From Native Plants to New Crops

Tom Davis
A photo of NHAES researcher Tom Davis wearing a green windbreaker, plaid shirt and floppy rimmed hat while standing in a field of quinoa plants at UNH's Woodman Horticultural Farm.

Can wild species of plants native to New England be domesticated for food production? This project evaluates strawberry and quinoa’s locally adapted, weedy relatives that may be interbred to adapt and improve the crop’s productivity and resilience in this region. Using science to adapt native species could be an untapped opportunity for enhancing currently produced crops and open new possibilities for agricultural economies in New England. Learn more