Researchers analyzed pottery lipids at the Shangzhai site in Beijing, revealing that ancient people consumed millet, terrestrial non-ruminant meat, and wild ruminant dairy. This provides new insights into subsistence strategy and millet agriculture development during this time period.
A recent study by the University of Vienna suggests that using plastics in agriculture can both benefit and harm the environment. On one hand, plastics conserve resources and enhance yields; on the other hand, they can impair soil fertility and contaminate food chains.
Researchers analyze relationship between agriculture, emergence of new diseases. They propose a holistic approach focusing on broader factors impacting disease transmission.
Agriculture can both facilitate and hinder pathogen spread through deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss. Promoting agricultural practices that boost biodiversity and create barriers can prevent zoonotic spillover.
Researchers developed a method to predict rice yield using smartphone photos, showing 68% accuracy and comparable results to satellite data. The model's simplicity makes it suitable for mobile devices and can be easily transferred to other crops.
A new study from the University of Surrey found that artificial methods for growing lettuce produce twice the amount of the crop as traditional field-based methods. This leads to increased yields with CEA systems producing double the yields compared to field-based agriculture, and up to 300% faster production rates in summer periods.
Researchers discovered a species of fungus that fosters a unique symbiotic relationship with oilseed rape plants, increasing flavonoid biosynthesis and enhancing plant defense against pests. This breakthrough offers promising potential for sustainable agriculture and minimizing ecological footprints.
The director of Texas A&M's Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture calls for a responsive food system that prioritizes human health. The initiative aims to align precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and social research to reduce diet-related chronic disease.
Large-scale agriculture is escalating flooding in the Argentinean Pampas by disrupting groundwater reserves, increasing flood coverage, and making precipitation-sensitive lands more vulnerable. This transformation has resulted in floods doubling their coverage and becoming more sensitive to changes in precipitation.
The article discusses the challenges of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions to zero, but found that technology can help farmers lower pollution by up to 45 percent. The study proposes using carbon-free energy sources, sustainably produced bioenergy, and techniques to capture emissions from these energy sources.
The new digital decision support tool DAKIS was developed to help farmers transition to diversified and sustainable agricultural systems. It integrates large datasets, extracts critical analysis, and provides actionable crop management options.
The Purdue-led USDA project, IMPACT2, aims to double the impact of climate-smart agriculture in the Midwest by addressing near-term and long-term issues faced by farmers. The project will offer scenario-based activities, training, and information to diverse stakeholders, with a goal of reaching 2,000 participants via an online portal.
A €2.5million European research programme, FRIETS, is increasing the shelf-life of berries through high-precision agriculture and innovative processing methods while maintaining quality. The four-year project combines precision agriculture strategies with dehydration and edible coating methods to discover healthier food alternatives.
The Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture is partnering with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to develop a National Roadmap for Responsive Agriculture Solutions. The study aims to set priorities for supporting health through food and agriculture, focusing on reducing diet-related chronic diseases.
A research team developed an AI approach to automate crop head counting, using synthetic annotated datasets to train deep learning models. The technique demonstrates improved accuracy and can be applied to other applications with dense repeating patterns.
A four-year field experiment in Estonia reveals that recycling phosphorus-rich lake sediments can sustain grass biomass yield and provide essential nutrients. However, the study also highlights potential environmental risks associated with sediment application methods.
Purdue University has received two grants of $1 million each from the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop more resilient food systems. The grants will support research, education, and extension efforts aimed at enhancing sustainable agricultural systems in Eastern U.S. forests and Midwes...
A new study reveals that the squash bee has evolved in response to increased agriculture, particularly squash cultivation. This adaptation allowed its population to expand significantly, making it an essential pollinator of these crops.
The University of Missouri will receive a $10 million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to double cover crop seed production in the US by 2030. The project aims to educate farmers about new varieties of cover crops, examine their performance with root growth, and distribute them nationwide.
A team of researchers led by Wes Osburn, Ph.D., has made a breakthrough in developing an amino acid-based alternative curing method for meat and poultry products without adding sodium nitrite. This new technique uses L-arginine to activate the nitric oxide synthase system, generating nitric oxide and residual nitrite naturally.
The UT Extension Center for Profitable Agriculture project is studying six niche crops: cut flowers, persimmons, blueberries, elderberries, garlic, and microgreens. The project aims to provide education and outreach to help Tennessee producers make informed decisions about marketing and sales.
