Articles tagged with Sustainable Agriculture
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that agricultural demand for water is significantly higher than cities, with crops used for feeding cattle being the largest consumers. The researchers also found that reservoir levels are dropping due to overuse and climate change, highlighting the need for efficient water use strategies.
A new study found that removing hedgerows and field margins decreases the diversity and abundance of arthropods, which can lead to reduced natural pest control. The research suggests that using flowering plants in field margins and implementing agri-environmental measures can be effective ways to increase farmland biodiversity.
A new study reveals that switching to environmentally friendly food alternatives can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries. The analysis found that making like-for-like product swaps within sub-categories of foods could lead to emission reductions of up to 26% or 71%.
Scientists at Boyce Thompson Institute have developed a method to enhance Rubisco production in maize, increasing carbon assimilation and boosting plant height. The transgenic plants also showed improved resilience to chilling stress, maintaining higher photosynthetic rates during cold exposure.
A new study in Nature Communications reveals that symbiotic bacteria play a critical role in modulating the profile of root secreted molecules, influencing the assembly of a symbiotic root microbiome. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between nitrogen nutrition and plant-bacteria interactions.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a recipe for cocoa-fruit chocolate that boosts fibre content by 20% while reducing saturated fat by 30%. The new chocolate variant uses powdered sugar substitute made from the fruit's pulp, offering a healthier indulgence with improved nutritional profile.
A novel conceptual framework designs four functional layers to optimize conditions for horticultural growth in plastic-greenhouse environments. The soil profile includes a mulch layer, root-carbon layer, soil-carbon mix layer, and water conservation layer tailored to address specific challenges faced by plants.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have developed an enzyme that converts ferulic acid from plant waste into vanillin, a classic flavor compound. The engineered enzyme exhibits high conversion activity and affinities, making it suitable for large-scale commercial production.
A team of researchers discovered a line of chickens bred for water conservation that can thrive under heat stress while consuming significantly less water than standard broiler lines. The high water-efficient chickens showed a 32-point improvement in water conversion and six-point improvement in feed conversion.
A study by Macquarie University found 70% of shark meat sold in Australian markets was mislabelled, including threatened species. The research highlights the need for improved labelling standards and enforcement to support sustainable consumption.
A new study published in Nature Food emphasizes the necessity of incorporating diverse knowledge systems into decision-making processes to address blind spots in current food system policies. The authors advocate for participatory and transdisciplinary approaches that integrate scientific, Indigenous, and traditional understandings.
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing an AI tool that can identify agricultural pests from photos, including insects and weeds. The project will use a supercomputer to train ensemble models that can analyze images quickly and provide pest-control strategies.
Deforestation rates accelerated in the region, with 32 municipalities and 1.7 million inhabitants under pressure. The study highlights concerns over land speculation and lack of environmental impact studies for the proposed 'Abunã-Madeira Sustainable Development Zone'.
A new study reveals that climate change is transforming natural dust storms into a more frequent and widespread threat to the Middle East. The region's increased dust levels are attributed to global warming, oil extraction, military conflicts, and lack of cross-border coordination of water management.
A CABI-led study found that participation in Zambia's Farmer Input Subsidy Programme encourages synthetic pesticide use at the expense of sustainable practices. Farmers consider biopesticides as safer alternatives when they have tenure security and access to financial resources.
Research suggests mainstreaming biodiversity targets into policies and plans across sectors has been ineffective due to non-binding commitments and insufficient resources. The study highlights the need for top-down regulation and incentives to encourage greater commitment to nature recovery.
Anu has received a significant grant to support the development of its 100% compostable seedpods, which are used in its smart gardens. The company's technology enables fast and efficient growth of produce, reducing water usage by up to 90% compared to traditional gardening methods.
A new study found that low-intensity grazing systems offer benefits for local biodiversity protection, but struggle due to inflexible regulations and a lack of workforce. Land users face economic constraints and restrictive policies, leading to declining participation in sustainable practices.
The invasive red-necked longhorn beetle is threatening fruit tree crops worldwide. Researchers highlight the need for targeted natural enemy surveys to control its spread and recommend alternative biological control methods, such as entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes.
A team of researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology developed a self-folding origami gripper that can be mounted onto drones, enabling them to grasp and hold objects. The gripper weighs only 5 grams but demonstrates grasping force equivalent to holding a 130-gram object.
