Insects hijack reproductive genes of grape vines to create own living space on plant

Insects have set up house in phylloxera galls on this leaf. This cross-section of a gall taken with a stereosmicroscope shows an insect mom -- the orange ball in the center -- surrounded by eggs she laid -- the surrounding yellow ovals.

A team of scientists at The University of Toledo uncovered new, galling details in the intimate relationship between insects and plants, opening the door to new possibilities in protecting the source of wine and raisins worldwide from a major agricultural pest.

Boost for Australian grain industry

grain

New findings from research by La Trobe University and CSIRO made possible with GRDC investment could lead to a significant increase in the Australian wheat crop yield -- adding potentially around $1.8 billion to the national economy and improving global food security.

SSSN Fellow Award 2019: Call for Nominations

The Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN) as a tradition confers the society’s “Fellow” award  to deserving members for outstanding teaching and/or researchor services in the field of Soil Science and substantial contribution to the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN) with a minimum of  10 [ten] active [ continuous]  years of  registered membership.

Images speak @ the just concluded 43rd National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) which held in Abia state.

43rd National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD)

Images speak @ the just concluded 43rd National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) which held in Abia state.. see more images below..

Nematode odors offer possible advantage in the battle against insect pests

Nematode odors offer possible advantage in the battle against insect pests

Gardeners commonly use nematodes to naturally get rid of harmful soil-dwelling insects. A new study published today in the journal Functional Ecologyrevealed that these insect-killing nematodes also produce distinctive chemical cues, which deter Colorado potato beetles and make potato leaves less palatable to them.

The paper mulberry coevolved with soil microbes to humanity's benefit

The paper mulberry coevolved with soil microbes to humanity's benefit

The paper mulberry evolved its uniquely fibrous inner bark around 31 million years ago, long before the woody tree was first used for bookmaking during China's Tang dynasty.

Future of US citrus may hinge on consumer acceptance of genetically modified food

Future of US citrus may hinge on consumer acceptance of genetically modified food

A tiny insect, no bigger than the head of a pin, is threatening to topple the multibillion-dollar citrus industry in the U.S. by infecting millions of acres of orchards with an incurable bacterium called citrus greening disease.

Machine learning detects importance of land stewardship in conservation policy

A machine-learning algorithm finds success in cooperative forest management policies that allow greater autonomy by smallholder farmers.

At the southern tip of the Himalayas, farmers in the Kangra region of India's Himachal Pradesh graze cattle among rolling hills and forests.

GM seed use has exploded in India: Socially motivated decisions

A cotton packer and her son rest between shifts compressing cotton into 200 kilogram bales at a cotton gin on the outskirts of Warangal, Telangana. Many former farmers are migrating to cities where they can make higher wages and find new opportunities, but the city also has higher costs of living and fewer ties to family and friends

Suicide rates among Indian farmers remain high, accounting for more than 12,500 deaths in the country in 2015, according to a government report. While many have blamed climate change for farmers' distress, the issue is likely much more complex.

Tracking pollen with quantum dots

Tracking pollen with quantum dots

A pollination biologist from Stellenbosch University in South Africa is using quantum dots to track the fate of individual pollen grains.

Ethiopia Gets Its Teff Back

Men and women harvest the Ethiopian staple grain teff in a roadside field between Axum and Adwa in Northern Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government is celebrating a major victory in a long-running dispute over who owns the patent for products made from teff - an ancient grain that forms the basis of Ethiopia's staple food, injera.

Surprise findings turn up the temperature on the study of vernalization

Surprise findings turn up the temperature on the study of vernalization

Researchers have uncovered new evidence about the agriculturally important process of vernalization in a development that could help farmers deal with financially damaging weather fluctuations.

Insects crave salt and search grasslands for the limiting nutrient

The OU team conducted 54 experiments in both grazed and ungrazed grasslands from Texas to Minnesota.

A University of Oklahoma team from the Geographical Ecology Group has published a new study in the journal Ecology on the nutritional preferences of diverse insect communities from Texas to Minnesota.

