A new study on nano-zinc oxide and nano-cerium oxide, two common nano particles, suggests that they can accumulate in crops such as soybeans and may stunt soil- fertilising bacteria. These findings may have food supply implications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and … Continue reading
The 2nd Global Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change, which took place in Hanoi, Vietnam in early September, stressed the urgency of “climate-smart” agriculture. This seeks to increase agricultural productivity in an environmentally and socially sustainable way, whilst … Continue reading
A Colorado State University laboratory is developing a unique plant-based method of detecting the arrival of high risk agricultural pathogens in new areas which will allow widespread, continuous and real-time monitoring. By designing receptors that influence the plant’s signalling pathway, … Continue reading
A US company has received funding to commercialise a prototype weed-pulling robot that will reduce herbicide use. The ‘lettuce-bot’ uses algorithms to detect and differentiate between plants, even if they are touching. When it detects a weed, it injects enough … Continue reading
A global shortage of cereal crops, driven mainly by drought in the US, has lead to huge spikes in the cost of pig-feed. This in turn means that the cost of producing a pig is now much higher than the … Continue reading
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The Waseda University in Japan has developed an alternative technology which allows farmers to grow crops without soil. Not only does this offer the potential to reduce land use pressure (by negating the need for nutrient-rich soil), it also offers … Continue reading
New research by The International Food Policy Research Institute has found that resource conservation technologies could halve increases in food prices. If drought resistant varieties for rain-fed crops are fully adopted over the next 30 years this could increase maize, … Continue reading
Cassava is being hailed as the crop of the future for African farmers trying to deal with the impacts of a changing climate. A recent study from the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture reported that cassava appears to thrive in … Continue reading
The USDA published their agricultural projections to 2021 report in February 2012 covering, for example, agricultural trade and commodities as well as indicators for farm income and food prices. These projections are based on assumptions about future macroeconomic conditions, weather, … Continue reading
The European Space Agency have developed a new service, known as GrapeLook, to help decide when and how much to irrigate vineyards. The technology uses a combination of Earth observation data and field measurements via satellite link and remote sensing … Continue reading
The Risk and Futures Partnership at Cranfield University's CERF 