A team at the University of Córdoba has developed a methodology that defines cultivable space between two-axis photovoltaic modules for agrivoltaic production. The model reveals 74% of land is cultivable by crops less than 1.4m high, offering a sustainable energy and agricultural solution.
Scientists develop new analytical method to detect food fraud in truffles, distinguishing between expensive Piedmont and cheaper spring truffles based on two volatile markers. The method uses automated Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation and has low equipment requirements for routine analysis.
Researchers at NTU Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic develop a new, sustainable feed alternative for farmed Asian seabass, reducing reliance on wild-caught fishmeal. The single cell protein is cultivated from soybean processing wastewater, offering a promising solution to the aquaculture industry's environmental challenges.
The study provides a comprehensive dataset for assessing canopy-level photosynthesis and its relationship with far-red SIF. The data can be used to validate satellite SIF products and improve models for predicting crop yield and assessing plant health.
SMART researchers develop a nanosensor that selectively detects salicylic acid in live plants, vital for stress response. The sensor combines sensors for H₂O₂ and salicylic acid, enabling simultaneous monitoring of plant hormones and aiding in early diagnoses to improve crop resilience.
Oasis growth and loss have been tracked globally over 25 years, with significant increases in Asia due to intentional expansion. However, desertification has led to a substantial loss of approximately 134,000 square kilometers of oasis land worldwide.
In Brazil, around 90% of sugarcane area uses natural enemies like microorganisms and biochemicals for pest control. Researchers have registered over 629 biological products, with a steady increase in use year after year.
An interdisciplinary team led by Kaiyu Guan is using a combination of satellite remote sensing, in-situ measurements, and biochemical modeling to quantify nitrogen emissions from agriculture. The goal is to provide improved guidance for farmers on reducing nitrogen fertilizer use and alleviating air pollution.
Researchers analyzed EU agricultural imports to identify areas of high environmental impact. Trade with MERCOSUR countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea contributes significantly to deforestation and land degradation. The EU can reduce its relevance by regulating demand for sustainable livestock farming or promoting low-me...
A new study reveals that disease-resistant fish exhibit lower viral loads and higher survival rates compared to susceptible counterparts. The results demonstrate the benefits of breeding resistant animals for sustainable food production and animal welfare.
A new scientific review published in Sustainable Production and Consumption explores how to accurately assess the carbon footprint of coffee farming. The study provides guidance on measuring green coffee's environmental impact, including identifying representative measurements and applying land use change modeling.
Researchers have discovered a greener way to produce ammonia, essential for fertilizers, by developing a new catalyst that works stably at relatively low temperatures. This breakthrough reduces the amount of energy needed to synthesize ammonia, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels.
Researchers propose a direction of research on 'microbial food production from sustainable raw materials' to produce nutritious and eco-friendly foods. Microbial biomass is rich in protein, emits minimal carbon dioxide, and requires less water and space.
Kiruba Krishnaswamy's project aims to tackle hidden hunger by developing a circular, culturally appropriate food system model. The research focuses on micronutrients and community-based solutions to address malnutrition and obesity, with the ultimate goal of reducing chronic hunger.
Researchers from NTU Singapore have created a method to extract over 80% of the available protein in grain leftovers from brewing beer, commonly known as brewers' spent grain. The extracted proteins could be used commercially to enrich human diets and cosmetic products, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional ingredients.
FAPESP aims to create new opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from Brazil and the US Midwest, focusing on areas such as health, sustainability, and climate change. The initiative also promotes transdisciplinary research collaborations to address global challenges.
A new study found that rotating crops, conserving soil nutrients, and deploying diversification strategies can yield major benefits for the environment and people. The research discovered that farmers can achieve more benefits if they employ several agricultural solutions in tandem.
Scientists have developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon in the US, providing a more accurate benchmark for policymakers. The study reveals how environmental variables affect soil organic carbon and offers insights into mitigating climate change through sustainable land management practices.
Researchers tracked 50 pregnant Angus and Hereford beef cows fitted with GPS collars to understand individual grazing patterns. They found consistent and distinct patterns across the two years, even when water sources changed, suggesting that recognizing personality types can benefit both animal health and environmental conditions.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem introduced a non-invasive technique for evaluating chickpea water status, offering farmers a powerful tool to fine-tune irrigation schedules. The method amplifies both crop yields and water efficiency, resonating with global food security efforts.
