Software improves sensors that check crop health

New software acts like polarized sunglasses to improve accuracy of devices that measure the color of a plant's leaves to assess health.

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
March 25, 2024 ~6 min

Potato discovery could lead to tastier, healthier chips and fries

A new discovery about cold-stored potatoes "has the potential to affect every single bag of potato chips around the world."

Matt Davenport-Michigan State • futurity
Feb. 22, 2024 ~5 min


Team cracks the mystery of maize’s origins

All modern maize descends from a hybrid created just over 5,000 years ago in central Mexico, researchers have discovered.

Andy Fell-UC Davis • futurity
Dec. 5, 2023 ~6 min

Potato pangenome could lead to a new super spud

A new potato pangenome could help identify genetic traits for producing the next super spud, researchers say.

McGill University • futurity
Aug. 31, 2023 ~4 min

Banana paper shell boosts yam size and yield

Wrapping yam seeds in banana paper resulted in larger yams and higher crop yields, a new study in Africa shows.

Mick Kulikowski-NC State • futurity
Feb. 22, 2023 ~7 min

Wireless tech monitors soil moisture in real time

A new wireless system that measures soil moisture in real time could both improve crop yield and reduce water consumption.

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
Aug. 19, 2022 ~7 min

Grape-killing bug could invade California wine country

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive Insect that kills grapes and other crops and trees, could reach the California wine region by 2027, researchers say.

Laura Oleniacz - NC State • futurity
June 8, 2022 ~8 min

This ‘extreme’ plant thrives in conditions that would kill others

Some plants aren't good at handling stress. But "extreme" plants not only survive in stressful conditions, they thrive in them.

Taylor Kubota-Stanford • futurity
May 5, 2022 ~7 min


‘Flash droughts’ work fast to devastate crops

Flash droughts don't last long, but can be disastrous. A new study shows they're more frequent and coming on faster, likely due to climate change.

Monica Kortsha-UT Austin • futurity
April 20, 2022 ~5 min

Soybeans grow larger when bees are near

"...plants in fields that were adjacent to pollinator habitat produced seeds that were 6.5% heavier than the seeds from plants in distant fields."

Matt Shipman-NC State • futurity
Feb. 24, 2022 ~7 min

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