The fourth agricultural revolution is coming – but who will really benefit?
AI, robots and other technologies could transform farming – for worse as well as for better.
Sept. 14, 2020 • ~8 min
artificial-intelligence agriculture robots farming
Plants might be able to tell us about the location of dead bodies, helping families find missing people
Researchers are figuring out how plants respond to the presence of human cadavers. The findings could prove important for discovering the locations of murder victims or mass graves.
Sept. 3, 2020 • ~7 min
evolution innovation agriculture plants microbes adaptation genetically-modified-organisms forensics genetically-modified-plants decomposition
Plants might be able to tell us about the location of dead people, helping families find missing people
Researchers are figuring out how plants respond to the presence of human cadavers. The findings could prove important for discovering the locations of murder victims or mass graves.
Sept. 3, 2020 • ~7 min
evolution innovation agriculture plants microbes adaptation genetically-modified-organisms forensics genetically-modified-plants decomposition
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
Amazon fires trap farmers into poverty – and into setting more fires
Fires that burn the forest burn crops and pastures alike. But farmers in the eastern Amazon are left with few good options.
Aug. 17, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change agriculture brazil farming amazon-fires wildfires forest-fires fire-risk
An argument for gene drive technology to genetically control populations of insects like mosquitoes and locusts
Gene drive guarantees that a trait will be passed to the next generation. But should society use this tool to control insect populations?
July 14, 2020 • ~10 min
health environment insects agriculture ecology malaria zika entomology bugs pest-control mosquitoes dengue gene-drive
An argument for gene drive technology to genetically control insects like mosquitoes and locusts
Gene drive guarantees that a trait will be passed to the next generation. But should society use this tool to control insect populations?
July 14, 2020 • ~10 min
health environment insects agriculture ecology malaria zika entomology bugs pest-control mosquitoes dengue gene-drive
Climate change: why farmers are among our best guides for making sense of topsy-turvy weather
Farmer interviews offer a rich and detailed perspective on extreme weather and climate change.
July 2, 2020 • ~6 min
climate-change agriculture farming drought extreme-weather farmers oral-history
Five reasons environmentalists should oppose Britain's agriculture bill
Public money for public goods sounds great, but the reality could look very different.
July 1, 2020 • ~8 min
agriculture farming common-agricultural-policy public-goods british-countryside uk-agriculture-bill
Five reasons environmentalists should oppose the agriculture bill
Public money for public goods sounds great, but the reality could look very different.
July 1, 2020 • ~8 min
agriculture farming common-agricultural-policy public-goods british-countryside uk-agriculture-bill
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