The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $6.7 million to research agroecosystems to improve food security and sustainability. The grants will focus on understanding the interactions between soil, water, plants, animals, and people in agricultural systems.
A new doctoral training collaboration between Warwick and Waitrose aims to develop graduate students who can address the need for a more secure and sustainable food system. The programme will provide PhD students with industry training and expertise in agriculture and sustainable crop production.
The Tennessee wine industry has seen significant growth, with 435 direct workers in the winery industry, an increase of 20% from the previous year. The state now has 72 bonded wineries, providing well over 500 jobs, mainly in rural areas where job options are limited.
Reduced nitrogen input from atmospheric depositions results in lower nitrate concentrations in reservoir waters, leading to increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphate levels. This causes algae growth and affects water quality.
Researchers found evidence of domesticated rice in South Asia up to 430 years earlier than previously believed. The study reveals a network of regional farmers supplied produce to ancient cities, using complex multi-cropping strategies across both seasons.
The USDA has awarded four grants totaling $1.2 million to support environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture in the US. Researchers will focus on improving disease prevention, comparing profitability of different business models, and developing disease-resistant clam germlines.
Scientists have developed machine learning algorithms to recognize insect feeding patterns causing devastating damage worldwide, including citrus greening through probing on host tissues. The technology enables rapid screening and disruption of pathogen transmission, benefiting agriculture, livestock, and human health.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded over $4.3 million to 48 veterinarians to repay their loans and provide critical services in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The program aims to address shortages of food animal veterinarians, particularly in rural areas.
The aging locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway are causing inefficiencies that increase transportation costs for grain and oilseeds. The study estimates a 40% decrease in economic activity if Lock 25 is closed, leading to a decline of over 7,000 jobs and $2.4 billion in economic activity annually.
The USDA has granted $20.2 million to 34 small businesses for innovative research and development projects in food production, food safety, and forest management. The funding will support feasibility studies and project implementation through the Small Business Innovation Research program.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $200,000 to four university teams for their innovative solutions in food and agricultural science. The winning teams will receive funding to start a business and participate in an entrepreneurial immersion course to commercialize their inventions.
Scholars studied archaeological and paleoenvironmental records to understand the intensification of agriculture in northern China, revealing a significant impact on fire frequency and natural environments. The findings suggest that millet cultivation played a crucial role in the emergence of ancient Chinese civilization.
A study published in Ecology Letters examines the relationship between agricultural runoff and harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, revealing that managing landscapes at watershed levels can improve water quality. Reservoirs are identified as areas where nutrient loads could be diminished without affecting silica concentrations.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $382,650 in grants through the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program. The program aims to increase participation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, with a focus on rural areas.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a grant to expand the farm financial management database FINBIN to include Tennessee farms. This expansion will provide benchmark financial information for producers, lenders, and other agricultural professionals, enabling them to make more informed financial decisions.
Networking is crucial for spreading integrated pest management in agriculture. The article suggests three ways to improve networking: enhancing communication between research organizations, involving advisors in defining research projects, and structuring knowledge generation approaches. By following these recommendations, farmers can ...
Researchers have received a grant to study ways of reducing fertilizer use in high-temperature agricultural regions. By modifying fertilization and irrigation practices, nitrogen losses to the atmosphere can be reduced by 50 percent.
The USDA has awarded $18.9 million to 12 historically black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities to build or improve agricultural research facilities. These funding awards will support cutting-edge academic research, foster innovation, and ensure equal access to educational opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
Researchers have successfully grown norovirus in laboratory cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells, paving the way for further studies on prevention, treatment, and control of norovirus infections. This achievement represents a significant step forward in understanding human gastroenteritis viruses.
A new study finds that trade liberalization could buffer economic losses in agriculture due to climate change, with potential savings of up to 2.5 trillion US Dollars. The research highlights the importance of trade as a key measure to reduce climate change impacts on the agricultural sector.
The grant will recruit three promising graduate student scholars and a fourth student with funding support. The project aims to develop interdisciplinary training in translational genomics, linking agricultural, life, and computing sciences to promote sustainable food and energy supply.
