more: loom.ly/D1B_eYY
loom.ly
Researchers Develop New Tools to Turn Grain Crops into Biosensors - Danforth Plant Science Center
A collaborative team of researchers from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Florida, Gainesville and University of Iowa have developed groundbreaking tools that allow grasses—...
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
To all who donated to the Danforth Center in 2025, thank you. 💚 We deeply appreciate your decision to show your support, invest in the work we do, and be part of our mission. Thank you again, and happy New Year! #Gratitude #STLNonprofit
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Donald Danforth Plant Science Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Here’s to discovery, community, and impact—Happy New Year from the Danforth Center! 🌱
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