Researchers developed a modeling framework using remote sensing data to predict gully erosion susceptibility. They found that spatiotemporal changes in land cover and precipitation were crucial in predicting gully formation in agricultural areas, with 7.4% of the study area having an elevated risk of developing gullies.
A new study by the University of Illinois found that temperature in the place of origin has a significant negative impact on export of agricultural goods, while temperature in the destination has little effect. The researchers also identified precipitation as a more nuanced factor in trade.
Climate change is exacerbating health crises among migrant workers in the US agriculture sector, with extreme heat and chemical exposure posing significant risks. The Lancet report highlights the unequal burdens of climate change, particularly on vulnerable populations.
Research by Penn State found that lower-than-normal rainfall in Tanzania is associated with a 13-percentage-point increase in the risk of being food insecure for households. The study's findings suggest potential policy interventions to help agricultural households become more resilient against drought conditions.
A study found that counties with more land enrolled in the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program have lower average concentrations of particulate air pollution. This is due to reduced nitrogen compounds and dust emissions from decreased agricultural activity and increased vegetative cover.
A major new study found that 24% of farmers reported mobility problems, while 31% experienced anxiety and depression. The research, published in BMC Public Health, highlights the need to tackle physical and mental health issues in the agricultural industry.
A new study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that Brazil can increase its soybean production by 36% by 2035 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 58% and eliminating deforestation. The strategy involves intensifying crop yields, growing a second crop on soybean fields, and raising more cattle on smaller pastures.
A new study from the University of Illinois reveals how cattle ranchers in Brazil cope with weather shocks. The research found that ranchers make decisions based on rainfall patterns and anticipate extreme dry seasons by selling animals for slaughter or to confinement operations, which can decouple food sources from current weather.
A study published in the Review of Development Economics found that investments in high-quality education for rural farm people are crucial to breaking the cycle of low soil health and human capital development. Annual returns to schooling in Malawi were 3-4% after correcting for various factors.
Researchers at UTIA are using a $800,000 grant from Shell to investigate the potential of winter oilseed crops as a sustainable solution for agriculture and biofuels. The project aims to identify top oilseed crops for the Mid-South and Southeast regions and develop best management practices to maximize outputs.
A new study by Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that using only students in experiments can lead to biased results, as their decisions differ from those of other population groups. The study compared agricultural science students to farmers and found differences in risk-taking, patience, trust, and generosity.
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.
Researchers found that in almost two-thirds of cases, agricultural diversity had a positive effect on food security. However, the relationship was mixed or showed no effect in about one-third of cases. The study highlights the importance of preserving agrobiodiversity to ensure food systems can adapt to climate change and other stresses.
Researchers found that non-growing season nitrous oxide emissions in the Midwest can account for up to 60% of annual emissions. Environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature drive these emissions, with more intensive freezing causing increased emissions in the southeastern Midwest.
A study of 3,637 Indian farmers found that COVID-19 disrupted agricultural labor and supply chains, but didn't lead to a significant increase in sustainable farming practices. Despite this, many farmers expressed interest in learning more about sustainable methods.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Sustainability and Transformation·TypeSurvey·DateAug 18, 2022
Researchers analyzed the impact of continental free trade and agricultural development on Africa's food security. They found that combining both approaches can improve trade balances, reduce hunger, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study from North Carolina State University reveals no-till farming boosts agricultural land values in the Midwest, with a 1% increase translating to a $7.86 per acre gain. This finding supports the economic and environmental benefits of adopting soil conservation practices like no-till farming.
Researchers at Australian National University and James Cook University identified a natural mechanism that enables plants to limit water loss without compromising CO2 uptake. This discovery has significant implications for the agricultural industry, potentially leading to drought-tolerant crops that can withstand extreme weather events.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's REM Lab uses eye-tracking technology to study consumer preferences, product evaluations, and behavior. The lab aims to develop new solutions in multiple agricultural industries, with potential applications in marketing design and product displays.
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.
A new Stanford University-led study reveals that reducing nitrogen oxides emissions by half can improve crop yields by up to 25% in certain regions. The analysis used satellite images to map NOx levels and their impact on agriculture, providing valuable insights into the effects of air pollution on food production.