The US Department of Agriculture's NIFA has awarded $17.8 million to 37 projects supporting new and beginning farmers through the BFRDP program. The funding will enhance education, mentorship, and sustainability initiatives for the next generation of agricultural producers.
A new method to quantify methane emissions from livestock manure has been proposed, addressing the significant problem of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. The approach uses laboratory measurements and a simple model to calculate daily emissions and evaluate the effects of changes in management or treatment.
Researchers identified human remains on Oronsay island from the Late Mesolithic era, shedding light on Britain's transition to agriculture. The study used innovative bone collagen analysis techniques to determine species and diet of prehistoric groups.
New analysis reveals that 72% of the world's threatened species are imperiled due to human activities such as agriculture, land conversion, and overharvesting. Well-managed protected areas and sustainable agricultural practices can help reduce biodiversity loss.
A recent study reveals that tree cover on agricultural land has increased globally, capturing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and potentially playing a significant role in mitigating climate change. The research highlights the importance of agroforestry systems in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded grants totaling $36.5 million to support research and extension projects in specialty crop production. These projects focus on improving crop yields, addressing food safety concerns, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
A new analysis of federal funding for sustainable agriculture suggests significant improvements can be made with additional investments. Researchers found that only a small percentage of USDA-funded projects focused on sustainable agriculture, highlighting the need for increased public funding.
A Harvard-led research team conducted the first large-scale genome-wide analysis of ancient human remains from the Near East, illuminating population dynamics and genetic identities of world's first farmers. The study reveals three genetically distinct farming populations living in the Near East at the dawn of agriculture.
Engineers developed a numerical model to calculate nitrogen's age in corn and soybean fields, potentially improving fertilizer application techniques. The research found that nitrogen topsoil has a relatively high average age compared to water, with ammonium accumulating in the upper layers.
A team of scientists discovered that ants first switched to farming fungi 55-60 million years ago, marking the beginning of a mutual adaptation. Leafcutter ants have since developed industrial-scale farming, producing protein-rich bulbs and thriving on an enormous scale.
Researchers aim to understand farmers' preferences for cover crop contracts, which could lead to higher adoption rates. Cover crops offer benefits like soil health improvement and nitrogen scavenging, but farmers often face constraints such as conflicting planting dates with cash crops.
Researchers identified a key gene in vinegar flies responsible for their waterproof coating, which could provide a new way to control insect pests threatening agriculture and humans. By knocking out this gene, the insects lose their waxy coating and become more vulnerable to environmental stress.
A recent study published in Science reveals that populations in the ancient Fertile Crescent are the ancestors of modern-day South Asians, but not of Europeans. The earliest farmers from the Zagros mountains in Iran showed a genetically distinct group that only very distantly related to the first farmers of western Anatolia and Europe.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is providing $8.3 million in funding for small businesses to develop advanced research projects. The Small Business Innovation Research program aims to stimulate technological innovations and strengthen federal research support for small businesses.
Scientists at TUM have discovered a plant-inherent water-conservation strategy that enables plants to absorb carbon dioxide while minimizing water loss. By activating this mode, plants can preserve moisture in the ground for later use during droughts, potentially increasing crop yields with limited water availability.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $8.4 million in funding to study and develop new approaches for the US agriculture sector to adapt to climate change. The funding will support research on reducing energy, nitrogen, and water use, as well as training community-based volunteers to become 'climate masters,'
Researchers at Australian National University have modeled energy consumption by wireless sensors and explored the use of ambient radio frequency sources for powering devices. The breakthrough aims to replace batteries with long-lasting monitoring devices in industries such as health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Researchers found a vast array of previously unknown RNA transcripts and alternative splicing patterns, revealing new functional parts of the maize gene. This discovery has great importance for agriculture, as it can help breed corn to adapt to climate changes.
Scientists found 25 million-year-old fossil termite nests in East Africa with evidence of fungus gardens, a form of agriculture not by humans but by insects. This discovery provides the oldest known examples of agricultural practices and sheds light on how termites evolved to cultivate fungi.
