Crop insurance and unintended consequences
A new study suggests that crop insurance serves as a disincentive for farmers to adopt climate change mitigation measures on their croplands......»»
Honey bees in demand: New contract strategies to support pollination services
As the world's native bee populations are declining, crop production requiring pollinators increasingly relies on commercial pollination services. In the U.S., the beekeeping industry is in great demand, and truckloads of bee colonies travel the coun.....»»
Novel sensors could help develop bee-friendly protection for plants
The increasing global demand for plant-based foods makes the use of pesticides necessary in order to protect crops from pests and ensure crop yields. However, there is one major disadvantage: the widespread use of pesticides has led to a considerable.....»»
Data breaches trigger increase in cyber insurance claims
Cyber claims have continued their upwards trend over the past year, driven in large part by a rise in data and privacy breach incidents, according to Allianz. Cyber claims frequency exceeds €1 million The frequency of large cyber claims (>€1 mill.....»»
Committed a workplace gaffe? You will survive it (and you may even get promoted)
Nearly everybody has emailed the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. It's a leveler in modern workplaces. The consequences of errors may be immense or trivial, but not much can change that now. The error was your doing: you underperfor.....»»
What yields per acre reveal about the impact of extreme weather
Since time immemorial, crop yields have been influenced by such extreme weather phenomena as heat waves, persisting droughts, downpours and lasting rainfall. Many studies have already demonstrated that due to climate change, periods of extreme weathe.....»»
Study shows neonicotinoids are harmful to birds on all fronts
Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides in agriculture and horticulture. However, neonicotinoids usage is highly contentious because of their unintended harmful effects on various types of organisms......»»
The unintended consequences of brick-and-mortar"s decline
Lately, many big retail brands have been closing physical locations, in what has become known as the "retail apocalypse." Whether the stated reason is declining revenue, or concerns related to "shrinkage" and employee safety in some cities, the impac.....»»
Genetic mechanism unlocks a key secret behind disease infection in crops
Researchers have unraveled a key genetic mechanism behind the way pathogens infect crops, leading to new strategies for breeding resistant crop varieties against other pathogens carrying the same genetic mechanism......»»
Microplastic-free carrier system for pesticides shows potential for sustainable agriculture
Researchers from the University of Twente (Netherlands) and Bayreuth (Germany) have developed microplastic-free encapsulation for crop protection agents. They recently published their findings in Advanced Materials.....»»
Nanopore technique shows transport mechanism of chaperone proteins at the single-molecule level
Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality......»»
Field study finds using biodiversity instead of pesticides can reduce crop damage from herbivores
Pesticides aren't always necessary. Researchers at the University of Zurich have conducted a comprehensive field study showing that damage from herbivores can be reduced by using biodiversity within a plant species. Different plant genotypes can coop.....»»
Damage and insurance losses from Hurricane Helene could cost billions
Insurance losses are expected to reach roughly $6.4 billion, and insurance providers may reevaluate how they price policies and what types of coverage they offer......»»
As Wildfires Rage, California’s Insurance Market Is in Crisis
Providers are offering fewer and fewer policies because of costlier climate-fueled fires, homeowners moving into riskier areas, and outdated regulation of the insurance industry......»»
F&I tip: Create perceived value for auto buyers, Allstate says
Perceived value is one of the key psychological factors influencing the purchase of finance and insurance products, Allstate Dealer Services said in a white paper......»»
Hurricane Helene Shows How Broken the US Insurance System Is
Many homeowners in North Carolina won’t be insured against flooding or landslides due to the fragmented way in which disasters are covered......»»
Microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants found to boost tomato crop yield and quality
A team of researchers in Italy have shown that use of microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants can significantly enhance both the yield and quality of organic tomatoes. Published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, th.....»»
Injecting manure into growing cover crops can cut pollution, support corn crops
Nitrogen in the soil, where plants can readily utilize it, benefits crop growth and health. However, nitrogen leaving the soil—whether through leaching into the groundwater table, flowing with surface runoff into streams or escaping into the air as.....»»
Why do people breach their bail? Research shows it"s not because they"re committing more crimes
In Australia and most countries, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Because of this, keeping someone in detention before trial comes with serious legal, practical and human-rights consequences, not just for the person accused but also for thei.....»»
F&I tip: Make a connection before you start your pitch
Finance and insurance managers should try to get to know the customer before they start selling, said Jimmy Magee, general manager of Audi Turnersville in New Jersey. "You can find out what the most important things will be to them by having a short.....»»
Human urine could be used as eco-friendly crop fertilizer: Study
Bacterial communities in soil are as resilient to human urine as synthetic fertilizers—making recycling the bodily fluid as a fertilizer for agricultural crops a viable proposition, according to a new study......»»