Healthy Farming, Healthy Food

Through interdisciplinary research connecting soil health, agricultural resilience, food system sustainability, and human health, WSU researchers are improving access to nutritious, affordable whole-grain foods, while evaluating their impacts from the farm to the consumer.

Health and Environmental Impact   

Through the Soil to Society Initiative, the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI), and other research, WSU’s research pipelines follow nutrients through healthy soils, agricultural production, food processing, and ultimately human health outcomes. Researchers examine how soil health influences crop quality and nutritional value while developing new grain, legume, and pseudocereal varieties; creating nutritious food products; and evaluating their impacts through environmental, nutritional, epidemiological, and consumer research.

Stakeholder and Industry Leadership   

WSU’s research brings together experts in soil science, plant breeding, food science, nutrition, medicine, economics, and public health while partnering with growers, processors, food companies, schools, and community organizations. Research collaborations span the food value chain, expanding access to healthy foods, supporting regional food economies, and helping translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions for farmers, consumers, and industry.

Education and Workforce Development   

WSU’s programs prepare future leaders in agriculture, nutrition, food systems, and health with interdisciplinary training and applied research experience — especially through WSU’s Human Nutrition and Food Systems major, which connects agricultural sciences with human health disciplines and addresses workforce needs across multiple sectors.

Continue exploring examples of WSU research:

The Sustainable Future of Flight

The race to decarbonize aviation is reshaping transportation, energy, and aerospace. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a crucial solution. Through research, workforce development, and strategic partnerships, WSU is leading the transformation of SAF from innovation to impact.

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Resilient Livestock Program

WSU’s Resilient Livestock Program advances precision gene-editing technologies to improve livestock health, productivity, and resilience while supporting food security and agricultural sustainability.  

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Healthy Farming, Healthy Food

Through interdisciplinary research connecting soil health, agricultural resilience, food system sustainability, and human health, WSU researchers are improving access to nutritious, affordable whole-grain foods, while evaluating their impacts from the farm to the consumer.

Learn more.

Honey Bee + Pollinators Program

The Bee Program at WSU studies solutions to the most pressing issues facing honey bees and other bee pollinators today, supporting sustainable agriculture, the beekeeping industry, and conservation. 

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Resilient Agriculture

WSU is helping agriculture thrive in a changing energy landscape by integrating renewable energy production with food production, sustainable waste management, and rural economic development.

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The Future of Salmon

Salmon are among Washington’s most important natural resources — a keystone species with a vital role in ecosystems throughout the Pacific Northwest. WSU research strengthens sustainable aquaculture and develops innovative solutions to emerging environmental challenges facing salmon. 

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