Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
Coffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee—Ethiopia—shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks in this landscape......»»
Agronomists find microbes to protect tomatoes from dangerous fungus
RUDN University agronomists and colleagues from Tunisia have discovered a way to stop the spread of a phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. It affects crops, especially tomatoes. The Trichoderma fungus and the Pseudomonas bacterium can protect the.....»»
TikTok may help farmers cultivate empathy around climate change
Farmers are used to growing crops and producing other goods, but a new study led by Penn State researchers suggests the social media platform TikTok may help them cultivate something new: empathy around the issue of climate change......»»
Cocoa prices are surging: West African countries should seize the moment to negotiate a better deal for farmers
The global price of cocoa is spiking, a direct response to dwindling cocoa output in west Africa. In September, cocoa futures reached a 44-year price peak due to mounting concerns over reduced supplies from the region......»»
Climate change and cattle: Genetics may hold answer to heat stress tolerance
How do farmers decide which cows to breed and which to put out to pasture?.....»»
Lost in the coffee aisle? Navigating complex buzzwords behind an "ethical" bag of beans is easier said than done
You're shopping for a bag of coffee beans at the grocery store. After reading about the effects of climate change and how little farmers make—typically $0.40 per cup—you figure it might be time to change your usual beans and buy something more et.....»»
Scientists zero in on the life-threatening fungus, Candida auris" ability to stick
In 2009, a mysterious fungus emerged seemingly from out of thin air, targeting the most vulnerable among us. It sounds like Hollywood, but the fungus in question poses a very real threat. Scientists are scrambling to figure out what makes the life-th.....»»
New study finds that microfinance is exacerbating climate precarity and harm in Cambodia
A recent paper co-authored by King's academics argues that microfinance, often projected as a means of coping with climate risk, in fact contributes to farmers in Cambodia being in greater debt and more vulnerable to climate change......»»
Watching paint dry, to understand and control the patterns it leaves behind
A coffee spill leaves behind a dark stain around the puddle's edge when it dries. But as drops of paint dry, some look like "fried eggs," with "yolks" of color surrounded by pristine white halos, whereas others appear uniform. To understand this vari.....»»
Evidence of the oldest hunter-gatherer basketry in southern Europe discovered
A team of scientists, led by researchers from the Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has discovered and analyzed the first direct evidence of basketry among hunter-gatherer societies and early farmers in so.....»»
As temperatures rise, Sicily turns to exotic fruits
Avocados, mangos, bananas and passion fruit—a wealth of exotic produce is growing under the shadow of Sicily's Mount Etna, as the Italian island's farmers adapt to global warming......»»
How climate change could make fungal diseases worse
Disease-causing fungi are likely to thrive in a warmer, stormier world. Enlarge / Histoplasma capsulatum is a species of parasitic, yeast-like dimorphic fungus that can, if inhaled, cause a type of lung infection called histoplas.....»»
Fungus versus flies: Following a scent towards insecticide-free pest management
While a blueberry with a fungal infection might end up in most people's compost bin, for a team of researchers in the US, it has provided a key to tackling the unsustainable use of insecticides......»»
Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate
With bee populations struggling, mechanical pollination may be increasingly needed as a back-up......»»
Livestock farmers from Sweden to Greece test paths to greener agriculture
Livestock farmers in Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK are trying a new method to produce milk and meat: feeding their cows mainly or only grass......»»
Could spent coffee grounds provide an alternative to plastic packaging?
Next to water, coffee is the most popular beverage on Earth and is the world's second most traded good, trailing only oil. It is estimated that humans drink more than 2 billion cups of coffee per day with over 60% of Americans having a cup each day......»»
Don’t throw out those used coffee grounds—use them for 3D printing instead
Any object you create can be thrown back into a coffee grinder and reused on a new object. Enlarge / A pendant, espresso cups, and flower planters 3D-printed from used coffee grounds. (credit: Michael Rivera) Most coffee.....»»
Nanoparticles made from plant viruses could be farmers" new ally in pest control
A new form of agricultural pest control could one day take root—one that treats crop infestations deep under the ground in a targeted manner with less pesticide......»»
Incentive programs doubled cover crop use by farmers: Study
A survey of farmers in four Northeast states, including New York, found that incentive payments encouraged participants to plant twice as many acres of cover crops as they did prior to receiving funds—a change that can both improve their farms and.....»»
New handbook to guide Australian businesses toward nature positive future
A new handbook released today by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, will guide businesses—including farmers, forest growers, mining companies and non-governmental organizations—on how to report and account for their natural assets to bet.....»»
Using "spent" coffee and tea to boost shelf life and nutritional value of cakes
On a crisp fall afternoon, there are few pairings better than a hot beverage and a sweet pastry. But what if you could use the left-over tea leaves or coffee grounds from the drink to make that tasty treat a healthier one, too? Researchers reporting.....»»