Research at the University of British Columbia found that intensive agriculture has driven rapid evolutionary change in waterhemp, a North American native plant, turning it into a problematic weed. The study compared genetic samples from modern farms and historical specimens to track evolution over two centuries.
A new concept is presented to increase nitrogen fertilization efficiency and reduce nitrous oxide emission in agriculture. Crop plant-derived biological inhibitors are proposed as an economical alternative to chemical fertilizers.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a $750,000 grant to study native warm-season perennial grasses for organic livestock feed production. Researchers aim to improve soil health and agronomic practices in the southeastern US by integrating warm-season grasses into tall fescue systems.
The African Plant Nutrition Institute, Fertilizer Canada, and OCP Africa have signed a MoU to collaborate on agriculture development programmes that target sub-Saharan rural farmers. The planned interventions will see an improvement in food-security and livelihoods for smallholder farmers through joint programming, shared learning, and...
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a $30 million grant to empower grassland farmers in climate-smart agriculture. The project aims to enhance operation resilience and optimize profitability while improving soil health and biodiversity.
The Penn State-led CARAT project will help dairy farmers in Pennsylvania develop and implement climate-smart practices, generating value for dairy products along the supply chain. The project aims to establish real data on the value of climate-smart practices, enabling producers to enter into carbon markets and be fairly compensated.
The Texas Climate-Smart Initiative aims to expand climate-smart commodity markets and leverage greenhouse gas benefits. Project partners will provide technical and financial assistance to producers to implement climate-smart production practices.
A recent analysis by researcher Jacob van Etten found that the Green Revolution's narrative omits institutional change and neglects ethnic tensions dominating market exchange. The study highlights the importance of markets and institutions in agricultural development, contradicting the traditional technology-centric view.
The University of Missouri has received a $25 million grant from the USDA to help farmers adapt to climate change through climate-smart practices. The five-year project aims to improve crop and livestock resilience on up to 500,000 acres of Missouri farmland.
The study reveals that between 90 and 99 percent of all deforestation in the tropics is driven directly or indirectly by agriculture. The majority of deforestation results in land speculation or abandoned projects, rather than actively producing agricultural production.
The UT Institute of Agriculture has received a grant to implement the 4-H Tech Changemakers program, which aims to increase digital literacy and bridge STEM gaps among Tennesseans. The program will provide students with enhanced opportunities for STEM education through non-traditional methods, dismantling system barriers.
A new approach to composting in agriculture could improve crop yields, soil health, and divert biowaste from landfills, addressing global food security concerns. The study estimates PCS could boost annual global production of major cereal crops by 96 million tonnes.
A case study in Laos explores the application of climate services for agriculture, demonstrating improved agricultural planning and decision-making through ICT-based platforms like LaCSA. The project successfully co-created agromet services with local stakeholders, increasing capacities and promoting resilience to climate risks.
The study found that integrated interventions, which prioritize people and nature coexistence, positively impact local human wellbeing. In contrast, single-sector interventions like high-input conventional agriculture and strict protected areas have negative impacts on human health and ecosystems.
A new study finds that urban agriculture can meet and sometimes exceed the yields of rural farms, with certain crops like cucumbers, potatoes, and lettuces producing two to four times higher yields in cities.
Recent advancements in non-destructive sensors enable real-time monitoring of plant health, allowing for prompt adjustment of environmental conditions to augment crop productivity. The sensors convert plant signals into digital signals, establishing direct communication between plants and growers.
Researchers found that climate change is shifting the risk of human-wildlife conflicts in Thailand, with northern areas more vulnerable to elephant-human interactions. The study suggests that as natural habitats become fragmented, conflicts may intensify in rural areas where agriculture relies heavily on land.
A team of mathematicians from the University of Texas at Arlington is leading a national initiative to equip students with skills in climate-smart agriculture. The project aims to increase workforce diversity and create technology- and data-savvy workforces.
China's rural modernization policy seeks to revitalize rural economies by promoting entrepreneurship, new organisational forms, and increased commercialisation of agriculture. The goal is to raise rural income levels and reduce disparities with urban areas.