‘We will ensure that members get loan for wet season farming’

Newly elected President of National Association for Sorghum Producers and Processors Exporters and Marketers (NASPPEM), Alhaji Muhammad Babayo Maina

‘We will ensure that members get loan for wet season farming’

Recently, Foodfarmnews had a chat with the newly elected president of National Association for Sorghum Producers and Processors Exporters and Marketers (NASPPEM), Alhaji Muhammad Babayo Maina where he promised better working conditions for members of his association and much more. Excerpts...

COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 42ND REGULAR MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NCARD) HELD AT DR. OBI WALI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA FROM APRIL 24 – 28, 2017

Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbeh

The 42^nd Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) held at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from April 24 – 28, 2017 under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, OFR, was declared open by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON. The theme of the 42^nd National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) Meeting was “Agribusiness Investment for Economic Stabilization, Diversification and Growth”.The Council meeting commenced after the opening ceremony. 

FG pledges support for organic fertilizer production

  Farmers hail Eco-clean sapropel

The CEO, Marshal & Mitchel International Services Ltd, Mr. Sunny Onyeaso speaking on its potential nutrients to soil and yield to crops.

The Federal Government (FG) has reiterated its support for organic fertilizer based on its high demand and premium price importance to agriculture productivity in the world market just as the farmers under the umbrella of Federation Agricultural Commodity Associations (FACAN) have expressed happiness to the introduction of Eco-clean sapropel based organic fertilizer into the market.

Demand for Nigerian produce soars in Brazil, says FACAN representative

Brazilians at the recently concluded trade fair held at Novotel Hotel, Sao Paulo Brazil rushed at buying all the Nigerian agricultural processed products at the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria stand where products like shea butter, ginger, turmeric, castor and others were all bought because of their health uses.

Oldest Americans most focused on reducing food waste

Oldest Americans most focused on reducing food waste

The vast majority of Americans are paying attention to reducing food waste with the oldest being the most cognizant, according to the latest Michigan State University (MSU) Food Literacy and Engagement Poll.

Stress in crops points to surprising benefits

Stress in crops points to surprising benefits

Stress is known as the "killer disease" and in humans it can lead to an increased risk of terminal issues such as heart attack or stroke.

Bee dispersal ability may influence conservation measures

Bee dispersal ability may influence conservation measures

The abilities of various bee species to disperse influences the pattern of their population's genetic structure, which, in turn, can constrain how they respond to environmental change, as reported by an international team of researchers.

Pictures speak @ the official launch of ECO-CLEAN, a Sapropel based organic fertilizer to farmers. The CEO, Marshal & Mitchel International Services Ltd, Mr. Sunny Onyeaso speaking on its potential nutrients to soil and yield to crops.

Pictures speak @ the official launch of ECO-CLEAN, a  Sapropel based organic fertilizer to farmers. The CEO, Marshal & Mitchel International Services Ltd, Mr. Sunny Onyeaso speaking on its potential nutrients to soil and yield to crops.

Pictures speak @ the official launch of ECO-CLEAN, a  Sapropel based organic fertilizer to farmers. The CEO, Marshal & Mitchel International Services Ltd, Mr. Sunny Onyeaso speaking on its potential nutrients to soil and yield to crops. see more images below

Aquaculture does little, if anything, to conserve wild fisheries

Aquaculture does little, if anything, to conserve wild fisheries

New research finds that aquaculture, or fish farming, does not help conserve wild fisheries.

Images speak @ the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning Refil Meeting - North West Zonal Review Workshop holding in Zaria

Images speak @ the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning  Refil Meeting - North West Zonal Review Workshop holding in Zaria

Images speak @ the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning  Refil Meeting - North West Zonal Review Workshop holding in Zaria... see more images below....

