A new study suggests a nuclear conflict anywhere on Earth would lead to a decade of global cooling and a severe decline in crop production, compromising global food security. The study found that the sudden change in climate would cause significant crop losses, particularly in northern breadbasket regions.
Researchers found that machine-harvested edamame is more profitable at lower densities, with optimal rates ranging from 35,200 to 48,600 plants per acre. The new guidelines are specific to the unique aspects of the crop and aim to maximize profitability for US growers and processors.
Researchers found a 117% difference in photosynthetic efficiency between rice varieties under fluctuating and constant light conditions. This suggests that natural diversity in rice could be harnessed to increase crop productivity.
A new study finds that warming temperatures have been substantially mitigated by the migration of rainfed corn, wheat, and rice. However, continued migration may result in significant environmental costs, including biodiversity loss and increased carbon emissions.
A new global analysis shows cover crops universally improve soil microbiome health, increasing microbial abundance, activity, and diversity. Factors such as climate, termination method, and tillage regime also impact the benefits of cover cropping on soil microbes.
Researchers developed a new strategy to control both target chemical production and microbe propagation, boosting muconic acid yield. The Parallel Metabolic Pathway Engineering approach allows for independent utilization of sugars for microbe growth and target chemical production.
Researchers identified a blueprint for plant immunity against rapidly evolving disease-causing pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They found that nearly all strains of certain crops carry immune-eliciting effectors, which can be recognized by plant immune receptors.
Dr. Catherine Nakalembe from NASA Harvest is helping countries in Eastern Africa build systems to monitor crops using free satellite data, enabling life-saving decisions on food security. Combining satellite and ground data with weather forecasts allows for early warnings of crop failure due to drought, floods, disease, or pests.
Research finds that sorghum crops in areas with high witchweed prevalence have genetic adaptations to resist the parasite, altering hormone production. While these mutations confer some resistance, they also affect photosynthesis and growth, raising potential trade-offs.
A new computational model shows that regular crop rotations switching every other year may not be optimal for maximizing crop yield when threatened by plant pathogens. The analysis identified patterns of crop rotation that maintain soil quality and diminish pathogen load, suggesting a more sustainable approach to agriculture.
Crop residues serve as a key microbial ecosystem, contributing to both crop health and disease susceptibility. The microbiomes of crop residues may play a crucial role in innovative disease management strategies.
Researchers explore drone technology to improve fruit tree management, enhancing crop yields and sustainability. Drones equipped with sensors provide high-resolution images and spectral data to monitor tree health, water and nutrient status, and estimate biomass production.
A new study found that shutting down coal-fired plants in the US reduces nearby pollution, saving an estimated 26,610 lives between 2005 and 2016. The transition from coal to natural gas also improves crop yields, with a loss of 10.2 billion bushels of crops avoided.
Integrating a cover crop with broiler litter in no-till dryland cotton systems increases plant residue, cotton yield, and infiltration while improving soil health indicators. This approach helps reduce fertilizer costs and protect the environment.
The study found that specific components of soil health, such as the abundance and activity of soil animals, affect crop productivity. Measurements of soil invertebrates can inform assessments of soil health. The researchers also discovered that optimizing biotic processes in soil can optimize crop production.
Researchers found that key changes during rice domestication reflect selection on traits determined by a portion of the genome that does not transcribe proteins. Non-coding RNAs, suspected to play important roles in regulating growth and development, were also implicated.
A team led by CSHL Professor David Jackson has identified a gene in corn that contributes to both plant development and immune system control. Manipulating this gene, Gß, could increase crop yields by reprogramming the balance between growth and defense.
Scientists have developed an innovative method of growing cassava in the air using aeroponics, allowing for real-time observation of root development and identification of genes that regulate growth. This breakthrough could lead to increased yields, improved sustainability, and accelerated plant growth.
Researchers found a 20-fold increase in simultaneous heatwaves in major crop-producing regions, posing risks to global food production and leading to potential harvest failures. This phenomenon can cause significant economic and societal impacts, particularly in interconnected world regions.
A study by IIASA researchers found that the risk of simultaneous breadbasket failures due to climatic extremes has increased over time, with potential consequences for food price spikes and famine. The analysis suggests a need for more efficient allocation of resources to contingency plans and strategic crop reserves.
