Kiwifruit is in a pickle. A tiny bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, or Psa, is wreaking havoc. This bacteria causes a nasty disease called kiwifruit canker. It's a big headache for farmers and a threat to the kiwifruit industry. The usual fixes involve harsh chemicals like copper or antibiotics like streptomycin. But these can be rough on the plants and t...
Farmers are facing a big problem. Climate change is making water scarce. This is a huge issue for growing crops in a sustainable way. But there's a clever solution on the horizon. A new system uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor and control watering. It's like giving farms a high-tech brain. This system is all about precision. It uses sensors to check the s...
Jordan's Northern Valley is in a pickle. Salt is building up in the soil, making it tough for farmers to grow crops. This is a big deal because the valley is known as the "food basket of Jordan. " It's a major source of fruits and veggies for the country. The problem is getting worse, and it's a threat to the valley's future. Salt in the soil is a problem in dry and...
The world beneath our feet is a bustling ecosystem, full of interactions that shape the world above. One such interaction involves beans, bacteria, and bugs. Specifically, the relationship between beans and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, known as rhizobia, has long been seen as a win-win. But what about the bugs? How do they fit into this picture? Beans and rhizobia have...
When it comes to farming, little critters are often overlooked. But, arthropods like bugs and spiders are really important players on the farm. These critters have special ways to deal with poisons, particularly pesticides and pollutants. Then again, what if their survival isn't just up to pesticides? New technologies can reveal how life responds to polluting ga...
Soybeans are a big deal globally, ranking fourth among crops. They're special because they provide both oil and protein for people and animals. Over the past 60 years, production has skyrocketed 13 times. But with the world's population growing, we need even more soybeans. In the last decade, scientists made great strides in understanding soybean genetics and creatin...
The world is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the fight against climate change. Microsoft, one of the largest tech giants, has partnered with UNDO, a company specializing in enhanced rock weathering (ERW), to remove 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The deal is a significant step towards a carbon-neutral future and will have a profound impac...
Meraque Group, a Malaysian startup that's all about making drones do the heavy lifting in agriculture, has hitched its wagon to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture. The two signed a MoU, with Shakhobjon Sharifov, Director of an 'Administrative and Economic Service', and Razali Ismail, Meraque's CEO and founder, shaking hands over it. Minister Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmon...