Articles tagged with Farming
A study of Agta hunter-gatherers in the Philippines found that those who adopt farming work around 10 hours a week longer than their forager neighbours, impacting women's lives disproportionately. The research suggests that agriculture may not represent progress as previously thought.
A study found kin relationships among people buried in Neolithic megalith tombs, indicating a societal role for these enigmatic structures. The genomic data revealed affinity to farming groups with past admixture with hunter-gatherer groups, highlighting a previously unknown role for megaliths in Neolithic societies and families.
A new study confirms that Anatolian hunter-gatherers adopted farming and were later descended by early Anatolian farmers. The findings provide genetic support for archaeological evidence that local hunter-gatherers developed agriculture independently, rather than being introduced by a large migration of farmers.
A new study by Duke University reveals that Indonesia's deforestation rate is changing, with wildfires, mining, and small-scale farming playing a larger role than previously thought. This shift highlights the need for policymakers to adjust their conservation policies and practices to account for the varied causes of forest loss.
Researchers have discovered how gulls configure their wing shape to stabilize flight by adjusting elbow joints. This technique could inform the design of future aircraft, including fixed-wing drones that can coast on thermal updrafts.
Agricultural technology is transforming food production, but responsible innovation is crucial to address potential environmental, ethical, and social costs. Researchers argue that policy-makers, funders, and innovators must consider the impacts on farming communities and wider society.
Researchers developed a cost-effective method to monitor indoor crop health using SI-NDVI imaging, detecting stress signatures before visible signs appear. This technique has potential applications in space-based farming and can be used by indoor farmers to catch problems quickly.
A new study estimates that climate change will force about 200,000 coastal farmers in Bangladesh to migrate inland due to rising sea levels and salty soil. The study found that farmers who convert from rice to seafood farming can expect a significant increase in crop revenue, but many cannot afford the conversion on a large scale.
Researchers examined farming practices' impact on European maize yields under climate change and found optimal flowering times could mitigate effects. Optimizing crop cycle durations increased yields by 4-7% in projected 2050 climate conditions.
A £340,000 research project is examining the history of farming in the Amazon region. Dr Bronwen Whitney and her team are reconstructing the long-term agricultural history of Llanos de Mojos using palaeoethnobotany and landscape archaeology.
A new study reveals that ancient communities in the Amazon used intensive farming methods to expand crop production without depleting soil nutrients. This approach, known as polyculture agroforestry, has left a lasting impact on modern forest ecosystems.
A recent study found that palm oil plantations release more carbon than previously thought, with a loss of 174 tons per hectare, compared to 159 and 116 tons for intensive and extensive rubber farming. The soil also loses fertility, requiring fertilizers to maintain productivity.
New research shows that agriculture is kept operational through a mix of family, permanent-hired, outsourced and seasonal labour. The majority of South West farmers now employ contractors for big projects, with 87% relying on them.
Researchers found interdependent behaviors in customers from rice-growing regions and individualistic behaviors in those from wheat-growing regions. Historical farming legacies play a significant role in shaping everyday behavior, contradicting the idea that wealthier cultures become more individualistic.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool discovered that small-scale farming was initiated by indigenous communities in Turkey's Anatolian plateau, contradicting previous theories. The study found evidence of crop cultivation and herding of sheep and goats, suggesting a stable and persistent use of crops for over 5 centuries.
A recent study published in PNAS reveals that Iberian populations have a unique genetic makeup, tracing most of their ancestry to the first Neolithic migrants. The research also found that early farming practices had a homogenous diet, with little genetic influx from hunter-gatherer groups over time.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that Woolworths' Farming for the Future program drove increased adoption of environmental practices among its large-scale fruit, vegetable and flower growers. The program combines annual auditor feedback with individual farmer needs, leading to significant shifts in farming practices.
Researchers have discovered an ancient irrigation system in northwestern China that allowed farming communities to cultivate crops in one of the world's driest desert climates. The system, built around 3rd or 4th century A.D., used check dams, irrigation canals, and cisterns to feed small farm fields and support livestock production.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides training, education, and technical assistance to attract diverse groups into farming and ranching. The program aims to help farmers and ranchers establish successful enterprises and increase their chances of survival.
A new study reveals prehistoric women had up to 30% stronger arm bones than modern rowers due to activities like grinding grain and performing manual labor. The research suggests that the varied work of early agricultural women played a crucial role in shaping their physical strength.
New research suggests that early European farmers lived side-by-side with hunter-gatherers, slowly mixing and assimilating them over time. The study found that hunter-gatherer heritage increased in the farming populations, indicating a gradual integration rather than replacement or extermination.
The Tennessee Beginning Farmers Development Program aims to connect Tennesseans with opportunities in agriculture, providing resources and support for those starting or developing an agriculture-based enterprise. The program will also help build a network of veteran farmers across the state.
Researchers analyzed archaeological and environmental data from 10,000-15,000 years ago to understand human responses to rapid climate shifts. They found that communities with socio-ecological continuity thrived in a warmer world, while those with disrupted settlements struggled to adapt.
A simpler early pregnancy test for cattle has improved animal welfare and food production by enabling pregnancy to be determined after just 25 days. This detection method has contributed to reduced animal costs, more efficient food production, and ultimately good human health.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are developing tools and technology for mass production of seaweed for biofuels and chemicals. A breeding program and monitoring system will be created to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Researchers found modest changes in skull morphology for groups consuming cereals, dairy, or both, but differences were small compared to other factors like gender and population variation.
Researchers at the University of York discovered that ancient Engaruka's irrigation systems and terraces were built to capture eroded sediments, benefiting farming practices for centuries. The study highlights the importance of this method of farming in sub-Saharan Africa and its potential applicability to modern day farming techniques.
Research by University of Kansas sociologist Ruth Stamper finds that local food systems in Kansas and Missouri help disparate groups build relationships, bridging moral orders and environmental ideologies. Through shared sustainable farming knowledge and education, farmers from diverse backgrounds find common ground.
Researchers developed a method to extract traditional knowledge from smallholder farmers and use it for genomic-driven breeding, identifying genes responsible for farmers' preferred wheat varieties. This approach yields genomic targets useful for wheat breeding for local agriculture.
A recent study found that care farming significantly improved veterans' mental well-being by increasing life satisfaction in three participants and optimism about future life satisfaction in two. The program also reduced perceived loneliness in two participants.
A Cornell University study reveals genetic adaptations to plant-heavy diets led to increased frequency of FADS1 gene variants, crucial for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid production. This discovery has implications for personalized dietary recommendations based on individual genetic backgrounds.
Conventional tillage severely damages earthworm populations, but reduced tillage practices can increase their numbers. Farming with no-tillage, Conservation Agriculture, and shallow non-inversion tillage are shown to significantly boost earthworm populations.
A Duke University study found people in rural Madagascar get shorter, poorer sleep than those in the US or Europe, but compensate by having a more consistent sleep schedule. Despite disrupted rest due to noise and light, participants reported being happy with their sleep.
Academics used math to tackle cocoa yield fluctuations, optimize pig farming practices and improve hydroponics efficiency. The study aims to provide targeted advice for smallholder farmers and secure sustainable farming communities.
A study by Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that traditional farming practices on the Yucatán Peninsula create attractive habitats for native sweat bees, improving pollination services. The researchers discovered that moderate farming with slash-and-burn practices has no direct negative impact on native bee populations.
The country plans to triple its fish production by 2025 while preserving biodiversity. Genetic analysis of local tilapia species could reveal important traits for creating commercial broodstock, reducing dependence on external markets and increasing food security.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is providing $540,000 in funding for State and regional projects that offer education, assistive technology, and other support to farmers and ranchers with disabilities. These projects aim to improve accessibility and inclusivity in agriculture.
A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment has produced a map of farming households across the world. The map highlights the distribution of average farm sizes at subnational scales and reveals the contribution of smallholder farming to global food production.
