Mutant roots reveal how we can grow crops in damaged soils
Researchers have unearthed a 'biological switch' which could boost crop yield worldwide.
Jan. 14, 2021 • ~7 min
agriculture botany crops roots food-environment plant-growth
Killer cotton and planes dropping moths wiped out these pests
The invasive pink bollworm has inflicted tens of millions of dollars in damage annually. Biotech cotton and sterile moths helped eradicate it in the US.
Dec. 22, 2020 • ~7 min
insects pesticides genetic-engineering crops earth-and-environment cotton
Diversifying crops is a ‘win-win’
Farms with more diverse crops can benefit the environment while not sacrificing yields, new research finds. In many cases, yields went up, in fact.
Nov. 12, 2020 • ~5 min
sustainability agriculture crops earth-and-environment
We found a way to turn urine into solid fertiliser – it could make farming more sustainable
If rolled out worldwide, our method could replace a quarter of all the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser used in agriculture.
Nov. 6, 2020 • ~7 min
agriculture recycling farming nitrogen crops toilets urine phosphorus fertiliser ammonia
When plants and their microbes are not in sync, the results can be disastrous
Just as humans can suffer from an imbalance of microbes in their gut, plants can suffer a similar syndrome in their leaves. This finding opens up new possibilities for improving food security.
Aug. 28, 2020 • ~8 min
agriculture plants microbiome ecosystem crops microbiota arabidopsis
Loss of bees threatens US crop yields
Declines in populations of bees and other pollinators threatens crop yields of apples, cherries, and blueberries in the US, researchers say.
July 29, 2020 • ~4 min
conservation bees food pollinators crops earth-and-environment
Crop pathogens are more adaptable than previously thought
Fungi and other organisms called oomycetes are highly adaptable. That's bad news for the global food supply.
June 23, 2020 • ~5 min
evolution climate-change yeast plants fungi crops food-security plant-pathogen
How a new biotech rule will foster distrust with the public and impede progress in science
A new biotech regulation allows companies to self-police and decide which crops should be regulated. The new rule is likely to amplify greater distrust of GM crops.
June 1, 2020 • ~10 min
biotechnology genetically-modified-crops gm-food gm-crops genetically-modified-plants
Ethicists: We need more flexible tools for evaluating gene-edited food
What criteria should be used to determine whether a food is natural? What if gene-editing techniques produce changes indistinguishable from those that evolve naturally? Is the food still natural?
May 26, 2020 • ~8 min
gene-editing organic genetically-modified-organisms species genetically-modified-crops natural genetically-modified
U.S. farm workers will see unsafe hot days double by 2050
“I was surprised by the scale of the change—seeing a doubling of unsafe days by mid-century, then a tripling by 2100. And we think that’s a low estimate.”
May 4, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change agriculture crops temperature earth-and-environment health-and-medicine
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