One percentage point of feed conversion loss in large-scale poultry production can cause millions in lost revenue, so even small improvements — like fine-tuning a single nutrient in feed — can make a big difference....
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Tomato plants possess a sophisticated system to protect themselves against herbivores: the signaling peptide Systemin triggers a cascade of plant defense responses....
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As the global conversation around climate change intensifies, the agricultural sector is emerging as both a contributor to the problem and a potential part of the solution. In this interview, we explore the concept of "net positive" carbon grain farming with Ph.D. graduate, David Rourke, through his thesis. Rourke is...
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Kent biosciences researchers, working closely with RentACherryTree (a small agricultural business in East Sussex), have developed an innovative way to turn waste cherries into a valuable, health-boosting food ingredient. Cherries are naturally rich in anthocyanins and quercetin, which are pigments known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties....
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Modern crops are often excessively fertilized, which boosts yields in the short term but also harms the environment due to nutrient runoffs and greenhouse gas emissions....
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Corn is one of the most valuable cash crops globally, with annual grain production in the United States alone valued at nearly $80 billion. Fungicides are widely used to protect crops and promote yield, but research published in the Phytobiomes Journal suggests we may be overlooking a hidden cost: the...
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Researchers from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service are opening new markets for America's fruit growers. Fruit flies are major economic and quarantine pests that impact fresh fruit production and impede international trade. Flies lay their eggs on fruits, making the infested fruit their host, resulting in millions of dollars in...
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With climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, researchers predict that global yields of important crops like maize, rice, and soybeans could decline by 12 to 20% by the end of the century. To prepare, plant scientists are hoping to find ways to improve yields and grow hardier varieties...
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A new critical review, published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, highlights the emergence and scientific basis of regenerative agriculture—proposing a working definition centered on ecological cycles and farm system outcomes....
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Faced with climate change diminishing farmers' yields, Nestlé announced Wednesday that it was working on a technique to produce chocolate by using up to 30% more of the cocoa fruit....
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While nothing says "summer" quite like the taste of a perfectly ripe tomato, excessive heat during the growing season can prevent tomato plants from bearing fruit....
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A secret ingredient in snail trails is helping the pests save themselves from poisons spread to protect farms and gardens across Australia....
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Corn was domesticated from its ancestor teosinte in central Mexico beginning about 9,000 years ago by humans selectively breeding the wild plant, transforming its small, hard-shelled kernels into the large, palatable ears of corn we know today. Over the centuries, root traits of corn—now the most widely planted crop in...
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A new study introduces a machine learning tool that combines satellite imagery and weather data to monitor chickpea crop health. The system accurately estimates Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Leaf Water Potential (LWP) across commercial fields, helping farmers make smarter irrigation decisions and improve yields. This research marks the first...
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A gene identified more than 30 years ago has now revealed its role as a natural microRNA (miRNA) sponge to fine-tune the legume nodulation pathway, thanks to an international collaboration led by Wageningen University and the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University. The paper is published in the journal Proceedings of the...
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