English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Esperanto
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
UrduDeveloping a standardized drying protocol for goldenseal could lead to more predictable health applications and outcomes by preserving the alkaloids found in the plant, which is native to Appalachia, according to Penn State researchers, who conducted a new study of…
Tag: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION/ECONOMICS
To produce more food, UF scientists look to get more mileage out of plant enzymes
Scientists have found a way to evaluate how long a given enzyme lasts, letting them identify those that need identify those that need the most improvement in lifespan to make crops more productive
Plan for globally safer food
GHI announces proposal for recognition of Food Safety Professionals
The dirt on crop insurance
A new study from YSE researchers investigates the complex world of crop insurance, suggesting an adjustment in determining insurance premiums could be beneficial to both farmers and insurers in the face of increased extreme weather events.
Technique based on artificial intelligence permits automation of crop seed analysis
Developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo, the non-invasive methodology facilitates identification of immature or poor-quality seeds without destroying them or creating residues.
A “Sweet” cherry is the heaviest in the world according to the Guinness World Records
A cherry from the “Sweet” family, cross-bred by the University of Bologna, holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s heaviest cherry. This “Sweet Stephany” cherry comes from Salvi’s experimental cherry garden in Runco di Portomaggiore (Ferrara, Italy), weighs…
Scientists study co-evolutionary relationship between rust fungi and wheat and barberry
Wheat stripe rust is one of the most important wheat diseases and is caused by the plant-pathogenic fungi Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici ( Pst ). Though Pst is known to be highly host-specific, it is interestingly able to infect…
Helping stevia plants brave the cold
It’s a fact – humans love sugar. For those of us who also like to watch our calories, sugar substitutes can help. Some zero-calorie or low-calorie sweeteners have attracted bad reputations for containing unnatural ingredients. But there are also natural…
Study finds plants would grow well in solar cell greenhouses
A recent study shows that lettuce can be grown in greenhouses that filter out wavelengths of light used to generate solar power, demonstrating the feasibility of using see-through solar panels in greenhouses to generate electricity. “We were a little surprised…
Feeding cattle seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions 82 percent
New long-term study could mean more sustainable burgers
NTU Singapore scientists develop device to ‘communicate’ with plants using electrical signals
A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a device that can deliver electrical signals to and from plants, opening the door to new technologies that make use of plants. The NTU team developed…
Can crops become more efficient?
$1 million grant to probe a natural process that saps plants’ productivity
Going back in time restores decades of quiet corn drama
URBANA, Ill. – Corn didn’t start out as the powerhouse crop it is today. No, for most of the thousands of years it was undergoing domestication and improvement, corn grew humbly within the limits of what the environment and smallholder…
Weed invaders are getting faster
A new study shows invasive plants are adapting to new habitats and new climates at an increasing pace – and especially so in tropical environments
Farm-level study shows rising temperatures hurt rice yields
A study of the relationship between temperature and yields of various rice varieties, based on 50 years of weather and rice-yield data from farms in the Philippines, suggests that warming temperatures negatively affect rice yields. Recent varieties of rice, bred…
Study suggests healthy ecosystems are vital in reducing risk of future deadly pandemics
Practices recommended to reduce the risk of future pandemics through ‘protected and conserved area management’
Deforestation favors an increase in the diversity of antibiotic-resistant soil bacteria
Study analyzed some 800 million DNA sequences extracted from 48 soil samples collected in Pará State and northern Mato Grosso State, both of which are part of the Amazon biome
How India’s rice production can adapt to climate change challenges
URBANA, Ill. ¬- As the global population grows, the demand for food increases while arable land shrinks. A new University of Illinois study investigates how rice production in India can meet future needs by adapting to changing climate conditions and…
Analysis of “virtual” pollinator trade reveals global dependence on biodiversity for food consumption
Virtual pollination trade uncovers global dependence on biodiversity of developing countries
Pungent-variable of sweet chili pepper Shishito: genes and seeds
Chili peppers ( Capsicum spp .) are an important spice and vegetable that supports food culture around the world, whose intensity of its pungent taste is determined by the content of capsicumoids. However, the content of capsicumoids varies depending on…
Behaviour change and antimicrobial resistance in focus at Uppsala Health Summit
Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global threat to human and animal health. This year’s Uppsala Health Summit, which will take place online on 15-18 March, will discuss how behaviour change across various sectors of society can slow down this worrying…
Wild relatives offer a solution to devastating chickpea disease Ascochyta blight
A staple for many, chickpeas are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and offer many health benefits, such as improving digestion and reducing the risk of ailments including heart disease and cancer. However, chickpeas possess a rather narrow…
Floral probiotics reduce apple disease
While many celebrate apple blossoms as classic signs of spring, they are also welcoming entry gates for pathogens. Full of nutrients to lure pollinators and promote pollen germination, flowers also attract bacteria like Erwinia amylavora , a pathogen that causes…
Gene discovery may help peaches tolerate climate stress
Researchers have identified genes in peach’s wild relatives and local domesticated varieties that could improve the resistance of domesticated peach to many pressures imposed by climate change
Adaptation, not irrigation recommended for Midwest corn farmers
Farmers in the Midwest may be able to bypass the warming climate not by getting more water for their crops, but instead by adapting to climate change through soil management says a new study from Michigan State University. “The Midwest…
