CRISPRed fruit flies mimic monarch butterfly, and could make you vomit

Whiteman and his University of California, Berkeley, colleagues have turned perfectly palatable fruit flies -- palatable, at least, to frogs and birds -- into potentially poisonous prey that may cause anything that eats them to puke. In large enough quantities, the flies likely would make a human puke, too, much like the emetic effect of ipecac syrup.

Organic farming: Nigeria sets up task force for certification

Towards ensuring conformity to standard and certification of local produce, the national organic farming practitioners of Nigeria has inaugurated a task force that will constantly monitor that registered members do conform to best agronomics practice of agricultural produce.

No need to cut down red and processed meat for health reasons, controversial findings suggest

Most people can continue to eat red and processed meat as they do now. A major study led by researchers at McMaster and Dalhousie universities has found cutting back has little impact on health.

FG to sustain interventions in the agricultural sector, says PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustain interventions in the Agricultural Sector to boost economic growth and create jobs for Nigerians. He stated this at the National Agricultural Show to mark this year’s World Food Day Celebration held in Abuja.

NAERLS REPORT: Agric minister emphasis data for performance measurement

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono has disclosed that Nigeria has achieved 80 percent performance in the agric sector, but can still do much better if she introduced the use of data as a way to reposition the industry.

Govt., experts ask farmers to adopt new yam technology

As part of efforts to help Nigeria produce quality yam that will meet up with the standard required by the European market, the Federal Government along sides experts have called on farmers in Nassarawa to adopt the new yam technology as a means to increase quality yam production in the state.

Plants alert neighbors to threats using common 'language'

New research from Cornell University shows that plants can communicate with each other when they come under attack from pests.

Aspirin may halve air pollution harms

A new study is the first to report evidence that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin may lessen the adverse effects of air pollution exposure on lung function. The team of researchers from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston University School of Medicine published their findings in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Brave new world: Simple changes in intensity of weather events 'could be lethal'

Hurricane Dorian is the latest example of a frightening trend. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and more widespread as a consequence of climate change. New research from Washington University in St. Louis provides important new insights into how different species may fare under this new normal.

A new concept could make more environmentally friendly batteries possible

A new concept for an aluminium battery has twice the energy density as previous versions, is made of abundant materials, and could lead to reduced production costs and environmental impact. The idea has potential for large scale applications, including storage of solar and wind energy. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, are behind the idea.

Sweet corn growers, processors could dramatically increase yield, profit

In an industry struggling to maintain profitability, it's curious that U.S. processing sweet corn -- the corn that ends up in cans and freezer bags -- is falling so far below its potential. Yet, that's what a new study in PLOS ONE clearly demonstrates.

Genomes of parasitic mites harming the world's bees sequenced

Honey bee colony collapse has devastating consequences for the environment, the global economy, and food security worldwide.

Toxin promotes cattle-to-cattle transmission of deadly Escherichia coli strains

Shiga toxin subtype 2a (Stx2a) may play a key role in promoting the colonization and transmission of life-threatening Escherichia coli strains in cattle, according to a study published October 3 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Tom McNeilly of the Moredun Research Institute, David Gally of the University of Edinburgh, and colleagues. As these bacteria evolve ways to increase the activity of Shiga toxins, they may become more of a threat to human health.

The last mammoths died on a remote island

The last woolly mammoths lived on Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean; they died out 4,000 years ago within a very short time.

You don't have to go cold turkey on red meat to see health benefits

A new study has found that halving the amount red and processed (RPM) meat in the diet can have a significant impact on health, reducing the amount of LDL 'bad' cholesterol in the blood which cuts the risk of developing heart disease.

Machu Picchu: Ancient Incan sanctuary intentionally built on faults

The ancient Incan sanctuary of Machu Picchu is considered one of humanity's greatest architectural achievements. Built in a remote Andean setting atop a narrow ridge high above a precipitous river canyon, the site is renowned for its perfect integration with the spectacular landscape.

Antimicrobial resistance is drastically rising

The world is experiencing unprecedented economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. An increasing number of people in India, China, Latin America and Africa have become wealthier, and this is reflected in their consumption of meat and dairy products. In Africa, meat consumption has risen by more than half; in Asia and Latin America it is up by two-thirds.

Harnessing tomato jumping genes could help speed-breed drought-resistant crops

Once dismissed as 'junk DNA' that served no purpose, a family of 'jumping genes' found in tomatoes has the potential to accelerate crop breeding for traits such as improved drought resistance.

Images Speak @ the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services 2019 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Presentation held at the Ministers Conference Room Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Headquarter Abuja.

 Images Speak @ the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services 2019 Wet Season Agricultural Performance Presentation held at the Ministers Conference Room Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Headquarter Abuja.

Early rice farmers unwittingly selected for weedy imposters

Early rice growers unwittingly gave barnyard grass a big hand, helping to give root to a rice imitator that is now considered one of the world's worst agricultural weeds.

Rice irrigation worsened landslides in deadliest earthquake of 2018

Irrigation significantly exacerbated the earthquake-triggered landslides in Palu, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, in 2018, according to an international study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists.

Ancient Maya canals and fields show early and extensive impacts on tropical forests

New evidence in Belize shows the ancient Maya responded to population and environmental pressures by creating massive agricultural features in wetlands, potentially increasing atmospheric CO2 and methane through burn events and farming, according to geographical research at The University of Texas at Austin published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Machine learning helps plant science turn over a new leaf

Father of genetics Gregor Mendel spent years tediously observing and measuring pea plant traits by hand in the 1800s to uncover the basics of genetic inheritance.

Urban, home gardens could help curb food insecurity, health problems

Food deserts are an increasingly recognized problem in the United States, but a new study from the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, indicates urban and home gardens -- combined with nutrition education -- could be a path toward correcting that disadvantage.