Researchers found that recycling nutrient-rich industrial waste products can enhance soil health while reducing carbon emissions and maintaining crop yields. The study used heat-inactivated spent microbial mass (SMB) as a fertilizer, which provided similar crop yields to conventional fertilizers but at greater rates.
A recent study found that a fungus containing N2-fixing endobacteria improves rice nitrogen nutrition, increasing biomass and ammonium in treated plants. The three-kingdom interaction among the fungus, bacteria, and plant may hold the key to improving nitrogen nutrition in crop plants.
Researchers explore controlled environment agriculture as a means to address urban food systems, offering advantages such as year-round crop production and reduced energy consumption. The study highlights the potential for controlled environments to increase food security and support local economies.
Diversifying crop production can increase protein by 1-5%, iron supply by 5-49%, climate resilience by 1-13% and reduce GHG emissions by 2-13%. Coarse cereals like millets and sorghum are recommended
A new study found that planting wheat at commercially recommended density can reduce weed biomass and seed production by up to 78% and 50%, respectively. This approach also causes weeds to grow more upright, making them easier to capture during harvesting.
Certain species of resident bacteria can produce enzymes to break down fungal cell walls, protecting plant roots. The discovery represents a big step forward for developing sustainable crop production systems with fewer pesticides.
A new study suggests that unchecked climate change will lead to a decline in arable farming in the east and south east of England by 2100. Crops may still be grown with irrigation, but this would require significant water transport or storage.
JST announces success in developing mass production equipment for ultra-low loss nano crystal ribbon, a new material that minimizes electrical energy loss. The technology has potential uses in electric vehicle motors and is expected to have a wide range of practical applications.
A UC Riverside-led team has developed a chemical to help plants retain water, reducing crop losses from drought. The new compound, Opabactin, is more effective than earlier versions and works quickly, allowing farmers to manage crop performance.
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research have discovered a chaperone protein that affects CenH3 loading to centromeres, crucial for kinetochore assembly. This finding has potential applications in plant breeding, particularly in haploid induction, which can speed up breeding processes.
A study published in Current Biology found that pig-tailed macaques actively search for and hunt rats, a major pest of palm oil crops. By controlling rat populations, the macaques can reduce crop damage by up to 3%, leading to increased yield and sustainability.
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement will support national breeding programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with advanced technologies and methods. This project aims to deliver staple crops that can increase yields, enhance nutrition, and show greater resistance to pests and diseases.
A six-year study has uncovered the existence of a sensor in appressoria that tells the fungus when to rupture the rice leaf. This discovery provides a platform for developing fungicides against rice blast, one of the deadliest crop killers, and could also apply to other septin-mediated fungi.
Researchers found that sesame performs well under drought conditions, with consistent yields even when water-deficit conditions decreased sorghum's yield by 25% and cotton's yield by 40%. Sesame has multiple market value uses, including food consumption, cooking oil production, and livestock feed.
JUA Technologies International, a Purdue University-affiliated startup, received federal and state grants worth $150,000 to further develop its solar-powered crop-drying devices. The technology aims to reduce food waste by enabling efficient drying of various crops, resulting in significant economic benefits for small growers.
Researchers emphasize the need to boost phosphorus use efficiency in farming systems due to its limited supply and environmental concerns. Strategies include breeding crops that utilize phosphorus more efficiently, designing crop rotations, and utilizing soil organic matter and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Scientists analyzed China's crop production and trade over 1986-2015, finding that imports can relieve nitrogen pollution but also expose China to market risks. The study proposes 'alternative' nitrogen and land concepts to mitigate environmental damage.
A new study reveals that climate change could significantly reduce or eliminate gains in banana crop yields worldwide, with 27 countries experiencing increased yields since 1961. By 2050, 10 major producers including India and Brazil are predicted to see significant declines in yields.
Researchers have found a way to accelerate the photosynthetic process by producing more of a protein that controls electron flow, potentially leading to increased crop production. The discovery is significant because C4 crops, such as maize and sorghum, play a crucial role in world agriculture.
Researchers aim to increase photosynthesis efficiency by introducing an algal structure into plants, potentially increasing crop productivity. The team plans to engineer Arabidopsis thaliana with a functional pyrenoid to enhance carbon fixation and growth.
