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
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
Crops could face double trouble from insects and a warming climate
Plants have evolved techniques for protecting themselves from heat and insect attacks – but when both these stresses happen at once, one defense may neutralize the other.
April 7, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change insects agriculture plants heat-wave crops tomato food-security
Modern tomatoes are very different from their wild ancestors – and we found missing links in their evolution
Through genetic detective work, scientists have identified missing links in the tomato’s evolution from a wild blueberry-sized fruit in South America to the larger modern tomato of today.
Jan. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
evolution genetics agriculture genomics research-brief global-perspectives crops tomato latin-america plant-breeding domestication
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