Articles tagged with Crop Production
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Researchers found that Ebola outbreaks have a lasting negative impact on Liberian agricultural production, income, and food security. Despite no difference in annual household income between affected and unaffected areas, communities with EVD experienced greater crop production losses.
The new system uses round aluminum tanks floating on rafts of PET bottles, reducing manual labor and mortality rates. With the help of an automatic feed dispenser controlled by a solar-powered timer, fish are fed correctly 48 times per day.
Replacing traditional crop-based feed with protein-rich microbes could decrease deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrogen losses by over 5%. Microbial protein production is economically profitable and could have positive effects on animal growth performance.
Researchers create a blend of essential oil and diesel to reduce emissions by 10%, while increasing fuel consumption slightly. The study found that the combination could be used in agricultural vehicles, potentially replacing all-diesel fuels.
Climate change could lead to increased global maize yield variability, particularly in the US, Europe, and Africa. Aggressive carbon dioxide emissions mitigation and heat-tolerant crop breeding are crucial to mitigate these effects.
A study has revealed that pyraclostrobin, a widely used fungicide, impairs silk production in silkworms by increasing caterpillar mortality up to three times and reducing cocoons size. This finding suggests that pesticide poisoning may be one of the causes of the decline in Brazilian silkworm cocoon production.
A new study led by the University of Essex engineers a model crop to overexpress a protein involved in recycling toxic chemicals, increasing yields by 27-47%. The approach may help farmers produce more food despite increasing temperature stress.
Researchers found that projected changes in temperature and humidity will not lead to greater water use in corn, allowing crop yields to thrive. This optimism is based on calculations of energy balance and evapotranspiration, which show a slight decrease in evaporation loss due to warmer temperatures.
A new study shows that farming fish can help meet the world's future protein demands while reducing land use, with potential savings of up to 747 million hectares globally. The research highlights the efficiency of aquatic animals in converting feed to biomass for human consumption.
A recent study found that farming fish can help feed the future global population while substantially reducing land use impacts of meat production. Replacing terrestrial livestock production with aquaculture could spare up to 747 million land hectares globally, an area twice the size of India.
In Mato Grosso, Brazil, researchers found that large-scale farms produce high yields of soybean and maize using succession farming, also known as safrinha. The study shows that while technology adoption rates are low, successive cropping systems improve productivity without relying on high-tech solutions.
As the global population is expected to reach 10.5 billion by 2067, dairy farms will need to adopt sustainable technologies and practices to improve cow health and longevity, while also producing more value-added products.
A team of NUS engineers discovered a novel method to convert cellulose to biobutanol directly using the Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum TG57 strain, isolates from mushroom waste. This breakthrough could improve sustainability and reduce costs in biofuel production without competing with food crops.
A recent study by Spanish researchers reveals the significant environmental cost of egg production in Spain, including greenhouse gas emissions and water contamination. The analysis shows that feed choice and layer replacement are key factors contributing to these impacts.
Researchers at Aalto University found that El Niño and similar climate oscillations impact crop production worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The study highlights the potential of improved forecasting skills to improve agricultural resilience and food security.
A scientific study has cataloged and characterized two indigenous olive varieties from the Galician region in Spain, Brava and Mansa. The study's findings show that these varieties produce high-quality extra virgin olive oil with unique genetic characteristics.
A Michigan State University study evaluated adaptive multi-paddock, or AMP, grass-fed operations and found that they can potentially offset greenhouse gas emissions. The research also showed that the finishing phase of beef production could be a net carbon sink, with carbon levels staying in the green rather than in the red.
Agricultural production can lead to biodiversity loss; optimized land use can minimize this impact. Ten countries can already reduce expected biodiversity loss by one third if they follow the researchers' suggestions.
The US Department of Energy awards a $10.6 million grant to produce more biodiesel and biojet fuel from high-oil content crops like energycane and Miscanthus. The project aims to increase oil production by 15 times compared to soybeans, making it a more sustainable alternative.
High crop intensification occurred in 28 countries, including Asia and Latin America, resulting in a 137% increase in energy use per hectare. Despite a 10% increase in land use, energy efficiency improved globally during later decades of the study period.
