ScienceDaily: Agriculture and Food News

Researchers design photobioreactor to produce biofuel from algae

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:41:41 EDT

Researchers have patented a new device that allows more efficiently to cultivate microalgae and can be used as raw material for biofuel or for other valuable substances in the agri-food or pharmaceutical industry.

Researchers search for best feed for the 'king' of the rivers

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:35:35 EDT

The red mahseer is highly sought after by anglers and high end restaurants. Breeding them may be a bit easier now that researchers in Malaysia have found the best feed combination.

New target to boost plant resistance to insects and pathogens identified

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:33:33 EDT

Plants have evolved unique and sophisticated immune systems to defend themselves against insects and pathogens. Plant hormones called jasmonates play an important role in this defense, but jasmonates have been found to also be important for plant growth. Now, researchers have discovered a gene in the jasmonate pathway that controls plant defenses but does not play a detectable role in plant development. These findings could be applied to improve crop resistance in agriculture.

Bee and wild flower biodiversity loss slows

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:54:54 EDT

Declines in the biodiversity of pollinating insects and wild plants have slowed in recent years, according to a new study. Researchers found evidence of dramatic reductions in the diversity of species in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands between the 1950s and 1980s. But the picture brightened markedly after 1990, with a slowdown in local and national biodiversity losses among bees, hoverflies and wild plants.

Making ice-cream more nutritious with meat left-overs

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Most of the animal proteins found in the meat industry waste have, until now, been underutilized. The challenge is to transform such waste into food of higher functionality and added value.

New era of fisheries policy needed to secure nutrition for millions

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:26:26 EDT

A new study argues that for fisheries policies to be effective they must take in to account not just fish stock conservation and environmental issues, but also research data on the patterns and dynamics of fish trade, markets and user consumption.

Agriculture in China predates domesticated rice: Discovery of ancient diet shatters conventional ideas of how agriculture emerged

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:57:57 EDT

Archaeologists have made a discovery in southern subtropical China which could revolutionize thinking about how ancient humans lived in the region. They have uncovered evidence for the first time that people living in Xincun 5,000 years ago may have practiced agriculture -- before the arrival of domesticated rice in the region.

Evolution shapes new rules for ant behavior, research finds

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:16:16 EDT

Biologist Deborah M. Gordon's decades-long study of collective behavior in harvester ant colonies has provided a rare real-time look at natural selection at work.

New non-GM technology platform for genetic improvement of sunflower oilseed crop

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:32:32 EDT

Scientists have developed techniques for the genetic improvement of sunflowers using a non-GMO based approach. The new technology platform can harness the plant’s own genes to improve characteristics of sunflower, develop genetic traits, which will improve its role as an important oilseed crop.

Less oxygen triggers grasshopper molting, farmers could benefit

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:50:50 EDT

Less oxygen means shorter time between molts, which means shorter life-span, which means fewer hungry grasshoppers. And for farmers, that’s very good news. A recent study offers insight into the relationship between respiratory function and molting that could help farmers save more of their crops.

Land management options outlined to address cheatgrass invasion

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:33:33 EDT

A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America's most endangered ecosystems. Researchers said one of the most effective restoration approaches would be to minimize the cumulative impact of grazing, by better managing the timing, frequency of grazing and number of animals.

Invasion of the slugs; Halted by worms

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:16:16 EDT

The gardener’s best friend, the earthworm, is great at protecting leaves from being chomped by slugs, suggests new research. Although they lurk in the soil, they seem to protect the plants above ground. Increasing plant diversity also decreases the amount of damage slugs do to individual plants.

No-win situation for agricultural expansion in the Amazon

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:55:55 EDT

The large-scale expansion of agriculture in the Amazon through deforestation will be a no-win scenario, according to a new study. The study shows that deforestation will not only reduce the capacity of the Amazon’s natural carbon sink, but will also inflict climate feedbacks that will decrease the productivity of pasture and soybeans.

