Tag: Food Security

Chilling discovery: wild potato’s dna fights freeze

sarah JonasResearch Results

A recent study has unlocked the genetic secrets of the wild potato Solanum commersonii, revealing key genes that contribute to its remarkable ability to resist freezing temperatures. This research offers new hope for developing cultivated potatoes that can withstand extreme cold, a critical advancement for safeguarding global food supplies in the face of climate change. By identifying a key genetic segment, scientists have taken a major step toward fortifying crops against unpredictable climate shifts, ensuring long-term agricultural resilience.

Landmark photosynthesis gene discovery boosts plant height, advances crop science

sarah JonasResearch Results

A team of scientists with two Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers — the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, or CBI, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, or CABBI, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — identified a gene in a poplar tree that enhances photosynthesis and can boost tree height by about 30% in the field and by as much as 200% in the greenhouse.

MERMAID Named Winner of 2024-2025 Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Grant for Nonprofits

sarah JonasAnnouncement

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) today announced it has been selected as a winner of the 2024 Amazon Web Services (AWS) IMAGINE Grant, a public grant opportunity open to registered 501(c) nonprofit organizations in the United States who are using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

Harnessing nature’s arsenal: phospholipids in plant defense mechanisms

sarah JonasResearch Results

A new study reveals how plants can harness their genetic makeup to fend off Podosphaera xanthii, the fungal culprit behind powdery mildew. By activating a lipid-based defense system using a natural plant-derived inducer, the research paves the way for eco-friendly pest control, reducing reliance on harmful pesticides and promoting agricultural sustainability.

Rutgers Receives Grant from USDA to Develop an Alternative to Hydroponics Method

sarah JonasAnnouncement

Rutgers Health received a $607,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop “electroponics,” an alternative to the hydroponics approach to farming that would allow plants to grow under limited water conditions or in zero gravity conditions ready for deployment in space stations.

Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein opens at the National University of Singapore

sarah JonasResearch Results

The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was launched today, marking a major milestone as the first of its kind in Asia to advance research in alternative proteins. With a US$30 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Centre is poised to lead groundbreaking research and commercialisation efforts to develop “ultimate proteins” – advanced hybrid foods that match traditional meat–based products in both taste and price.

Cedars-Sinai Supports Local Nonprofits With $27 Million in Grants

sarah JonasAnnouncement

Cedars-Sinai has galvanized its commitment to helping historically marginalized communities, allocating $27 million in grants to support programs providing housing stability, food security, accessible care and health equity across the Los Angeles region.

Tea plant’s genetic guardians: lncRNA-protein pairs bolster disease resistance

sarah JonasResearch Results

Scientists have discovered evolutionarily conserved trans-lncRNA pairs that boost disease resistance in tea plants. These pairs, including the 12-oxophytodienoate reductase gene, interact with the jasmonic acid signaling pathway to enhance the plant’s defenses against pathogens.

The Detection of a Massive Harmful Algal Bloom in the Arctic Prompts Real-Time Advisories to Western Alaskan Communities

sarah JonasResearch Results

In summer of 2022, a research cruise detected a massive harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the Bering Strait region of western Alaska. This expedition provided a dramatic example of science utilizing new technology to track a neurotoxic HAB, and effectively communicate information that protects remote coastal communities in real-time.

Tomato triumph: genetic key to chill-proof crops unveiled

sarah JonasResearch Results

In a significant advancement for agricultural biotechnology, researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that enhances the cold tolerance of tomatoes. This breakthrough is pivotal for cultivating crops in cooler climates, ensuring stable yields and bolstering global food security.

Tomato triumph: genetic key to chill-proof crops unveiled

sarah JonasResearch Results

In a significant advancement for agricultural biotechnology, researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that enhances the cold tolerance of tomatoes. This breakthrough is pivotal for cultivating crops in cooler climates, ensuring stable yields and bolstering global food security.

Tomato triumph: genetic key to chill-proof crops unveiled

sarah JonasResearch Results

In a significant advancement for agricultural biotechnology, researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that enhances the cold tolerance of tomatoes. This breakthrough is pivotal for cultivating crops in cooler climates, ensuring stable yields and bolstering global food security.

Tomato triumph: genetic key to chill-proof crops unveiled

sarah JonasResearch Results

In a significant advancement for agricultural biotechnology, researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that enhances the cold tolerance of tomatoes. This breakthrough is pivotal for cultivating crops in cooler climates, ensuring stable yields and bolstering global food security.

Unlocking the frost-defying secrets of the white water lily

sarah JonasResearch Results

In a recent discovery poised to enhance agricultural resilience, scientists have demystified the elaborate cold resistance mechanisms of the white water lily—a plant that flourishes in the frigid climes of Xinjiang’s lofty terrains. A thorough investigation into the lily’s morphological adaptations, strategic resource distribution, and metabolic reactions has unveiled an intricate regulatory framework encompassing phytohormone signaling, amino acid metabolism, and circadian rhythms. This revelation provides invaluable insights for bolstering the cold resistance of crops.

Pear-derived discovery: a genetic mechanism to fortify crops against drought

sarah JonasResearch Results

A pivotal study has shed light on a critical genetic mechanism that boosts plants’ ability to withstand drought. The research uncovers the role of the transcription factor PbERF3, native to wild pears, which works in concert with the protein PbHsfC1a to regulate genes key to drought tolerance.

ACSM to release 18th annual ranking of the 100 fittest cities in America

sarah JonasResearch Alert

 WHAT The American College of Sports Medicine® (ACSM) will release its 18th annual ranking of the 100 fittest cities in America. Based on 33 evidence-based indicators, this year’s ranking will assess how individuals and communities are working together to facilitate…

To Cut Global Emissions, Replace Meat and Milk with Plant-Based Alternatives

sarah JonasResearch Results

Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land, according to new research in Nature Communications journal.

Low food security linked to metabolic syndrome in reproductive-aged Latinx females

sarah JonasResearch Results

Not having reliable access to food has a significant relationship with metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases risk for diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, in Latinx females of reproductive age, according to a study presented Friday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

New Research Suggests Wheat Crops May Be Threatened by Unprecedented Heat and Drought

sarah JonasResearch Results

A recent study led by a researcher at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University found that the likelihood of extreme temperatures that could affect crop yields has increased significantly in wheat-producing regions of the U.S. and China.

Simple addition to corn bran could boost grain’s nutritional value 15-35%

sarah JonasResearch Results

What if, by adding a couple of cell layers inside a corn kernel, the grain could become significantly richer in essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and protein? Such an improvement could benefit people who rely on corn for a large portion of their diet, as in many parts of the global south. In a new study, University of Illinois scientists show it’s possible to increase iron up to 35% and zinc up to 15% compared to parent lines simply by adding cell layers in the bran.

Supporting evidence-based policymaking in The Gambia

sarah JonasResearch Results

A new IIASA policy brief outlines the recommendations, tools, and key findings of the FACE-Africa project, co-developed with Gambian food system stakeholders to help the country adapt to climate change and ensure sufficient healthy food for its people.

How the CSU is Prioritizing Students’ Needs

sarah JonasFeature

As a national leader in studying the prevalence of food and housing insecurity for college students, the California State University (CSU) understands the significant role basic needs play in student success. With 23 universities and nearly 460,000 students, the CSU engages in a number of systemwide efforts and community and university partnerships throughout California to maximize the support services available to its students.​