Farming and Agriculture

Peri-urban agriculture in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) is in a critical situation after decades of decline. A new study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) highlights the dramatic reduction of peri-urban farming in the region, with losses of up... Read more

Analysis of Australia's highest-volume pesticide use has revealed that the majority of products widely used in Australian agriculture are banned in other parts of the world, according to a new study. Researchers from Griffith's School of Environment and Science analyzed 45 pesticide products used in volumes of more than 100... Read more

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease of wheat that can reduce grain yields and contaminate grain with toxins harmful to humans and livestock. The disease threatens wheat production worldwide and poses ongoing challenges for growers, grain handlers, and food safety systems.... Read more

A research team led by the University of Bern has decoded a mechanism by which an inconspicuous succulent regulates the uptake of carbon dioxide via the leaf surface so finely that it receives enough for photosynthesis without losing too much water—and can therefore conserve water efficiently. The findings might be... Read more

Converting sugarcane waste to biofuel could become more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, thanks to a joint project at The University of Queensland and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Ph.D. candidate Neethu Joshikumar has successfully tested a process to simplify the preparation of sugarcane waste, known as bagasse. The research... Read more

Collaboration between the UCO's Agronomy and Genetics departments was key to sequencing the genome of this pathogen, which is responsible for losses of up to €50 million per year. Cercospora leaf spot is an olive tree disease that causes defoliation and lower yields. It is caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora... Read more

UC Riverside researchers have identified a mechanism that allows plants to rapidly slow growth in response to extreme environmental stress. The finding could help farmers grow more resilient crops, and one researcher continued the work years into retirement to uncover it.... Read more

When it comes to fishing, reeling in the biggest one is often the goal. But as it turns out, leaving the largest and oldest fish in the water can help entire fish populations cope better with ocean warming—and the benefits can last for generations.... Read more

Soil salinity is a critical concern in agriculture when excessive soluble salts restrict a plant's water uptake, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hindering crop growth and reducing yields on roughly 30% of U.S. irrigated land. Caused by irrigation, poor drainage or saltwater intrusion, soil salinity impacts soil structure,... Read more

Most people have experienced it: when you're moving, engaged, and focused, pain fades into the background, then flares when you're immobilized with nothing to do. That isn't imagination; it's biology. A comprehensive review published in Frontiers in Animal Science shows that barren captive housing removes exactly those pain-dampening inputs—movement, exploration,... Read more

Each year, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is responsible for an estimated 1.1 to 1.4 million deaths worldwide. Now, scientists have found evidence that the spread of AMR isn't always driven by bacteria evolving to resist the antibiotics themselves: rather, certain weedkillers can have the same effect.... Read more

A new biosensor developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory detects the emerging presence of fungus on plants at the molecular level, paving the way for next-generation crop protection and the development of stress-tolerant plants. The innovation advances technology for the U.S. agricultural and biomanufacturing sectors.... Read more

Plants need water, light, and air to thrive. But when they transport water from the soil up to their leaves, they defy gravity. Scientists describe this astonishing phenomenon as "negative water potential," a form of negative tension that enables herbs, shrubs, and trees to draw water from the soil. Nevertheless,... Read more

Rice is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. In the wild, many rice species are perennials that live for several years, but the varieties we eat today are typically annuals that must be replanted every season. That is an expensive process for farmers requiring... Read more

Soil is often perceived simply as "dirt," but in reality, it is a dynamic, living system that acts as Earth's natural sponge. Unfortunately, common agricultural practices—including deep plowing and the use of heavy machinery—can severely disrupt this natural system, according to a new study led by Dr. Shi Qibin from... Read more