A plant’s place in history can predict susceptibility to pathogens
Found around the world, powdery mildew is a fungal disease especially harmful to plants within the sunflower family. Like most invasive pathogens, powdery mildew is understudied and learning how it affects hosts can help growers make more informed decisions and…
Insatiable demand for cannabis has created a giant carbon footprint
Colorado State University researchers provide the most detailed accounting to date of the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions
Economic benefits of protecting nature now outweigh those of exploiting it, global data reveal
The economic benefits of conserving or restoring natural sites “outweigh” the profit potential of converting them for intensive human use, according to the largest-ever study comparing the value of protecting nature at particular locations with that of exploiting it. A…
Atmospheric drying will lead to lower crop yields, shorter trees across the globe
A global observation of an ongoing atmospheric drying — known by scientists as a rise in vapor pressure deficit — has been observed worldwide since the early 2000s. In recent years, this concerning phenomenon has been on the rise, and…
Food security: Irradiation and essential oil vapors for cereal treatment
A combined treatment of irradiation and essential oil vapors could effectively eliminate insects, bacteria and mold in stored grains
Rapid new automated genomics screening stamps out crop disease
Researchers at the Earlham Institute (EI) have created a new automated workflow using liquid handling robots to identify the genetic basis to prevent plant pathogens, which can be used on a much larger and rapid scale than current methods. The…
New study examines importance and unique characteristics of US female farmers
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While women can be drawn into farming for many reasons, researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have found that female-owned farms in the U.S. are more common in areas that are closer to urban…
Protein discovery could help enable eco-friendly fungicides
Findings explain how plants use RNA to defend against fungal invaders
Ghosts of past pesticide use can haunt organic farms for decades
Although the use of pesticides in agriculture is increasing, some farms have transitioned to organic practices and avoid applying them. But it’s uncertain whether chemicals applied to land decades ago can continue to influence the soil’s health after switching to…
Coffee for the birds: connecting bird-watchers with shade-grown coffee
Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by approximately 2.9 billion birds, a loss of more than one in four birds. Factors in this decline include habitat loss and ecosystem degradation from human actions on the landscape. At…
New cell line could lead to more reliable vaccine development to fight costly pig virus
AMES, Iowa – Vaccines are an important tool in fighting porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), but the fast-mutating virus that causes the disease sometimes requires the production of autogenous vaccines tailored to particular variants. The production of autogenous vaccines…
Rice plant resists arsenic
Chinese-German research team discovers plant variant that largely neutralises the toxin
Identified: A mechanism that protects plant fertility from stress
Spikes in temperature can affect a plant’s fertility, resulting in a reduction of yield and economic loss How plants can protect themselves from stress has been studied by a consortium led by the University of Warwick Two argonaute-like proteins protect…
Optimally promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
Due to modern agriculture, biodiversity across many species groups is in decline. Over the last three decades, attempts have been made to counteract this with agri-environmental schemes at various levels – from the national federal state to EU-wide programmes. Not…
University of Guam research conference to feature traditional Pacific solutions to modern issues
The public will have an opportunity to hear about research and experiences unique to Oceania at the 42nd Annual Research Conference of the University of Guam’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, being held virtually from 9:30 a.m. to 4…
Farmers in developing countries can protect both profits and endangered species
HOUSTON – (Feb. 25, 2021) – Low-income livestock farmers in developing countries are often faced with a difficult dilemma: protect their animals from endangered predators, or spare the threatened species at the expense of their livestock and livelihood. A new…
How “ugly” labels can increase purchase of unattractive produce
News from the Journal of Marketing
Food systems lessons from COVID-19: From understanding fragilities to building resilience
At this seminar, researchers from the CGIAR COVID-19 Hub present results from the first global assessment of the impacts of COVID-19 on food systems and their actors
Indian agriculture: Groundwater depletion could reduce winter cropped acreage significantly in years
Map and photo India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat and rice and is home to more than 600 million farmers. The country has achieved impressive food-production gains since the 1960s, due in part to an increased reliance on…
Breaking the infertility cycle: Sheep could show us the way
Texas A&M AgriLife attacks most common human fertility disorder with animal study
Project examines how to make ‘farm to table’ more sustainable
UTA research into Iowa farming has potential impact for urban and rural areas in Texas
Families have high awareness of healthy eating but struggle to access good food
Families have high awareness of healthy eating but low income means many struggle to access good food
CABBI researchers challenge the CRP status quo to mitigate fossil fuels
A team led by sustainability theme leader Madhu Khanna suggests a new use for land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that may be a ‘win-win’ scenario for the economy and environment alike
Effort to understand agricultural nitrogen in U.S. and China receives joint funding
CAMBRIDGE, MD (February 22, 2021)–A collaborative project to identify ways to improve sustainability of nitrogen management in food, water, and energy systems in China and the United States has received funding from the United States and China’s National Science Foundations.…
Potential regional declines in species richness of tomato pollinators under climate
About 70% of the world’s main crops depend on insect pollination. Climate change is already affecting the abundance and distribution of insects, which could cause geographical mismatches between crops and their pollinators. Crops that rely primarily on wild pollinators (e.g.,…