While the California dairy cow that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, made national headlines this week, University of Georgia livestock and food-safety experts say the real story is how well the nation's food-safety system worked.

High Road Craft Ice Cream of Atlanta was selected as the grand champion of the 2012 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest hosted annually by the University of Georgia.

Water scarcity in the western U.S. has long been an issue of concern. Now, a team of researchers studying freshwater sustainability in the U.S. have found that the Southeast, with the exception of Florida, does not have enough water capacity to meet its own needs.

The University of Georgia has received more than $440,000 as part of a collaborative research, outreach and education program aimed at encouraging sustainable poultry production in the West African country of Mali.

Herbs and spices are rich in antioxidants, and a new UGA study suggests they are also potent inhibitors of tissue damage and inflammation caused by high levels of blood sugar.

In the Southeast, thrips are the No. 1 enemy of tomato and pepper farmers. The tiny, plant-feeding bugs carry a disease that can devastate their crops. And now a $1.75 million grant will help experts at UGA and other universities in the region develop ways to stop the damage.

A University of Georgia expert says the challenges in ensuring a safe U.S. food supply will continue to grow to unprecedented heights unless solutions are provided quickly.