Coffea stenophylla: A forgotten bean that could save coffee from extinction
(smithsonianmag.com)
One leading botanist is scouring remote corners of the earth to find new species that could keep our mugs full
One leading botanist is scouring remote corners of the earth to find new species that could keep our mugs full
Bees have died this year. "the worst bee loss in recorded history,"
(cbsnews.com)
The U.S. beekeeping industry is in crisis over the shocking and unexplained deaths of hundreds of millions of bees over the last eight months.
The U.S. beekeeping industry is in crisis over the shocking and unexplained deaths of hundreds of millions of bees over the last eight months.
Six new ancient date trees
(arava.org)
On August 23rd, 2021, Arava Institute staff harvested three bunches of dates from our world-famous ancient date palms. This is the second year of harvesting fruit from this previously extinct tree, brought back to life by Dr. Elaine Solowey.
On August 23rd, 2021, Arava Institute staff harvested three bunches of dates from our world-famous ancient date palms. This is the second year of harvesting fruit from this previously extinct tree, brought back to life by Dr. Elaine Solowey.
The return of Sicily's ancient 'white gold'
(bbc.com)
It's mentioned 17 times in the Bible and was harvested in the Mediterranean for more than a millennium. Now, a farmer is reviving this ancient "superfood".
It's mentioned 17 times in the Bible and was harvested in the Mediterranean for more than a millennium. Now, a farmer is reviving this ancient "superfood".
Renegade Colorado Farmer Pushes Deeper into Unconventional Agriculture
(agweb.com)
Who plants at least 12 different crops a season, slashes nitrogen applications by over half, aims to seed 3”-row grain in 2025, grows rice in bone-dry conditions, and steadily uncovers unique market demand? Roy the renegade.
Who plants at least 12 different crops a season, slashes nitrogen applications by over half, aims to seed 3”-row grain in 2025, grows rice in bone-dry conditions, and steadily uncovers unique market demand? Roy the renegade.
US honeybee deaths hit record high as scientists scramble to find main cause
(theguardian.com)
Honeybee deaths have hit record highs in the US, with the unprecedented loss of colonies pushing many beekeepers close to ruin as scientists scramble to identify the main cause of the huge declines.
Honeybee deaths have hit record highs in the US, with the unprecedented loss of colonies pushing many beekeepers close to ruin as scientists scramble to identify the main cause of the huge declines.
Please stop planting only corn
(virtualize.sh)
If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary (one of those where David Attenborough quietly whispers the doom of an entire species) you know monocultures are bad.
If you’ve ever watched a nature documentary (one of those where David Attenborough quietly whispers the doom of an entire species) you know monocultures are bad.
UK on alert after H5N1 bird flu spills over to sheep in world-first
(arstechnica.com)
The H5N1 bird flu has spilled over to a sheep for the first time, infecting a domesticated ruminant in the United Kingdom much like it has in US dairy cows, according to UK officials.
The H5N1 bird flu has spilled over to a sheep for the first time, infecting a domesticated ruminant in the United Kingdom much like it has in US dairy cows, according to UK officials.
Global chocolate supply is limited by low pollination and high temperatures
(nature.com)
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) provides livelihoods for 5 million smallholder farmers, but the factors limiting cocoa yield are poorly understood.
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) provides livelihoods for 5 million smallholder farmers, but the factors limiting cocoa yield are poorly understood.
The Safest Path to Stable Climate Is Designing New Plants
(palladiummag.com)
<h3>The Amazon Was Created By a Lost Civilization of Gardeners</h3>
<h3>The Amazon Was Created By a Lost Civilization of Gardeners</h3>
Department of Agriculture's National Plant Germplasm System Under Threat
(nytimes.com)
In a climate-controlled bunker in an unremarkable building in rural Aberdeen, Idaho, there are shelves upon shelves of meticulously labeled boxes of seed.
In a climate-controlled bunker in an unremarkable building in rural Aberdeen, Idaho, there are shelves upon shelves of meticulously labeled boxes of seed.
What Fruits and Vegetables Looked Like Before We Domesticated Them (2016)
(businessinsider.com)
Next time you bite into a slice of watermelon or a cob of corn, consider this: These familiar fruits and veggies didn't always look and taste this way.
Next time you bite into a slice of watermelon or a cob of corn, consider this: These familiar fruits and veggies didn't always look and taste this way.
Kennedy's Alarming Prescription for Bird Flu on Poultry Farms
(nytimes.com)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, has an unorthodox idea for tackling the bird flu bedeviling U.S. poultry farms. Let the virus rip.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, has an unorthodox idea for tackling the bird flu bedeviling U.S. poultry farms. Let the virus rip.
DOGE USDA Cuts Could Cause US Grocery Price Inflation, Invasive Species Spread
(wired.com)
Thousands of US Department of Agriculture employees, including food inspectors and disease-sniffing-dog trainers, remain out of work, leaving food to rot in ports and pests to proliferate.
Thousands of US Department of Agriculture employees, including food inspectors and disease-sniffing-dog trainers, remain out of work, leaving food to rot in ports and pests to proliferate.
The optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for maize in the US Midwest is increasing
(nature.com)
Fertilizing maize at an optimum nitrogen rate is imperative to maximize productivity and sustainability.
Fertilizing maize at an optimum nitrogen rate is imperative to maximize productivity and sustainability.
Farmers face steep losses in the middle of Trump's trade war and funding cuts
(nbcnews.com)
From funding cuts to tariffs, farmers have found themselves caught in the middle of President Donald Trump’s escalation of trade wars and efforts to slash billions of dollars in spending, leaving a growing number now struggling to find markets for their products and facing the risk of steep losses for the year ahead.
From funding cuts to tariffs, farmers have found themselves caught in the middle of President Donald Trump’s escalation of trade wars and efforts to slash billions of dollars in spending, leaving a growing number now struggling to find markets for their products and facing the risk of steep losses for the year ahead.
Canada is caught in a "double trade war" with the U.S. and China
(thestar.com)
On top of threatened U.S. tariffs, China has brought down another hammer on many Canadian farm and seafood exports, hitting them with a “double trade war” that industry leaders say will slam Canadian producers.
On top of threatened U.S. tariffs, China has brought down another hammer on many Canadian farm and seafood exports, hitting them with a “double trade war” that industry leaders say will slam Canadian producers.
USA asks Sweden for help in the egg crisis
(freshpost.substack.com)
American authorities have turned to Swedish and Danish egg producers and asked about the possibility of buying eggs, reports Danish media and Göteborgs-Posten.
American authorities have turned to Swedish and Danish egg producers and asked about the possibility of buying eggs, reports Danish media and Göteborgs-Posten.
Mississippi Passes Bill Banning Lab-Grown Meat
(wired.com)
The Mississippi House of Representatives just passed a bill banning cultivated meat. This makes Mississippi the third state to outlaw meat grown in vats from small samples of animal cells.
The Mississippi House of Representatives just passed a bill banning cultivated meat. This makes Mississippi the third state to outlaw meat grown in vats from small samples of animal cells.
Agriculture in Ants
(wikipedia.org)
Agriculture and domestication are practices undertaken by certain ant species and colonies.
Agriculture and domestication are practices undertaken by certain ant species and colonies.
Smart researchers pioneer nanosensor for real-time iron detection in plants
(news.mit.edu)
Researchers from the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and MIT, have developed a groundbreaking near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between iron forms — Fe(II) and Fe(III) — in living plants.
Researchers from the Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) interdisciplinary research group of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, in collaboration with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) and MIT, have developed a groundbreaking near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between iron forms — Fe(II) and Fe(III) — in living plants.
South Sudan farmers pin hopes on rare climate-resistant coffee
(aljazeera.com)
Discovered more than a century ago, excelsa coffee is exciting cash-strapped locals and drawing interest globally.
Discovered more than a century ago, excelsa coffee is exciting cash-strapped locals and drawing interest globally.
PFAS in fertilisers blamed for killing livestock in Texas and wreaking havoc
(chemistryworld.com)
The mystery of why farmers had started falling ill in Johnson County, Texas and what killed the fish in their ponds and livestock on their ranches may have been solved.
The mystery of why farmers had started falling ill in Johnson County, Texas and what killed the fish in their ponds and livestock on their ranches may have been solved.
Why Vermont farmers are using urine on their crops
(bbc.com)
Urine was used as fertiliser in ancient Rome and China. Now farmers in Vermont are bringing this practice back to boost harvests and grow crops in a more sustainable way.
Urine was used as fertiliser in ancient Rome and China. Now farmers in Vermont are bringing this practice back to boost harvests and grow crops in a more sustainable way.
Farmers depend on climate data. They're suing the USDA for deleting it
(grist.org)
In late January, the director of digital communications at the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an email to staff instructing them to remove agency web pages related to climate change by the end of the following day.
In late January, the director of digital communications at the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an email to staff instructing them to remove agency web pages related to climate change by the end of the following day.
Farmers sue over purge of climate data needed for agricultural decisions
(thehill.com)
Farmers and green groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday for an “unlawful purge” of climate data from its website.
Farmers and green groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday for an “unlawful purge” of climate data from its website.
Harvest the sun twice: Agrivoltaics promises sustainable food, energy and water
(sheffield.ac.uk)
Combining solar power production with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, conserve water and generate low-carbon electricity for areas particularly vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown.
Combining solar power production with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, conserve water and generate low-carbon electricity for areas particularly vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown.
Can Electro-Agriculture Revolutionize the Way We Grow Food?
(smithsonianmag.com)
In 2023, some 700 million people around the world faced hunger, a crisis made worse by climate change, conflict and economic instability, according to the United Nations. As the food system strains under these pressures, new technologies are emerging to address these global challenges. One such innovation—electro-agriculture—offers a potential solution.
In 2023, some 700 million people around the world faced hunger, a crisis made worse by climate change, conflict and economic instability, according to the United Nations. As the food system strains under these pressures, new technologies are emerging to address these global challenges. One such innovation—electro-agriculture—offers a potential solution.