The study analyzed 1,297 invasive insect pests on 124 countries, finding the US, China, India, and Brazil to be the highest potential cost impacters. Smaller developing countries like those in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately vulnerable due to their reliance on agriculture.
This study analyzed buried and cultivated Neolithic paddy soils to understand the impact of agriculture on microbial diversity. The results showed that modern intensive rice cultivation led to a significant loss of functional diversity, with accelerated nutrient cycling and homogenization of soil ecological functions.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $16.8 million in grants to support initiatives encouraging SNAP participants to purchase fruits and vegetables. The funding will benefit regional food producers, local economies, and the health of low-income families.
Research found that agriculture led to rapid male population expansion in Neolithic Time, with a 10- to 100-fold increase in population size. This growth occurred after the advent of agriculture, suggesting that it was a driving force behind the initial male population expansion.
A new study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that introducing legumes into agricultural systems can reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 20-30% and fertilizer use by 25-40%. The study also shows increased gross margins in forage agriculture systems, demonstrating the potential for both environmental and economic benefits.
The USDA has awarded nearly $4 million in funding to help fight obesity and improve the health of our nation's children. The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) will support research to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents ages 2-19 years.
The USDA has announced $21 million available for bioeconomy research and development, focusing on sustainable bioenergy and biobased products. This funding supports regional systems in bioenergy production, education, and training for the next generation of scientists.
Agricultural emissions must be reduced by 1 gigaton per year in 2030 to meet the Paris climate agreement's goal of limiting warming to 2°C in 2100. Current interventions will only deliver 21-40% of mitigation required, highlighting a major gap between existing options and needed reductions.
The US Department of Agriculture is offering $130 million in funding for foundational agricultural research, education, and extension projects. This funding supports sustainable and productive plant and animal production systems, including certified organic production.
Researchers discovered a protein, EPYC1, that enables green algae to efficiently capture CO2 from the air. This finding is crucial for harnessing algae's power in agriculture, which could enhance crop yields by up to 60%.
A biofeedback system has been developed to control photosynthetic lighting in controlled environment agriculture, allowing for efficient use of light by plants. The system successfully adjusted light levels based on the physiological performance of plants, achieving a wide range of energy conversion rates and reducing energy costs.
The USDA has allocated $2.4 million to alleviate veterinarian shortages through education, extension, and training programs. This funding supports the development of specialized skills among veterinarians and veterinary technicians to address shortages in rural areas.
The USDA and DOE are investing $10 million in green energy research through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. This initiative aims to improve biofuels production and agricultural feedstock advancements, which will enhance U.S. energy security, reduce pollution, and support rural economies.
A CSU-led team has identified strategies to improve global food accessibility while reducing agriculture's environmental impacts. The study highlights the importance of integrated food system approaches, such as increasing legumes in crop production practices and improving women's access to resources.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $15.6 million in grants to support research, education, and extension programs focused on promoting rural community development, economic growth, and sustainability. The grants aim to help rural areas address persistent poverty and create self-sustaining long-term economic development.
Researchers at Utah State University and other institutions have developed a light-driven process for nitrogen fixation, which could revolutionize agriculture and reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels. The new process uses nanomaterials to capture light energy, making it more energy-efficient than traditional methods.
The OU research team aims to improve understanding of microbial community diversity, structure, and function on greenhouse gas emissions from grasslands and croplands. The project will develop a multi-scale observation and modeling framework to estimate greenhouse gas emissions across landscape scales.
A new study found that consuming produce grown in treated wastewater-irrigated soil leads to higher levels of carbamazepine excretion. The researchers discovered that the production and consumption of such veggies pose a potential risk for consumers, despite the low quantities involved.
The USDA has awarded $6.6 million in grants for research focused on improving animal nutrition and growth, with a goal of enhancing animal health, reducing production costs, and minimizing environmental impacts. Funded projects include studies on starch digestion in cattle and nutrient delivery to pigs facing disease challenges.
The USDA has awarded grants to 11 universities to research the use of nanotechnology in improving food safety, enhancing renewable fuels, increasing crop yields, managing agricultural pests, and more. The research aims to develop innovative solutions for addressing key challenges in agriculture.