Manure injection offers hope, challenge for restoring Chesapeake water quality

Manure injection offers hope, challenge for restoring Chesapeake water quality

Widespread adoption by dairy farmers of injecting manure into the soil instead of spreading it on the surface could be crucial to restoring Chesapeake Bay water quality, according to researchers who compared phosphorus runoff from fields treated by both methods.

Images speak @ the 2019 SeedConnect holding in Abuja

Images speak @ the 2019 SeedConnect holding in Abuja

 Images speak @ the 2019 SeedConnect holding in Abuja.... see more images below....

Biologists identify honeybee 'clean' genes known for improving survival

Biologists identify honeybee 'clean' genes known for improving survival

The key to breeding disease-resistant honeybees could lie in a group of genes -- known for controlling hygienic behaviour -- that enable colonies to limit the spread of harmful mites and bacteria, according to genomics research conducted at York University.

IAR cropping scheme comes up April 16th

IAR 

Researchers, scientists, extension officers, farmers and agro inputs dealers and agro engineers will by this week Tuesday converged at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, Zaria for a review of last year (2018) planting seasons towards a new plan for the current 2019 agricultural activities.

Gum Arabic: Nigerian export drops from $43.55m

Gum Arabic

Nigeria has not been earning the expected foreign exchange potential in gum arabic as she declined from 43.55 million dollars estimated export earnings and may have decided to establish a Scientific Research Centre in her quest for a chunk of the world market.

Planting small seeds simply: The allure of the slide hammer seeder

Maize

The development of a simply made and easy-to-use planting device could make growing important herbs and beneficial insect-attracting plants significantly more efficient and effective. The low-cost tool, known as the Slide Hammer Seeder (a jab-style seeder), gives farmers and gardeners specific control in sowing plants with very small seeds.

Climate change may affect ecological interactions among species

Climate change may affect ecological interactions among species

With herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, insectivores, frugivores, scavengers and decomposers, Earth's ecosystems function within a vast web of interactions among plants, animals, insects, fungi and microorganisms.

NASC, others march for quality as preparation begins for 2019 seedconnect

Issue warning to adulterated seed sellers

As preparations begin for the 2019 Seedconnect Conference and Expo in Abuja scheduled to hold on the 15^th-16^th of April 2019, the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), with its partners and board of Trustee have taken to a march from the Federal Secretariat to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to continue the cry for quality seeds in the Nigerian Agricultural sector for better yield in food production across the country.

Scientists use machine learning to ID source of Salmonella

Scientists use machine learning to ID source of Salmonella

A team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety in Griffin has developed a machine-learning approach that could lead to quicker identification of the animal source of certain Salmonella outbreaks.

Oil Palm Association’s election postponement generates heat

  Stakeholders complain of foreign influence....

The election expected to produce a new leadership for the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) was yesterday shifted by three months, to June 12, 2019.

First Ladies Weah, Rivlin Discuss Empowerment of Liberian Women Through Agriculture

First Lady Clar Marie Weah

First Lady Clar Marie Weah on Thursday, February 28, pushed the case of Liberian women with her Israeli counterpart, Mrs. Nachema Rivlin in Jerusalem, Israel, when she accentuated the need for the empowerment of women through agricultural production.

Cryofixation and electron tomography reveals novel compartment in arbuscular mycorrhiza

Cryofixation and electron tomography reveals novel compartment in arbuscular mycorrhiza

Agricultural productivity depends on supplying crops with adequate nutrients. To that end there is interest in using an ancient plant symbiosis with fungi to improve the ability of crops to absorb nutrients from the soil.

NATIONAL VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON THE STUDY CONDUCTED BY NANTS ON ARTICULATING NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE STRATAGIES FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE (AfCFTA) NEGOTIATIONS (Abuja, 28th March 2019).

Ken UKAOHA, Esq. 

1.0. Background and Participation

Precisely on 21st March 2018, in Kigali - Rwanda, about 44 out of the 55 African Governments signed the framework deal for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) at the African Union summit, and since then, many others have also signed and even ratified the agreement.

