Shrub willow as a bioenergy crop
Renewable energy demand and consumption is at an all-time high in the United States......»»
Quantifying phosphorus needs of smallholder farms in tropical regions
Smallholder farms in tropical regions can double their crop production by 2030 compared to 2015, finds a study to which José Mogollón (Institute of Environmental Sciences) contributed. But to achieve this, the farmers must increase the input of pho.....»»
View, edit and convert images with IrfanView
IrfanView is a simple yet powerful image viewer that lets you crop, rotate or convert your files to different formats. There's a portable version available, and can also add functionality via plugins......»»
Woodland and hedgerow creation can play crucial role in action to reverse declines in pollinators
The largest survey of pollinator abundance in Wales has found that woodland and hedgerow creation can play a crucial role in action to reverse declines in insects that are essential for crop yield and other wildlife......»»
More than half of surveyed crop varieties are under threat of extinction, according to study in India
Crop and varietal diversity are critically important for global food and nutrition security, as well as the livelihoods of millions of people, especially those living in marginal areas. This diversity includes many different crop species and farmer v.....»»
Agriculture and conservation objectives do not have to be at odds
Crop and livestock production are among the main drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Due to the ever-increasing demand of land for food production, reverting global biodiversity decline and feeding the world is one of the greatest challenges of ou.....»»
Research finds key advances towards reducing the cost of plant improvement
Crop improvement often involves the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another to produce a valuable trait. Some major examples of crops with these so-called "transgenes" include disease-resistant cotton and beta-carotene-enhanced gold.....»»
Mixing materials could lead to better biofuels
With the world coming to terms with the need to leave fossil fuels in the ground, renewable alternatives have never been more important. One such alternative is bioenergy coming from the burning of biomass. Now a new article to be published in Carbon.....»»
C4 bioenergy grass: Working towards higher productivity under fluctuating light
One of the major challenges the world faces is how to provide sustainable sources of energy that meet societal needs as the global population continues to grow. Bioenergy crops have garnered increasing attention as a renewable energy source, but thei.....»»
A sequence change in a single protein allowed a tomato virus to become a global crop pandemic
In the last years, a new viral tomato disease has emerged, threatening tomato production worldwide. This is caused by the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a member of a devastating group of plant viruses called tobamoviruses. ToBRFV overcome.....»»
Climate change to stir up global agriculture within next decade
Potential climate-related impacts on future crop yield are a major societal concern, according to a new study published in Nature Food......»»
Farming reboot could lay seeds for prosperity in poor and food insecure regions
Agriculture experts from The Australian National University (ANU) have teamed up with government bodies and NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa to improve irrigation schemes and boost crop production. The researchers' work is improving food security, reduci.....»»
Women show the way as India pushes "eco-miracle" seaweed
Draped in a colourful saree and shirt, Lakshmi Murgesan dives into the azure waters off India's southern coast to collect seaweed, which is being hailed by scientists as a miracle crop that absorbs more carbon dioxide than trees......»»
Why roots don"t grow in the shade
When a plant finds itself in too much shade, it redirects its resources to reach for light. Crop yield and root development stall as the plant focuses on growing taller, striving to rise above neighboring plants to access the sun......»»
Climate change to force crop switch for small farmers: experts
Small farmers around the world who grow thirsty crops like corn will face a huge adaptation challenge as the effects of climate change worsen in the coming years, experts warned Wednesday......»»
How do plants act fast to fight off infections?
New work led by Carnegie's Kangmei Zhao and Sue Rhee reveals a new mechanism by which plants are able to rapidly activate defenses against bacterial infections. This understanding could inspire efforts to improve crop yields and combat global hunger......»»
Fusarium wilt of cotton more aggressive and diverse than previously understood
Cotton is an important crop worldwide and grown in large amounts in the United States, which provided 38 percent of cotton exports in 2017. One of the greatest threats to cotton production is Fusarium wilt, a fungal disease caused by the soil-borne p.....»»
Predicting famines using rainfall season start
The first rains that signal the beginning of the growing season kick off a flurry of activities in rural, agricultural communities. Farmers decide when to plant, how much labor to allocate, how many resources to devote to that season's crop and so on.....»»
Crop diversity is needed today for tomorrow"s food security and nutrition
Although scientists have been ringing bells for more than 100 years about the decline of crop diversity in agriculture, questions about the magnitude, causes, and significance of this loss remain unanswered......»»
Pakistan"s amphibians need more research efforts and better protection
Amphibians are bioindicators of an ecosystem's health and may also serve as biological control of crop and forest pests. The First Herpetological Congress, organized in 1989, presented alarming findings about the decline in amphibian populations. Cur.....»»
Climate change predictions build resilience in African tea production
Researchers in the UK and Africa have teamed up to help tea producers better understand future climate risks so that they can reduce crop damage caused by climate change......»»