Researchers at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research analyzed historical phenotypic data from the Federal Ex situ Gene Bank to develop statistical models leveraging maximal information from available datasets. The study provides blueprint strategies for correlated dataset preparation, complementing passport inform...
A newly discovered gene in rice renders the crop resistant to several widely used beta-triketone herbicides. The HIS1 gene encodes an oxidase that detoxifies herbicide compounds, offering potential value in breeding new herbicide-resistant crops for efficient global food production.
The UTIA/Blühen Hemp Agronomic Research Program will provide much-needed research data to enhance the success of hemp farmers in Tennessee. The four-year program aims to support agronomic practices and improve crop yields.
A new study reveals that the global area cultivated in crops requiring pollination has expanded by 137%, while crop diversity has increased by just 20.5%. This imbalance poses a threat to food security and economic stability, particularly in countries with limited crop diversity.
A new study published in Science Advances found that El Niño-Southern Oscillation and other climate patterns significantly affect global corn, soybean, and wheat production. The research estimated that climate variability accounted for 18% of year-to-year changes in corn production.
A new study suggests that extending cover crop growth periods can help alleviate soil erosion, nutrient losses, and main-crop damage in wet springs. However, the approach may also decrease crop yields in certain environments, highlighting the need for careful consideration among farmers.
Gene banks are shifting to bioinformatics and big data analytics to enhance biodiversity preservation. Three major challenges arise: tracking accessions, avoiding duplications, and maintaining genetic integrity. A genomic-driven approach can address these issues by utilizing genotypic information.
A global surveillance system (GSS) is proposed to strengthen and interconnect crop biosecurity systems, reducing food lost to pests by up to 70% by 2050. The system would prioritize six major crops and tap into cutting-edge technology for rapid disease diagnostics.
A new study by the University of Exeter reveals that crop pests are likely present in many places thought to be free of them. The researchers used data from 1,739 pests and found large numbers of pests in China, India, southern Brazil, and former USSR countries.
The study found that countries with a variety of crops experience less severe food shortages, with declines in total yield exceeding 25% less common. Researchers encourage nations to evaluate their crop diversity and consider strategies like new drought-tolerant varieties and intercropping to enhance food supply stability.
The study found that alternative grains such as millet, sorghum, and maize are more resilient to extreme weather, while rice experiences larger declines in yields. This suggests that diversifying India's crop production can help adapt to climate change and improve nutrition.
The study reveals that the main perceived production problem is insect management, followed by crop timing and disease management. The survey also highlighted common postharvest issues such as temperature management, hydration, and flower food management, with hydration and vase life being the top concerns.
CABI aims to gather sufficient data to act as evidence for prioritizing research and policy in plant health. The initiative will provide accurate information for decision makers to allocate resources between diseases, enabling investment in plant health systems.
Researchers aim to develop crops more resilient to climate change and emerging pathogens through microbial interactions. The Collaborative Crop Resilience Program will focus on three projects: Matrix, Interact, and InRoot, which examine plant-microbial interactions above ground and below ground, as well as the development of new crop v...
Researchers have identified specific genetic markers that contribute to larger switchgrass harvests while reducing potential crop weaknesses. This study provides new insights into how plants adapt to different environments and could lead to improved bioenergy crop performance.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois has developed a new technique to predict high-yielding crop traits by stacking six machine learning algorithms, improving predictive power by up to 15 percent. The approach empowers scientists to leverage computational analysis to translate their datasets into beneficial results.
A study by Cornell University researchers suggests that climate change-induced heat stress will have a greater impact on crop yields than drought stress in the US. The analysis projects significant yield reductions of 8-48% for major crops like maize and spring wheat, with some crops more resilient to heat stress.
A new study warns that Colombia's rice production may shift to higher altitudes without climate action, with potential losses of 4.4 million hectares of arable land by the 2050s. The research highlights the need for complex decisions on land-use change and crop cultivation to ensure food security.
The use of chloropicrin as a preplant soil treatment measure has been found to suppress soilborne pathogenic fungi and some nematodes and insects. Additionally, it results in greater crop yield and health, with treated soil having a healthier root system, improved water use, and more efficient fertilizer use.
A comprehensive network of sites has been developed to conserve and utilize the genetic diversity of wild crop relatives, enabling plant breeders to create more resilient crops. The 150 identified 'hotspot' sites worldwide are crucial for tackling global food security challenges and preserving nature conservation.