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.

Could biological clocks in plants set the time for crop spraying?

Dr Antony Dodd, Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences and senior author of the paper, said: "This proof of concept research suggests that, in future, we might be able to refine the use of some chemicals that are used in agriculture by taking advantage of the biological clock in plants.

Diet change needed to save vast areas of tropics

If the global demand for animal products continues to grow, large swathes of natural land will vanish potentially leading to widespread loss of species and their habitats.

Scent brings all the songbirds to the yard

Chickadees can smell! That is the news from a study out of Lehigh University, the first to document naturally hybridizing songbirds' preference for the scent of their own species.

Flavonoid-rich diet protects against cancer and heart disease, study finds

Consuming flavonoid-rich items such as apples and tea protects against cancer and heart disease, particularly for smokers and heavy drinkers, according to new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU).

Novel strategy uncovers potential to control widespread soilborne pathogens

Soilborne pathogens are a major issue worldwide as they can infect a broad range of agricultural plants, resulting in serious crop losses devastating to farmers.

Road verges provide refuge for pollinators

With many pollinator species in decline, the University of Exeter study shows verges can provide food and a home for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies.