Organic: Finding reveals neem oil as cowpea repellent

Contrary to the general belief that organically produced crops cannot match with the pace of our growing population toward sustainable food security, a research finding has confirmed that cowpea now got an organic pesticide to combat the devastating disease impeding its commercial production. This was contained in a number 8 monograph, 2018 of the best practices in Organic Agriculture production system.

A new tomato ideal for urban gardens and even outer space

Farmers could soon be growing tomatoes bunched like grapes in a storage unit, on the roof of a skyscraper, or even in space. That's if a clutch of new gene-edited crops prove as fruitful as the first batch.

Children allergic to cow's milk smaller and lighter

Children who are allergic to cow's milk are smaller and weigh less than peers who have allergies to peanuts or tree nuts, and these findings persist into early adolescence.

AfDB, Ogun State partner on cargo airport for produce

The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has promised to support Ogun state government in her drive to upscale agricultural productivity through the establishment of cargo airport that will uplift agricultural produce to immediate point of demand outside the country.

Overuse of herbicides costing UK economy £400 million per year

Scientists from international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) have for the first time put an economic figure on the herbicidal resistance of a major agricultural weed that is decimating winter-wheat farms across the UK.

Mealworms safely consume toxic additive-containing plastic

Tiny mealworms may hold part of the solution to our giant plastics problem. Not only are they able to consume various forms of plastic, as previous Stanford research has shown, they can eat Styrofoam containing a common toxic chemical additive and still be safely used as protein-rich feedstock for other animals, according to a new Stanford study published in Environmental Science & Technology.

Conservation's hidden costs take bite out of benefits

Returning croplands to forests is a sustainability gold standard to mitigate climate change impacts and promote conservation. That is, new research shows, unless you're a poor farmer.

Mowing urban lawns less intensely increases biodiversity, saves money and reduces pests

The researchers combined data across North America and Europe using a meta-analysis, a way of aggregating results from multiple studies to increase statistical strength. They found strong evidence that increased mowing intensity of urban lawns -- which included parks, roundabouts and road verges -- had negative ecological effects, particularly on invertebrate and plant diversity. Pest species, on the other hand, benefitted from intense lawn management.

Stand out from the herd: How cows communicate through their lives

Farmers might finally be able to answer the question: How now brown cow?

Research at the University of Sydney has shown that cows maintain individual voices in a variety of emotional situations.

Comparing heirloom and modern wheat effects on gut health

Amid concerns about gluten sensitivity, increasing numbers of people are avoiding wheat. Most have not been diagnosed with a wheat-related medical condition, yet they seem to feel better when they don't eat gluten-containing foods.