A new study predicts that Australia's soil will become a net emitter of carbon dioxide, releasing more CO2 into the air than it absorbs. This could account for 8.3% of current emissions and worsen climate change unless farming methods are improved.
Researchers have developed a simple and sustainable method for monitoring and degrading a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. The new approach uses excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and photochemical systems to achieve efficient degradation, outperforming traditional methods like chromatography.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science found that rose essential oil increases the transcript levels of PIR1 and PIN2, key plant defense genes, in tomato plants. The study also showed that REO reduces leaf damage caused by pests and attracts beneficial predators to protect against herbivores.
The KAUST team developed an open-source platform to detect small DNA differences, revealing over 2 million previously overlooked genetic variants in rice and other crops. This tool will accelerate the discovery of genetic variations for developing crops with improved resilience and yield.
A team of researchers decoded the origins and spread of the bottle gourd, a staple in ancient civilizations for over 10,000 years. The study mapped the genetic blueprint of 197 varieties, revealing its domestication in Southern Africa around 12,000 years ago.
A recent study by the University of Cambridge found that farmed salmon production leads to a loss of essential nutrients. Consuming one-third of current food-grade wild feed fish directly could maximize nutrients from the sea. This approach could help address global nutrient deficiencies and improve both diets and ocean sustainability.
Climate change is causing rapid warming of Scotland's lochs, with potential costs of £16.5 million annually due to algal blooms and reduced water quality. Implementing efficient land management practices could reduce phosphorus pollution by 20% under a best-case scenario.
New research reveals spent coffee grounds can act as an efficient adsorbent of bentazone, a highly neurotoxic herbicide. Activated carbon from spent coffee grounds showed a 70% efficiency in bentazone removal and high sensitivity to pollutants.
Research finds pythons convert feed into weight gain efficiently compared to conventional livestock like chickens and cattle. Pythons outperform mainstream agricultural species in terms of food and protein conversion ratios.
A new method using multi-target regression and hyperspectral imaging enhances crop nutritional analysis, predicting multiple element concentrations with improved accuracy. The approach considers inter-element relationships, outperforming traditional single-target regression methods.
A recent study highlights the importance of considering lamb's nutritional value when comparing its carbon footprint. The research found that lambs finished on grass diets had a lower carbon footprint per unit of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content, making them a more sustainable option.
The Global Hemp Innovation Center is working with 13 Native American Tribes and other partners to spur economic development through sustainable supply chains and education. The project aims to create jobs in the emergent biobased economy and explore industrial uses of hemp.
The GreenLab model simulates plant growth with accuracy, capturing nuanced effects of environmental factors on structure and yield. Its integration with cutting-edge technologies enables rapid phenotyping and yield prediction to support sustainable agricultural practices.
A study reveals that restoration strategies in the semi-arid region of Brazil have led to a return of native ecosystem services by improving soil microbial properties. The techniques, including removal of cattle and cultivation of cover crops, have resulted in higher biodiversity and crop yields.
Researchers from 16 countries will discuss sustainable urban and rural development, renewable energy, and climate-smart technologies at the symposium. The event aims to build a global network of food-energy-water (FEW)-converged research for net-zero transition.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method to produce protein-rich, sustainable foods with improved texture. By inserting foreign genes into cyanobacteria, they can create fibrous strands resembling meat fibers, which could be used in plant-based products.
A new disinfection technology uses low-temperature plasma to sterilize nutrient solutions in hydroponic farming, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. This innovation promotes environmentally friendly crop cultivation and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study reveals that even small incremental increases in tree cover on agricultural land in mountain regions can provide significant climate change mitigation benefits within a decade. Agroforestry practices can help conserve irrecoverable carbon, improve biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem services in mountain systems.
UConn researchers have developed a method to sustainably recover chitin, the second most abundant biological polymer on Earth, from seafood waste using natural chemicals. The process creates a viscous solution called ternary deep eutectic solvents (TDESs) that selectively extracts chitin, leaving behind unwanted components.
A new study found that potassium deficiency is a significant threat to global food security, affecting 20% of agricultural soils worldwide. The researchers recommend six policies and practices to mitigate the issue, including better management of soil potassium and intergovernmental coordination.