Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Latest Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Study highlights factors and strategies to implement sustainable biofuel production

That biofuels can contribute to a cleaner global energy mix is widely accepted, but the net benefits of bioenergy in terms of mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG) are moot.

20 Nov 2020

New project receives $1.12 million to clean agricultural drainage water

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has awarded $1.12 million to support the University of Illinois-led research to clean agricultural drainage water through saturated buffers and denitrifying bioreactors.

19 Nov 2020

Finding ways to tackle food allergies at the source

Food allergies are a big problem. About 7% of children and 2% of adults in the U.S. suffer from some kind of food allergy.

19 Nov 2020

Major investment will shed light on impact of plastic pollution in developing countries

An investment of £20 million will support interdisciplinary research that aims to improve understanding of the impacts of plastic pollution in developing countries.

18 Nov 2020

Clostridium bacteria can help convert waste gas into valuable compounds

Several branches of industry discharge waste gases that contain mostly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

17 Nov 2020

Study examines factors that drive water withdrawals in U.S. agriculture, food production

Climate change and a growing world population require efficient use of natural resources. Water is a crucial component in food production, and water management strategies are needed to support worldwide changes in food consumption and dietary patterns.

17 Nov 2020

Biochar holds promise for removing contaminants from wastewater

Biochar -- a charcoal-like substance made primarily from agricultural waste products -- holds promise for removing emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from treated wastewater.

17 Nov 2020

New research uncovers vital link in complex biochemical pathway for saponin synthesis

Many plants, including legumes, make naturally occurring chemicals called saponins. For example, the medicinal plant licorice produces the saponin glycyrrhizin, a potent natural sweetener that also has antiviral and other pharmacological activity. Soyasaponins, found in soybeans, have anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties.

From Osaka University 17 Nov 2020

Researchers examine UK's consumer attitudes for food produced using several agricultural methods

New economic research from the University of Kent, University of Reading, and IHS Markit reveals the extent to which UK consumers dislike food produced using production methods such as hormones in beef and chlorine-washed chicken.

16 Nov 2020

ETH researchers investigate impact of nitrogen pollution and crop yields

The world is awash with nitrogen. In agriculture, nitrogen is used as a fertilizer to increase output, but this causes one of the biggest environmental problems of our time.

16 Nov 2020

New report provides a comprehensive analysis of Australia's changing climate

Continued warming of Australia’s climate, an increase in extreme fire weather and length of the fire season, declining rainfall in the southeast and southwest of the continent, and rising sea levels are some of the key trends detailed in the latest State of the Climate report, released today by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO.

16 Nov 2020

Gene bank materials can be used to improve climate traits in plants

Researchers used a mix of new molecular and statistical methods to show how material from gene banks can be used to enhance traits in the maize plant.

12 Nov 2020

Genetically engineered organisms can help mitigate atmospheric carbon

Climate change has become a crucial issue in the world. But in spite of agreements to combat climate change, global temperatures continue to rise.

12 Nov 2020

Biodegradable alternative could reduce use of microplastics

University of Bath spin-out company Naturbeads has been awarded funding to develop their biodegradable alternative to plastic microbeads that could cut the use of microplastics in a range of industries including pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetics.

From University of Bath 12 Nov 2020

A review on innovative techniques and methodologies to complement plant control

Cultivators and livestock farmers are increasingly arranging innovative technical and scientific estimations with the aim to enhance agricultural sustainability, effectiveness, and plant health.

12 Nov 2020

Crop diversification leads to ecosystem improvements without compromising yields

A new study shows diversifying agricultural systems beyond a narrow selection of crops leads to a range of ecosystem improvements while also maintaining or improving yields.

11 Nov 2020

New technology could optimize apple production

A Cornell-led, multi-institution team of plant scientists, engineers, economists and outreach agents seeks to use computer vision, automation and robotics to optimize per-tree apple production, which is currently a highly manual and imprecise process.

11 Nov 2020