Nodulation connected to higher resistance against powdery mildew in legumes

Scientists have long known that nodulation is important to plant health. Nodulation occurs when nodules, which form on the roots of plants (primarily legumes), form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that deliver nutrients to the plant.

Fertilizer is used worldwide in farming. It's used to give plants a boost, increasing yield and ultimately farmers' profits.

But, as the old adage goes: the dose makes the poison. Similar effects are seen in over-the-counter medicines. They need to take the right dose, at the right intervals, to be safe and effective. Fertilizer works the same way.

Frying oil consumption worsened colon cancer and colitis in mice, study shows

Foods fried in vegetable oil are popular worldwide, but research about the health effects of this cooking technique has been largely inconclusive and focused on healthy people.

New insights on impacts of crop trading in China

Feeding the world's growing population is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. This challenge is particularly pressing in China, which has 22% of the world's population but only 7% of the global cropland.

Association’s scribe wants Customs to intensify effort on tomato levy

The National Secretary, Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanni Danladi Yadakwari

The National Secretary, Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanni Danladi Yadakwari has demanded that Nigerian Custom Services (NCS) constitute an inspection committee that would monitor and scrutinize the import  activities of tomato processing companies in Nigeria towards revenue generation via levies. He disclosed this in an exclusive interview at Abuja.  

Not all meat is created equal: How diet changes can sustain world's food production

If you wanted to really mess with the world's food production, a good place to start would be in Morocco. They don't grow much here, but it is home to mines containing most of the world's known reserves of phosphate rock, the main source of the nutrient phosphorus. Most of us across the globe, most days, will eat some food grown on fields fertilized by phosphate rock from these mines.

Scientists successfully inoculate, grow crops in salt-damaged soil

A group of researchers may have found a way to reverse falling crop yields caused by increasingly salty farmlands throughout the world.

Editorial- CBN’s loan Intervention: best agronomic practices also important

We wish to commend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s determination to ensure loan intervention to ten economically viable agricultural crops as a means of diversifying the nation’s economy from mono product to agribusiness-based industrialisation, where the entire sub-sector along the value chains of food productivity are effectively engaged and supported, with emphasis on maize, cotton, cassava, rice, tomato, livestock, palm-oil, cocoa and poultry.

New way to bump off ticks: Dry up their saliva

Saliva from a tick's bite can transmit pathogens that cause serious illnesses, such as Lyme disease, and significant agricultural losses. Current insecticides have drawbacks, so scientists have been seeking new ways to prevent these pesky arachnids from spreading pathogens. Now, researchers report that compounds they previously identified can dry up ticks' saliva by upsetting the balance of ions in the salivary gland, reducing feeding and potentially limiting pathogen transmission.

The flavor of chocolate is developed during the processing of the cocoa beans

Just as we have seen an increase in the number of microbreweries making specialty beers, the market for chocolate has also developed, so there are more high-end chocolate manufacturers who are trying to stand out by fine tuning the taste and making several different varietals. Therefore, there is a need to know how you can address this during the processing of the noble cocoa.

How bees live with bacteria

An apple plantation in spring. The trees are in full bloom. But to ensure that they also yield in autumn, workers have to do a real fluff job for weeks: each individual flower is manually pollinated with brushes -- because there are no bees left to do the job. Not a nice vision of the future. But in some regions of China this is already reality. And the disappearance of the bees is reported all over the world.

USDA Partners FACAN on policy formulation

As a means of developing the Nigerian agriculture sector through the provision of favourable policies and work plan, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shown interest in partnering with the Federated Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN). This was made known by the National Secretary, FACAN, Dr. Bello Nuhu Dogondaji in Abuja.

African Agriculture Suffering Due To Unnecessary Importation

The Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu 

The Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu has said that the African agricultural sector is currently suffering a serious setback due to the way foods which could be produced locally were being imported from industrialized world. He disclosed this recently at the 6th African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) triennial conference, held in Abuja.

Positives of climate change? Agricultural, economic possibilities for West Virginia

Depending on your side of the aisle, climate change either elicits doomsday anxiety or unabashed skepticism.

APRA-Nigeria inaugurates board for policy impact on agric commercialization and smallholder transformation

An Advisory Board chaired by the former Commissioner of Agriculture, Kaduna state, and Director General (DG) of Nigerian Agric Business Group (NABG) Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari has been constituted with a mandate to facilitate the process of transforming APRA Nigeria research output into effective policies and advocate for effective implementation towards transforming the livelihood trajectory of farming household in Ogun and Kaduna as APRA pilot states in Nigeria.

Commodity Associations want government support

The ten new agricultural commodity associations given certificates of official operation by the Federal Government (FG) have demanded for more support and interventions that would enable them to be efficient in their service delivery to ensure food security, wealth and job creation in Nigeria. This demand was made yesterday at the official launching and presentation of certificates to the associations by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in Abuja.

Poultry farmers’ boss hails govt on border closure

The President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim 

The President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim Mam has commended the administration of the President Mohammadu Buhari for his political will to close all the land borders against illegal importation of banned items into the country. He made the commendation in an exclusive with Foodfarmnews in Abuja.

New DNA sequencer method achieves early-stage and broad-range detection of wheat diseases

Plant diseases, especially those caused by fungal pathogens, jeopardize global crop biosecurity and preventing them requires rapid detection and identification of causal agents.

Getting to the root of how plants tolerate too much iron

Iron is essential for plant growth, but with heavy rainfall and poor aeration, many acidic soils become toxic with excess iron. In countries with dramatic flood seasons, such as in West Africa and tropical Asia, toxic iron levels can have dire consequences on the availability of staple foods, such as rice.