Human impacts on natural world underestimated

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:21:21 EDT

A comprehensive five-year study by ecologists -- which included monitoring the activity of wolves, elks, cattle and humans -- indicates that two accepted principles of how ecosystems naturally operate could be overshadowed by the importance of human activity.

Setting the standard for sustainable bioenergy crops

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:19:19 EDT

Bioenergy crops, such as Miscanthus and switchgrass, appear to be promising resources for renewable energy, but these new crops did not come with a manual on how to measure details on their sustainability impacts.

Scientists alarmed by rapid spread of brown streak disease in cassava

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:55:55 EDT

Cassava experts are reporting new outbreaks and the increased spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease or CBSD, warning that the rapidly proliferating plant virus could cause a 50 percent drop in production of a crop that provides a significant source of food and income for 300 million Africans.

Zeal to ensure clean leafy greens takes bite out of riverside habitat in California

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

As consumers, we like to hear that produce growers and distributors go above and beyond food safety mandates to ensure that healthy fresh fruits and vegetables do not carry bacteria or viruses that can make us sick. But in California's Salinas Valley, some more vigorous interventions are cutting into the last corners of wildlife habitat, without evidence of food safety benefits, creating tensions between wildlife preservation and food safety where none need exist.

Soil may harbor answer to reducing arsenic in rice

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

Agricultural researchers are studying whether a naturally occurring soil bacterium, referred to as UD1023, can create an iron barrier in rice roots that reduces arsenic uptake.

Amphibians living close to farm fields are more resistant to common insecticides

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Amphibian populations living close to agricultural fields have become more resistant to a common insecticide and are actually resistant to multiple common insecticides, according to two recent studies.

Substances in honey increase honey bee detox gene expression

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:20 EDT

A new study shows that some components of the nectar and pollen grains bees collect to manufacture food increase expression of detoxification genes that help keep honey bees healthy.

New plant protein discoveries could ease global food and fuel demands

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

New discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals and pests, increase salt and drought tolerance, control water loss and store sugar can have profound implications for increasing the supply of food and energy for our rapidly growing global population.

How petals get their shape: Hidden map located within plant's growing buds

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

Why do rose petals have rounded ends while their leaves are more pointed? Scientists have revealed that the shape of petals is controlled by a hidden map located within the plant's growing buds.

U. S. has surprisingly large reservoir of crop plant diversity

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:35:35 EDT

North America isn’t known as a hotspot for crop plant diversity, yet a new inventory has uncovered nearly 4,600 wild relatives of crop plants in the United States, including close relatives of globally important food crops such as sunflower, bean, sweet potato, and strawberry.

Better wheat varieties in the future? Wheat genome shows resistance genes easy to access

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Scientists have developed a physical map of wheat's wild ancestor, Aegilops tauschii, commonly called goatgrass. It's the first huge step toward sequencing the wheat genome -- a complete look at wheat's genetic matter. The work showed among other things, that most resistance genes seem to lie at the ends of chromosomes and can be easily accessed. The findings can lead to breeding of more productive and sustainable wheat varieties.

Ecological knowledge offers perspectives for sustainable agriculture

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

A smart combination of different crops, such as beans and maize, can significantly cut the use of crop protection agents and at the same time reduce the need for fertilizers. Integrating ecological knowledge from nature with knowledge of crops opens up the prospect of a sustainable strategy that will increase yield per hectare at reduced environmental costs.

Fertilizers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-year study

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:46:46 EDT

In a Kansas study, 50 years of inorganic fertilization increased soil organic carbon stocks but failed to enhance soil aggregate stability —- a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and the soil’s resistance to erosion.

New excavations in Sweden indicate use of fertilizers 5,000 years ago

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:48:48 EDT

Researchers have spent many years studying the remains of a Stone Age community in Karleby outside the town of Falköping, Sweden. The researchers have for example tried to identify parts of the inhabitants' diet. Right now they are looking for evidence that fertilizers were used already during the Scandinavian Stone Age, and the results of their first analyses may be exactly what they are looking for.

