Focus on food security and sustainability

The number of malnourished people is increasing worldwide. More than two billion people suffer from a lack of micronutrients.

EXCLUSIVE: USAID, NAIC partner on effective agribusiness activity

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Commission (NAIC) has entered into partnership agreement that will ameliorate constrains confronting agribusiness financing and investment activities along the agricultural value chains in Nigeria.

Azteca ant colonies move the same way leopards' spots form

What could Azteca ants in coffee farms in Mexico have in common with leopards' spots and zebras' stripes?

Study sheds light on 'overlooked' bee species

The UK's first citizen science project focusing on solitary, ground-nesting bees has revealed that they nest in a far broader range of habitats than previously thought.

EXCLUSIVE: FG set to revive agro aircrafts for pest, disease control

·       Yet to pay locust forecast dues

 

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) will soon resuscitate its moribund Agro Aviation unit to checkmate high contract cost being expended on controlling the pest and other disease activities that have suffered set back in the last twelve years just as the ministry is yet to pay any locust forecast dues for about three decades.

Why polar bears at sea have higher pollution levels than those staying on land

As the climate changes, myriad animal populations are being impacted. In particular, Arctic sea-ice is in decline, causing polar bears in the Barents Sea region to alter their feeding and hunting habits. Bears that follow sea-ice to offshore areas have higher pollutant levels than those staying on land -- but why? A new study in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology reports the likely reasons.

Plant researchers examine bread aroma: Modern and old wheat varieties taste equally good

The scientists compared taste and aroma of different breads baked in close cooperation with an artisan baker and a miller using flour from old as well as modern wheat varieties. In the journal Food Research International the research team now also describes how it can predict not only the taste but also other characteristics of bread using molecular biological approaches.

Large atmospheric waves in the jet stream present risk to global food production

In a new study published today in Nature Climate Change, scientists show how specific wave patterns in the jet stream strongly increase the chance of co-occurring heatwaves in major food producing regions of Northern America, Western Europe and Asia.

Trashed farmland could be a conservation treasure

Low-productivity agricultural land could be transformed into millions of hectares of conservation reserve across the world, according to University of Queensland-led research.

EXCLUSIVE: Researchers want trade incentive, others for organic farming in WA

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and National Ministries of Trade in the member countries have been called upon by economic researchers to give special incentive to export of organic produce in Africa with other supportive measures.