Zachary Lippman, professor and HHMI investigator, leads a team of post-docs, graduates, and technicians on a mission to manipulate flower production to improve crop yields. Through plant biology and genomics, Lippman and his lab study branches called inflorescences to regulate branching patterns and flower productions. For example, Lippman’s research revolves around the tomato plant, where he can manipulate the hormones to produce more fruit. By cross breeding mutations in tomatoes, Lippman is able to fine-tune signals from these hormones to improve tomato field population in farms. His findings contain the potential to advance agriculture and address challenges such as population growth, environmental sustainability, and climate change.