Europe needs genetically engineered crops, scientists say

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

The European Union cannot meet its goals in agricultural policy without embracing genetically engineered crops. That's the conclusion of scientists based on case studies showing that the EU is undermining its own competitiveness in the agricultural sector to its own detriment and that of its humanitarian activities in the developing world.

New grass hybrid could help reduce the likelihood of flooding

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

Scientists have used hybridized forage grass to combine fast root growth and efficient soil water retention. Field experiments show Festulolium cultivar reduces water runoff by up to 51 percent against nationally-recommended cultivar. Potential for the hybrid to capture more water and reduce runoff and likelihood of flood generation.

Just what makes that little old ant… change a flower's nectar content?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:52:52 EDT

Ants play a variety of important roles in many ecosystems. As frequent visitors to flowers, they can benefit plants in their role as pollinators when they forage on sugar-rich nectar. However, a new study reveals that this mutualistic relationship may actually have some hidden costs.

Deep, permeable soils buffer impacts of crop fertilizer on Amazon streams

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:23:23 EDT

A new study in the fast-changing southern Amazon -- a region marked by widespread replacement of native forest by cattle ranches and croplands -- suggests that some of the damaging impacts of agricultural fertilization on local streams may be buffered by the deep, highly permeable soils that characterize large areas of the expanding cropland.

High-nutrition and disease-resistant purple and yellow-fleshed potato clones obtained

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:10:10 EDT

Agricultural researchers have created four new potato clones which are characterized by their high antioxidant content, their good production both in size and number of tubers, as well as by their resistance to the usual diseases of this crop. The clones were obtained by natural methods through crossing varieties from South America with commercial varieties used in Europe. The result was three clones of the purple-fleshed potato and one with a markedly yellow flesh.

Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:19:19 EDT

Scientists create the first model of legume iron transportation aimed at maximizing nitrogen fixation, even in poor soil.

Precision agriculture improves farming efficiency, has important implications on food security

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Precision agriculture promises to make farming more efficient and should have an important impact on the serious issue of food security, according to a new study. A scientist assesses how there is potential to manage land more effectively to improve the farming economy and crop quality, and to ensure food security.

Residential lawns efflux more carbon dioxide than corn fields, study finds

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

More carbon dioxide is released from residential lawns than corn fields according to a new study. And much of the difference can likely be attributed to soil temperature. The data suggest that urban heat islands may be working at smaller scales than previously thought.

Scientists reveals escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

New research illustrates how changes to farming could dramatically increase future costs of conservation.

Rescue me: New study finds animals do recover from neglect

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

Animal sanctuaries can play an important role in rehabilitating goats and other animals that have suffered from neglect, according to scientists.

Vets and medical doctors should team up to tackle diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:10:10 EDT

A new study analyses the impact of animal brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis (BTB) on animals and people in urban, peri-urban and rural Niger. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks them as major zoonoses, infectious diseases transmitted between species. The research maps risk factors for transmission of these diseases from animals to humans, indicating that closer collaboration between medical doctors and veterinarians is required.

For development in Brazil, two crops are better than one

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Brazil is in the midst of an explosion of agricultural production, but who is profiting from that production -- wealthy land owners and investors or average Brazilians is the subject of debate. New research suggests that at least one type of agricultural intensification -- double cropping -- is associated with increases in development measures for rural Brazilians.

Is pet ownership sustainable?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:11:11 EDT

There has been much talk about sustainability, but little attention has been paid to its nutritional aspects. Scientists have raised a number of important questions on the sustainability of pet ownership.

Cocktail of multiple pressures combine to threaten the world's pollinating insects

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:11:11 EDT

A new review of insect pollinators of crops and wild plants has concluded they are under threat globally from a cocktail of multiple pressures, and their decline or loss could have profound environmental, human health and economic consequences.

Fertility needs in high-yielding corn production

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:22:22 EDT

Although advances in agronomy, breeding, and biotechnology have dramatically increased corn grain yields, soil test values indicate that producers may not be supplying optimal nutrient levels. Moreover, many current nutrient recommendations, developed decades ago using outdated agronomic management practices and lower-yielding, non-transgenic hybrids, may need adjusting.