Wildlife-friendly farming schemes have been shown to boost UK moth populations by 40% on wide grass margins and up to 40% for specialized chalk grassland moths when habitats are created close to existing chalk grasslands. These findings support the conservation benefits of agri-environment schemes.
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.
Researchers found genetic connections between European settlers and farmers in Central Turkey, tracing back to the late Stone Age. The study suggests that farming knowledge spread from Turkey to Europe through human migration and cultural exchange.
Research found that Amish children have altered immune responses, with increased neutrophils and enhanced innate immunity activation. Mice exposed to Amish house dust showed protected airways from asthma-like responses. The study highlights the key role of innate immunity in preventing asthma.
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.
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.
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.
Scientists sequenced DNA from early Neolithic skeletons and found a previously uncharacterized population in Iran's Zagros region. The Zargos-based farmers' genetic sequences resemble modern-day Pakistani and Afghan populations, suggesting they split from ancient Anatolian genomes over 40,000 years ago.
A recent study published in Science found that early farming populations had deep genetic differences, indicating distinct ancestries. The research identified similarities between Neolithic farmer's DNA and living people from southern Asia, suggesting a federal origin of farming.
Archaeologists uncover evidence of domesticated rice in China, shedding new light on the history of human agricultural practices. The discovery suggests that rice domestication has been ongoing for much longer than previously thought, with characteristics consistent with japonica rice now cultivated in Japan and Korea.
A study led by Mainz paleogeneticists reveals that early European farmers originated from modern-day Greece and western Turkey, bringing agriculture and domestic animals to the continent. The research challenges previous theories on farming's spread in Europe.
Researchers found that host birds only tolerate brood parasite eggs when threatened with retaliation by the parasitic birds. This 'mafia hypothesis' explains why some hosts accept parasitic eggs despite the risk of losing their own young.
A study by Emile Fiesler and Tracy Drake discovered 689 species of invertebrates in the Madrona Marsh Preserve, including flightless creatures such as camel crickets and velvet ants. The diversity was found to be surprisingly high despite urbanization pressures.
Archaeologists discovered a 11,000-year-old quarry in central Israel that demonstrates the significant impact of humans on the landscape during the transition to farming. The site, dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A culture, shows evidence of large-scale quarrying activities for flint and limestone tool manufacturing.
Researchers studied oysters at six sites in Great Bay over a three-year period to quantify nitrogen dynamics and assess the role of oyster farms. They found that farmed oysters varied depending on size, farm site, age, seasonal variability, water quality, and time of harvest.
A team of NJIT students, backed by the EPA, is designing a low-cost water filter to combat chronic kidney disease in rural Sri Lanka. The filter aims to absorb heavy metals and disease-causing pathogens using locally available materials.
A new project led by University of Plymouth aims to investigate the impact of dementia on farming businesses, families, and communities. The research will focus on providing specialist care networks for those affected, with a goal of improving quality of life for people with dementia in rural areas.
Agricultural expansion is a leading cause of wild species loss and greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, researchers propose "land-sparing mechanisms" that link yield increases with habitat protection, such as zoning and smart subsidy schemes. By minimizing farming's footprint, land can be spared for conserving natural habitats.
Researchers from Arizona State University report on a 10-year project studying human interaction with land in the Mediterranean, finding thresholds for farming success and failure. Computer simulations help understand socio-ecological landscapes and predict future consequences.
A new study finds that prehistoric farming and non-farming societies in North America and Europe experienced the same long-term annual growth rate of 0.041 percent, challenging the notion that agriculture accelerated population growth.
A new study suggests that climate change will significantly impact global farming productivity, with a one-sixth decline in production under projected scenarios. Altering crop patterns within countries is key to mitigating these effects, rather than relying on international trade.
Research by the University of Exeter found that intensive farming practices, such as larger herd sizes and maize growth, increase the risk of bovine TB. Farms with herds over 150 cattle are 50% more likely to suffer a TB outbreak.