A new study finds that climate change will make the U.S. Corn Belt unsuitable for cultivating corn by 2100, highlighting the need for significant agricultural adaptations, diversification and a shift towards more sustainable farming practices.
A UCI-led study shows that the global trade of agricultural goods is driving a growth in greenhouse gas emissions in less-developed nations, with land-use change contributing three-quarters of these emissions. The study highlights the need for importers to adopt 'buy clean' policies and for regions to improve supply chain transparency.
A new study predicts that agricultural water scarcity will worsen in up to 84% of croplands globally by 2050, with green water availability changing under climate change. Effective solutions include conserving agricultural water through mulching, no-till farming, and improving irrigation infrastructure.
Agricultural nitrous oxide emissions are estimated to be 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. The new knowledge-guided machine learning model, KGML-ag, is 1,000 times faster and more accurate than current systems, providing a promising solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
A study suggests that increased agricultural efficiency could save up to half of current global cropland, leading to reduced prices and increased production. The research found largest land saving potentials in regions with high pressure on land, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America.
A study found that supermarkets provide the healthiest assortment of foods, followed by grocery stores, while convenience stores have lower availability and higher prices for fruits and vegetables. The research has important implications for regions with high obesity rates and limited access to healthy food options.
A new study warns that co-occurring droughts could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural system, threatening water security and exacerbating food insecurity. The researchers' analysis shows a ninefold increase in agricultural and human population exposure to severe co-occurring droughts by the late-21st century.
Agricultural researcher Benjamin Schiek developed a mathematical method to better allocate resources across different policies and projects. The method calculates correlations between institutional research projects and strategic objectives, revealing synergies and trade-offs, enabling more informed funding decisions.
Research from the University of Georgia reveals that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people. The study found 12 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus resistant to both agricultural and clinical azole fungicides, suggesting a link between environmental and human...
A new study found a significant decrease in the development of forest and agricultural land from 2000 to 2015 due to rising gas prices. The research used data from the US Department of Agriculture's National Resources Inventory to analyze county-level land development patterns across the contiguous US states.
A study by Politecnico di Milano reveals that large-scale land acquisitions for agriculture lead to increased water scarcity, impacting local users. The research analyzed 160 acquisitions and found that 105 resulted in competition for water, often at the expense of local communities.
Researchers at Rutgers University have discovered broomcorn millet in ancient Iraq, pushing the timeline of agriculture in the region. This finding highlights the interconnected nature of Eurasia and challenges previous assumptions about the capacity and resilience of ancient agricultural systems.
A recent study suggests that dairy farmers in the Northeast can reduce environmental impacts and maximize revenues by implementing double cropping and subsurface injection of manure into the soil. These strategies reduced total nitrogen losses by 12-18% and total phosphorus losses by 16-19%.
Researchers are working on developing low-cost, environmentally benign materials that can selectively remove nutrients from municipal and agricultural wastewaters. The goal is to create novel materials for the recovery of phosphates and nitrates, which could become valuable, environmentally friendly fertilizers for agricultural fields.
The study analyzed 32 rice cropping systems and found that around two-thirds of them have yields below optimal levels, highlighting opportunities for improvement through better management and breeding programs. Sustainable intensification can help increase crop yields while minimizing environmental impact.
A recent study proposes a two-step plan to improve China's export competitiveness of its agricultural products. The study suggests focusing on traditional products with distinctive regional characteristics and taking comprehensive measures to enhance the international competitiveness of disadvantaged products.
Researchers from SMART and TLL have developed a rapid Raman spectroscopy-based method to detect and quantify early bacterial infection in crops. This method enables non-invasive early diagnosis, which is crucial for plant disease management and agricultural productivity.
Agricultural soils emit high amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, that can outweigh the benefits of carbon sequestration in soil. Researchers found that managing nitrogen fertilizer use and adopting biochar application can help mitigate these emissions.
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.
CABI has been awarded a $4.5 million contract from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to increase capacity for managing FAIR data standards. The project aims to ensure available data on agricultural development is based upon Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable principles.