'Chink in the armor' of Schmallenberg virus identified

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:36:36 EDT

A key building block in the Schmallenberg virus could be targeted by anti-viral drugs, according to a new study.

Hydrogen sulfide greatly enhances plant growth: Key ingredient in mass extinctions could boost food, biofuel production

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:55:55 EDT

In low doses, hydrogen sulfide, a substance implicated in several mass extinctions, could greatly enhance plant growth, leading to a sharp increase in global food supplies and plentiful stock for biofuel production, new research shows.

Clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect results of doping controls in sport

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:40:40 EDT

The illegal use of clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect the results of doping controls in sport, a new study concludes.

Turning algae into clean energy and fish food; helping Africans to irrigate crops

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Two student teams working hard to move their “green” ideas off the drawing board and into the real world will showcase their progress.

Scientists transform cellulose into starch: Potential food source derived from non-food plants

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:53:53 EDT

A team of researchers has succeeded in transforming cellulose into starch, a process that has the potential to provide a previously untapped nutrient source from plants not traditionally though of as food crops.

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian ‘Eden’ highlights conservation success

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction.

Escalating cost of forest conservation

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

In the face of unprecedented deforestation and biodiversity loss, policy makers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage conservation.

Without adequate funding, deadly wheat disease could threaten global food supplies

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

Disease-resistant wheat developed over the past half century helped ensure steady world food supplies, but a global team warns in a new article that without increased financial support for disease resistance research, new strains of a deadly fungal disease could leave millions without affordable access to food.

Invasive kudzu bugs may pose greater threat than previously thought

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:49:49 EDT

The invasive kudzu bug has the potential to be a major agricultural pest, causing significant damage to economically important soybean crops. Conventional wisdom has held that the insect pests will be limited to areas in the southern United States, but new research shows that they may be able to expand into other parts of the United States.

Enzymes from horse feces could hold secrets to streamlining biofuel production

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

Stepping into unexplored territory in efforts to use corn stalks, grass and other non-food plants to make biofuels, scientists have now described the discovery of a potential treasure-trove of candidate enzymes in fungi thriving in the feces and intestinal tracts of horses.

Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:30:30 EDT

Molecular biology technologies are making the mechanisms underlying the pet obesity epidemic more easily understood.

Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to ecologists.

Chickens with bigger gizzards are more efficient

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:02:02 EDT

According to animal scientists, farmers could further protect the environment by breeding chickens with larger digestive organs. This research could solve a major problem in poultry production.

Environmental change triggers rapid evolution

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Environmental change can drive hard-wired evolutionary changes in animal species in a matter of generations. A new study overturns the common assumption that evolution only occurs gradually over hundreds or thousands of years.

Population boom poses interconnected challenges of energy, food, water

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:26:26 EDT

Mention great challenges in feeding a soaring world population, and thoughts turn to providing a bare subsistence diet for poverty-stricken people in developing countries. But an expert described a parallel and often-overlooked challenge of feeding a larger middle class.

High salt levels in Saharan groundwater endanger oases farming

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:38:38 EDT

For more than 40 years, snowmelt and runoff from Morocco's High Atlas Mountains has been dammed and redirected hundreds of kilometers to the south to irrigate oases farms in the arid, sub-Saharan Draa Basin. But a new study finds that far from alleviating water woes for the six farm oases in the basin, the inflow of imported water has exacerbated problems by dramatically increasing the natural saltiness of their groundwater.

Reducing waste of food: A key element in feeding billions more people

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:35:35 EDT

Families can be key players in a revolution needed to feed the world, and could save money by helping to cut food losses now occurring from field to fork to trash bin, an expert said. He described that often-invisible waste in food — 4 out of every 10 pounds produced in the United States alone — and the challenges of feeding a global population of 9 billion.

New foot-and-mouth vaccine is safer and cheaper to produce

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:54:54 EDT

A new vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease that is safer to produce and easier to store has been developed.