Jaclyn Adaskaveg, Ph.D.
College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Plant Sciences Department
NSF-Funded Research Improves Lima Beans for a Changing World
At UC Davis, postdoctoral researcher Jaclyn Adaskaveg is transforming the future of lima beans — an often overlooked but highly nutritious and climate-resilient crop. Her research identifies key traits such as yield, protein content and adaptability to stress, while using genetics to speed up the development of better varieties. By combining plant science with consumer preference studies, Adaskaveg aims to make lima beans both more appealing and more widely grown.
Helping Humanity
Lima beans are rich in protein and fiber and require less water than many other crops, making them valuable for meeting food security and climate challenges. However, because they are a specialty crop with limited commercial demand, progress depends heavily on federal investment. =
"As a postdoc who is completely funded by federal grants, without federal funding, our research is going to slow dramatically. Lima bean is a specialty crop, which means we don’t get as many big grants from the private sector.”
—Jaclyn Adaskaveg, Ph.D.