A recent study in Nature Sustainability explores sustainable pathways for China's increasing food demand while balancing trade and environmental impacts. The research highlights the importance of integrating global optimization towards SDGs to address challenges such as food security, water shortage, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The new system, using over-current driven LED lights, improves image brightness and color consistency, reducing motion blur and variability caused by sunlight. The prototype showed an average decrease of 85% in standard deviation for hue-saturation-value channels compared to auto-exposure settings.
Researchers found that bees in agricultural areas traveled an average of 743 meters for food, compared to 492 meters in urban areas. This suggests that urban areas provide a reliable source of food for honeybees, making them less reliant on longer trips to find nectar.
The National Science Foundation awarded a four-year project to study ancient agriculture in south-central Veracruz, Mexico. The researchers aim to understand the factors that contributed to the area's agricultural collapse and its potential implications for modern farming.
ORNL is increasing its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the US agricultural sector through science-based changes in practices. The lab has discovered a single gene that can make crops more drought-tolerant and productive, while also pulling CO2 from the atmosphere.
A multimedia approach to extension services has increased the uptake of Sustainable Agricultural Intensification (SAI) in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. The ASHC campaigns employed a mix of communication channels to promote SAI practices and technologies, resulting in at least 20% adoption among farmers exposed to the campaigns.
SourceCABI·JournalInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability·TypeNews article·DateSep 20, 2021
Research finds that plastic particles do not increase pollutant mobility in soils, with contaminants remaining in upper layers. This means they can potentially be taken up by crops and microorganisms, entering food supply.
A new study quantifies the contribution of agricultural and forest fires to poor air quality in Southeast Asia, finding that preventing these fires could reduce premature deaths by an estimated 59,000 annually. The region's poorest communities are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from these fires.
The New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute aims to integrate plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems. The project seeks to understand how root traits influence plant interactions with each other and with the soil.
Researchers propose new statistical approaches to estimate climate change impacts on US agriculture, focusing on county-level analysis. They suggest that current grouping methods can lead to inaccurate results and recommend using C-Lasso, causal forest algorithm, and geographically weighted regressions.
A new instrument measures atmospheric ammonia with high sensitivity and fast response, allowing for accurate quantification of NH3 emissions from agricultural ecosystems. The open-path design overcomes challenges faced by close-path instruments, enabling long-term and automated measurements.
The EU project TUdi aims to develop and disseminate soil healing strategies in three major agricultural systems across Europe, China, and New Zealand. By adopting healthy and productive agricultural ecosystems, the project hopes to achieve significant improvements in food security and reduce environmental degradation.
A recent review from Oregon State University suggests that agricultural pollution is the cause of 48% of water-quality impairment in US surface waters. The study recommends greater buffer zones around bodies of water and more consistent enforcement of water protection regulations to reduce pollution.
The AGRIMODELS Cluster is exhibiting the latest data, tools and models needed for evaluating policy impacts on farm, regional, national and global levels. The cluster aims to improve agricultural policy modeling through projects BESTMAP, MIND STEP, and AGRICORE.
A study by the University of Göttingen found that diverse agricultural landscapes increase the species richness of wild bees. Different mass-flowering crops like rapeseed and faba beans support different wild bee species due to varying flower shapes.
A study in Zambia illustrates the challenges of measuring biodiversity and prioritizing land use, highlighting the need for consensus among conservation biologists. Different approaches to measuring biodiversity resulted in almost completely different land-use recommendations, emphasizing the importance of consistent methods.
Researchers develop roadmap combining smart and nano-enabled agriculture with AI and machine learning capabilities to reduce hunger by 2030. The study outlines steps needed to safely harness the power of nanomaterials in agricultural environments.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that more than 60,000 people were treated for nonfatal agricultural-related injuries in US emergency departments between 2015 and 2019. The majority of injured individuals were youths, with nearly two-thirds being male and approximately 80% white.
The Agriculture Sector Technology Roadmap addresses treating and reusing water in agricultural applications, such as irrigation and meat processing. The roadmap identifies various areas of opportunity for using non-traditional water, including recycling drainage from crop fields.