Researchers warn that the increasing use of digital agriculture could lead to serious cyber-attacks, compromising food supply and production. Complex modeling studies have identified vulnerabilities in ag-tech applications, including side-channel attacks that can exploit physical access to devices.
A study by the Diverfarming project found that long-term compost application improved soil bacterial community complexity and communication, increasing nitrogen fixing potential and reducing emissions. This highlights the importance of using compost in sustainable agriculture, which can reduce fertilizer and pesticide use and create mo...
A new study by University College London (UCL) researchers found that climate change and intensive agricultural land use have already led to a 49% reduction in insect populations in the most impacted parts of the world. Insect declines are linked to rising temperatures and land use changes, with tropical areas seeing the biggest declines.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have identified a unique bacterial phosphatase, PafA, that can efficiently release phosphate from its organic forms. This discovery has potential to help reduce the consumption of phosphate chemical fertilisers and promote sustainable agriculture.
In southern Anhui Province, archaeobotanical remains at the Jingshuidun site reveal early rice farming dating back to 4874-4820 cal. yr B.P., with millet cultivation emerging by 2667-2568 cal. yr B.P.
A new University of Michigan-led analysis found that community gardens on Detroit's Lower Eastside play a crucial role in reducing neighborhood blight and promoting social cohesion. The study recommends scattering future gardens across the landscape to maximize benefits, rather than clustering them in specific areas.
Researchers found that hunter-gatherer groups in southwest Ethiopia have a distinct genetic profile and are related to ancestors who lived 4,500 years ago. The study suggests that the transition to agriculture is more complex than previously thought, with varying responses from different groups.
A new study suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and land use sectors could lead to higher food prices and potentially negative impacts on food security. The study found that a decarbonization scenario would increase international food prices by about 27%, affecting around 420 million people at ri...
Glenn Stone's analysis reveals how precision agriculture tools, such as detailed soil mapping and autonomous vehicles, can erode peasants' ability to self-manage their communities. Small farmers may face a paradigm shift in lifestyle and subsistence, with increased dependencies on external commercial services.
A recent data-driven study by Emory University researchers highlights the struggles of US farmers to make a living, even with government subsidies. The study creates a free online data hub to track farmer livelihoods and suggests that federal subsidies need to be reimagined to support innovation and adaptation in agriculture.
Researchers found that streptomycin, a widely used antibiotic in U.S. agriculture, impairs bumblebee behavior, including reduced foraging efficiency and slowed cognition. The study aims to understand the potential impacts on pollinators of antibiotic use in agriculture.
The study analyzes the costs and effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures in agriculture, highlighting integration of different techniques as a key factor. Climate smart agriculture and conservation agriculture can provide benefits in terms of both adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
A new study suggests that widespread use of genetically modified crops in the EU could prevent the release of 33 million tons of CO2 equivalents, equivalent to 7.5% of annual greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. This is mainly due to reduced land-use change and preservation of the Amazon rainforest.
A new study found that degradation due to swidden agriculture leads to reduced native ant species diversity and increased introduced ant species diversity. Closed canopy forests, however, had the highest ant species diversity and were compositionally unique.
Researchers developed a new flexible thermoelectric device that can wrap around pipes and convert wasted heat into electricity. The project is aimed at addressing climate change by increasing private forest owners' involvement in carbon offset projects.
The Tennessee AgrAbility Project has received new funding from the USDA, bolstering its impact and success into 2022. The program, a collaboration between the University of Tennessee Extension and NIFA, assists farmers and farm workers with disabilities by providing support, resources, and equipment to enhance their quality of life.
A new project funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture aims to reduce foodborne illnesses by developing novel spraying and dipping solutions for farming tools and accessories. The technology will also help minimize water usage in cleaning and sanitizing processes.
Researchers have developed a novel herbicide delivery system using capsules that drill into invasive weeds, providing a safer and more effective alternative to traditional methods. The system has shown promising results in reducing herbicide usage by 30% while maintaining effectiveness against various weed species.
A global review found that 80% of crop diversity loss is due to economic, agricultural, technological, climatic, and political changes. Conservation efforts can mitigate losses by strengthening ex-situ repositories and duplicating unique collections.
A meta-analysis by the University of Basel found that no-till farming alone does not achieve desired results in sustainable agriculture. Retaining crop residues on fields after harvest prevails over no-till farming in promoting carbon storage, soil protection and increased yields.