A major new study confirms that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is better for the planet than one high in animal products. Organic food consumption adds additional climate benefits for plant-based diets, but not for diets with only moderate contribution from plant products.
Researchers have discovered a genetic trigger that can increase plant branching, leading to improved crop yields. The newly identified chemical, DL1, has shown promise in both flower and rice plants, paving the way for potential commercial applications in agriculture.
A study published in Global Change Biology warns that China's growing milk demand will strain global dairy resources, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions and land use if left unchecked. Improving domestic milk production efficiencies and adopting more sustainable practices could mitigate these impacts.
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have discovered a genetic mechanism that controls developmental traits related to grain production in cereals. The study found that precise regulation of plant hormones, specifically brassinosteroids, can modulate growth and differentiation of unique inflorescence morphology.
The University of Tennessee is studying hops production in others states and developing educational materials to aid in the evaluation of hops production in Tennessee. The goal is to help Tennessee farmers capitalize on a new market opportunity for locally-grown specialty crops like hops.
A study predicts that global wind power resources may decrease in the Northern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes and increase in the Southern Hemisphere and tropics by 2100. However, if emission levels are mitigated, wind power production in these regions may not see a corresponding increase.
A new study proposes a generic methodological framework to accurately quantify the greenhouse gas footprints of crop cultivation systems. The framework takes into account direct and indirect contributors, providing example values of emission factors and emphasizing the combination of measurements and model simulations.
A new study proposes swapping crop distributions on existing farmland to meet growing food demand and reduce water stress, resulting in a 10% increase in calorie production and 19% more protein. The proposed changes would generate substantial water savings for 42 countries, including Australia, India, and South Africa.
The University of California, Santa Cruz, has developed solar greenhouses that can generate electricity while promoting plant growth. Eighty percent of plants showed no impact, while 20% grew better under the magenta windows.
A new method of carbon footprinting for pasture-based cattle production systems can identify 'green' cattle within a herd, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that existing methods underestimates the impacts of poorly performing animals, which produce disproportionately large amounts of methane.
Scientists propose expanding sugarcane production in Brazil to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. The idea involves converting hundreds of thousands of square miles into sugarcane fields while allowing for expansion of other agricultural crops and human needs.
A team of UC Santa Barbara scientists will receive funding to develop and test technologies that monitor large-scale giant kelp farms. They will combine existing technology to enable farm managers to carefully monitor kelp beds and maximize yields.
A new study by UBC Okanagan researcher Nathan Pelletier found that poultry fed vegan organic feed produce eggs with a smaller environmental footprint. The type of feed and manure management system had the greatest influence on environmental impacts.
Growing commercial soybean in developing countries requires changes to traditional agricultural practices, including weed and pest control, soil correction, and access to certified seed supply chains. This shift can lead to poverty reduction, nutrition improvement, and rural economic development, but also a tradeoff of higher chemical ...
Accelerated growth rates in farmed salmon are linked to a common inner ear deformity causing up to 50% hearing loss. Reducing growth rate can reduce the incidence of the deformity by three times.
A new study reveals that Europe's wind energy capacity is concentrated in the North Sea region, leading to extreme fluctuations. Cooperating countries can balance capacity across the continent to minimize these fluctuations. However, expanding solar energy capacity tenfold would be required to compensate for longer-term fluctuations.
A new study from the University of Illinois found that corn is more valuable for food production than biofuel, with a net social and economic worth of $1,492 per hectare. The research also highlighted the importance of soil nutrients in determining the environmental impacts of corn production.
A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that varying diet formulation and pasture management can significantly affect greenhouse gas emissions on organic dairy farms. The researchers identified four feeding strategies, with diets featuring more soybeans resulting in lower nitrous oxide emissions.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln are exploring innovative approaches to stop Drosophila suzukii, a major agricultural pest affecting soft and stone fruit crops worldwide. The team will investigate using yeasts as bait and developing intelligent 'bio-inspired' robotics systems to mimic insect vision.
Researchers found that consumers prioritize taste and quality over animal welfare concerns when purchasing free-range eggs. The study suggests that consumers view better welfare as connected to a better quality product, leading to higher prices being paid for these products.
