Mitloehner honored by California Rangeland Trust
Frank Mitloehner, UC Cooperative Extension air quality specialist in the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, received the 2026 Conservation Innovator Award from the California Rangeland Trust.
Mitloehner conducts air quality research related to livestock production, especially quantification of ammonia, dust and odor emissions in dairies, beef feedlots and poultry operations to help establish environmentally benign livestock production systems.
“Receiving this recognition from our outstanding California ranchers and land stewards made it especially meaningful,” said Mitloehner, who is also department chair. “Thanks to the California Rangeland Trust for this tremendous honor!”
Photo: Mitloehner receiving the 2026 Conservation Innovator Award at Yolo Land & Cattle Company alongside leaders from the California Rangeland Trust and California’s ranching community.
Louis Lab wins World Best Research Paper from International Food and Agribusiness Management Association
Louis Peña-Lévano, assistant professor of Cooperative Extension at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded "World Best Research paper" at the 2026 International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Conference in Cork, Ireland (June 18, 2026). The winning paper is titled “Emission Leakages Through Trade-Induced Land-Use Changes May Undermine the Emission Mitigation Effectiveness of Dietary Shifting and Afforestation Policy in China."
The study examines how domestic emission mitigation strategies, including healthier dietary transitions and afforestation programs, can unintentionally shift agricultural production abroad through international trade. Peña-Lévano presented the study to researchers from around the world, highlighting how coordinated international policies are needed to reduce emission leakages while balancing environmental goals with agricultural production and food security.
This achievement reflects the collaboration of an international research team, including researchers Weitong Long, Xueqin Zhu, Yong Hou, Luis Peña-Lévano, Luis Garcia-Covarrubias and Karl-Friedrich Boy.
UC ANR employees win Association for Communication Excellence awards
UC ANR was well-represented among the winners recognized by the 2026 Association for Communication Excellence Critique and Awards Program. ACE comprises communication faculty and professionals at public and land-grant universities throughout the U.S. and in similar institutions across the globe.
Attendees of the 2026 ACE Annual Conference – held June 15-17 in Billings, Montana – received their awards in person.
Gold Award Winners
Foul News: Bird Flu Ruffles Feathers at the Fair
Category: Electronic Media, Video, & Audio – Audio News, Programs, Podcasts and Spots
Caroline Champlin, science communication specialist, UC ANR Strategic Communications
Amy Quinton, news and media relations specialist, UC Davis Strategic Communications
Self-Paced Online Course: Calibration of Herbicide Applications for Non-Agricultural Areas
Category: Education Technology and Design – Instructional Design
Petr Kosina, Content Development Supervisor, Statewide IPM Program Cheryl Reynolds, Interactive Learning Developer, Statewide IPM Program Tunyalee Martin, Associate Director for Communications, Statewide IPM Program; Jutta Burger, Science Program Director, California Invasive Plant Council Constance Taylor, Conservation Specialist, California Invasive Plant Council Thomas Getts, UC Cooperative Extension Weed Ecology and Cropping Systems Advisor Christopher McDonald, UCCE Inland and Desert Natural Resources Advisor Scott Oneto, UCCE Farm Advisor
Silver Award Winner
UC ANR Wildfire Resources: During and After the Southern California January Fires
Category: Social Media – Organic Campaign (no advertising dollars spent)
Doralicia Garay, social media strategist, UC ANR Strategic Communications
Bronze Award Winners
FTREX Helps Foresters Learn to Reduce Wildfire Risk Using Prescribed Burns
Category: Electronic Media, Video, & Audio – Informational, News, or Educational Video Production
Ethan Ireland, senior videographer, UC ANR Strategic Communications
Mike Hsu, senior public information pepresentative, UC ANR Strategic Communications