PRESS RELEASE- FG, NETHERLANDS GOVERNMENT TO COLLABORATE ON IMPROVED SEEDS IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

 Hon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh 

The Hon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has disclosed the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with the Government of Netherlands   on   improved seeds /seedlings in order to   boost agricultural production in the country.

Craving for Alternative Energy: ABU Zaria and UN Nsukka In-depth Progress

Ibrahim Garba, VC of ABU Zaria.

Globally, there are three fundamental functions of a university system in a nation building. The functions are teaching, research and community service. These functions require enormous and consistent use of human and materials sources, conducive-atmosphere and continuous supply of energy to operate the system.

Where do the best strawberries grow?

Flower-eating pollen beetles in the blossoms of strawberry plants.

Agricultural production benefits enormously from flower-visiting bees and other flower-visiting insects. Because of their supply of flowering plants and opportunities for nesting, hedgerows and the edges of forests represent important habitats for pollinators.

EGTA, RMRDC to support Kebbi on commodity value chain development

Dr. Ibrahim Hussaini Doko, Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC

Farmers and other stakeholders in the Agricultural Commodity Value Chain in Kebbi State are to benefit from a number of programs designed by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council and Employment Generation through Agriculture Initiative.

Images speaks @ the Annual Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), held in Abuja

Images speaks @ the Annual Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), held in Abuja

Images speaks @ the Annual Conference of the Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), held in Abuja... see more images below..

Prehistoric food globalization spanned three millennia

Prehistoric food globalization spanned three millennia

Since the beginning of archaeology, researchers have combed the globe searching for evidence of the first domesticated crops.

Biotechnology to the rescue of Brussels sprouts

Biotechnology to the rescue of Brussels sprouts

An international team has identified the genes that make these plants resistant to the pathogen that attacks crops belonging to the cabbage family all over the world. "Surnames" aside, cabbages are grown nowadays all over the world.

Culprit found for honeybee deaths in California almond groves

Culprit found for honeybee deaths in California almond groves

It's about time for the annual mass migration of honeybees to California, and new research is helping lower the chances the pollinators and their offspring will die while they're visiting the West Coast.

Researchers explore an often ignored source of greenhouse gas

greenhouse gas

In a new study from UBC's Okanagan campus, researchers have discovered a surprising new source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions -- bicarbonates hidden in the lake water used to irrigate local orchards.

Harvesting wild genes gives crops renewed resistance to disease

Professor Harbans Bariana with wheat.

A global alliance of researchers has pioneered a new method to rapidly recruit disease-resistance genes from wild plants for transfer into domestic crops. The technique promises to revolutionise the development of disease-resistant varieties for the global food supply.

Livestock: Reactions trail PS directives on hand-over at ministry

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh

Stakeholders in the livestock and animal science sector across the federation have expressed unhappiness to a recent directive by the Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) asking the director of livestock department to hand over to another director who is an agricultural economist.

A Month Later, Govt Bans Sugar Importation Again

Tanzania industrial Sugar Crisis Deepens

A month after lifting a ban on sugar importation, Tanzanian authorities have imposed yet another one, this time putting a stop to the issuance of permits.

When temperatures drop, Siberian Miscanthus plants surpass main bioenergy variety

temperatures drop

Photosynthesis drives yields, but in cold conditions, this process that turns sunlight into biomass takes a hit. 

How plants learned to save water

How plants learned to save water

Tiny pores on the leaves of plants, called stomata, have a huge influence on the state of our planet. Through the stomata, plants absorb carbon dioxide, which is incorporated into carbohydrates, and release oxygen. But they also lose water through open pores, which can be life-threatening for plants in dry conditions.

Understanding peppers and chilis from around the world

Understanding peppers and chilis from around the world

A comprehensive and multinational review of peppers/chilis (Capsicum species) with academic and scientific input from points across the globe, such as Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan, Mexico, Italy, Hungary, Austria, and the United States sets out to explore various aspects of interest concerning this horticulturally important crop.