A study published in Journal of Cleaner Production found that cricket farming can be a more environmentally sustainable way to produce animal source foods. The research compared cricket production to broiler chicken production and identified areas for further improvement, such as exploring alternative feed sources.
Researchers tracked the impact of Brazil's Soy Moratorium on deforestation and soy production in Mato Grosso. The study found a significant reduction in deforestation after the moratorium took effect, with a shift towards more efficient agricultural practices.
International research effort has advanced agriculture in space and led to Earth-based advances, including LED lighting and new seed potato propagation techniques. Plants will be a major component of proposed regenerative life-support systems for human space exploration, providing food, oxygen, and aiding water recycling.
A study by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew suggests that plants growing in warmer conditions are tougher and have lower nutritional value to grazing livestock, potentially inhibiting milk and meat yields and raising the amount of methane released. This vicious cycle threatens to further exacerbate climate change.
The agricultural robot is a semiautonomous system that gathers and transmits real-time data on crop growth and development. It uses various sensors and cameras to capture phenotypic information and assess environmental conditions, enabling crop breeders to make actionable decisions and improve yields.
New research suggests agriculture's food demand will likely increase by 25-70%, challenging the widely accepted doubling of global crop and animal production. To meet growing food demands while protecting the environment, researchers propose quantitative targets for both food production and environmental impacts.
A team of scientists at the John Innes Centre has created a fast-growing broccoli line with the potential to deliver two full crops a season, reducing reliance on seasonal weather conditions. The new line can be grown in protected conditions or in urban farms, enabling continuous production and supply of fresh local produce.
Scientists at Tohoku University have discovered a previously unknown type of autophagy that removes damaged chloroplasts in plants, shedding light on the aging process. This finding could lead to new methods for controlling plant aging and enhancing crop yields.
Dr. Chris Boyer has been selected as an Emerging Scholar by the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA) for his research on farm and environmental management. He will receive the award for his demonstrated publication activity and work with UT Extension educators to serve agricultural producers in Tennessee.
A new technology for energy-efficient cultivation and harvesting of microalgae has been developed by Bendy Estime, improving growth rates up to 10 times larger than traditional methods. The Tris-Acetate-Phosphate-Pluronic medium allows algae to grow in clusters without sticking to container walls, eliminating the need for constant stir...
Scientifics found that lower leaves of corn and Miscanthus are less efficient in low light, leading to a 10% loss in potential yield. This 'Achilles' heel' likely applies to other C4 crops, such as sugarcane and sorghum.
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.
Researchers found no direct association between hot weather and increased Salmonella prevalence at free range egg production farms. The study emphasizes the critical role of hand hygiene in reducing food poisoning from eggs.
Researchers found that strip tillage systems with rowcovers had lower yields than plasticulture systems, mainly due to specialized equipment needs and weed pressure. Rowcovers reduced insecticide applications but had no significant impact on yield in both systems.
Researchers found that pairing cool-season cash crops like onion, broccoli, and lettuce with warm-season cover crops can alleviate challenges in midscale organic production. The study suggests that these rotations can produce high-value certified organic vegetables while maintaining soil organic carbon.
A genetic library of cowpea varieties is being developed to improve crop resilience and yield. The library, which contains 6,000 samples, will help crop scientists make informed decisions using genetic information.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $6.7 million to research agroecosystems to improve food security and sustainability. The grants will focus on understanding the interactions between soil, water, plants, animals, and people in agricultural systems.
A study by Aarhus University scientists uses three independent climate modeling methods to demonstrate that wheat yield will decline with global temperature increases. The models project a 5.7% decline in global wheat production for each 1°C temperature rise, with warmer regions expected to suffer the most.
A team of scientists has developed an equation to measure soil physical quality, which can help determine the best use of a particular soil. The research, led by Robson Armindo, found that this approach can save time and money in crop production.
Researchers have uncovered widespread evidence of prehistoric milk production in southern Europe, dating back to the onset of agriculture around 9,000 years ago. The study found varying intensities of dairying and non-dairying activities across the northern Mediterranean region, with the slaughter profiles of domesticated animals mirro...