Pesticides News and Research

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Japanese Researchers Develop New Assay to Detect Epigenetic Toxicity

Chemicals used as food preservatives, flavoring agents, dyes, pesticides, cosmetics, cleaners, and other industrial materials are being increasingly recognized as a health hazard.

11 Apr 2025

Cameras Reveal Secret Allies in the Fight Against Oilseed Rape Pests

In-field cameras have uncovered unexpected predators of two major oilseed rape pests, potentially aiding control strategies.

4 Apr 2025

2024 Officially One of the Worst Years on Record for UK Butterflies

Newly released data has shown that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK and, for the first time on record, more than half of butterfly species in the UK are now in long-term decline

1 Apr 2025

Global Review Shows Alarming Impacts of Pesticides on Biodiversity and Ecosystems

The study highlights pesticides' widespread effects on non-target species, urging a reevaluation of risk assessments and farming practices for biodiversity.

19 Feb 2025

New Computational Model Enables Timely Response to Desert Locust Threats

Desert locusts typically lead solitary lives until something - like intense rainfall - triggers them to swarm in vast numbers, often with devastating consequences.

20 Dec 2024

Lice as Models for Studying Mitochondrial Disorders

A set of genes that in humans would suggest a late-stage degenerative disease like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease are present in lice throughout their lives.

10 Dec 2024

Study Reveals How eDNA Could Bear Fruit for Farmers and the Environment

A Curtin University study has revealed a new method of capturing DNA could provide farmers with a valuable tool for boosting crop production — while also benefiting the environment.

29 Nov 2024

Self-Eliminating e-Drive System Reverses Insecticide Resistance in Fruit Flies

Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective.

25 Nov 2024

Novel Mechanism of Resistance to Bt Crops in a Major Agricultural Pest

Insect pests can destroy crops if they are not controlled. Crops that produce bacterial proteins that kill important pests without endangering humans or wildlife have been genetically modified to limit damage and lessen the need for insecticide sprays.

5 Nov 2024

Groundbreaking Study Reveals New Insights into Fruit Fly Reproduction

You have likely not spent much time thinking about the uterus of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.

28 Oct 2024

Revolutionizing Food Security with Plant Immune Responses

As the climate crisis alters familiar growing conditions, we urgently need to find ways of protecting the world against famines.

16 Oct 2024

Pesticide Exposure Strongly Correlated with Fewer Wild Bee Sightings

Whether you're strolling through a garden, wandering a park, or simply enjoying an open space in the United States, you're likely to notice bees buzzing about the flowers. While honeybees, imported from Europe in the 17th century to produce honey, are the most recognizable, they aren't the only bees at work. If you're a keen observer, you might spot some of the thousands of less familiar, native bee species that call these spaces home.

28 Aug 2024

Honeybees Contribute to Bumble Bee Virus Prevalence

Honey bees might contribute to rising virus levels in wild bumble bees each spring, according to Penn State researchers who studied seasonal patterns of parasite and virus transmission in bees.

22 Aug 2024

New 3D-Printed Chip Rapidly Detects Four Major Foodborne Pathogens

A cost-effective three-dimensional (3D)-printed microchip with an aptamer sensor that can detect four foodborne pathogens.

8 Jul 2024

Exploring the Potential of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, viruses that target and destroy bacteria, are ubiquitous in the natural world. They play a crucial role in controlling microbe populations, though the mechanisms behind this regulation are not yet fully understood.

14 Jun 2024

Metrovate is Developing Precision Biostimulants for More Effective and Sustainable Farming Outcomes

Metrovate has announced a $1 million capital raise by Sprout Agritech LP to fund the development of New Zealand’s first precision biostimulant for agriculture.

From Metrovate 14 May 2024

Using Genomic Methods to Track Pesticide Resistance

Pesticides are used by farmers to manage agricultural pests. However, pesticide-resistant insects frequently become immune to their toxins.

19 Mar 2024

Quorum Bio: Where Synthetic Biology Meets Sustainable Farming

We speak with Sudharsan Dwaraknath, CEO of Quorum Bio, a synthetic biology startup developing sustainable agricultural technologies.

From Quorum Bio 12 Feb 2024

IRIDESENSE Unveils the World’s First Laser Device Capable of Analyzing Plant Health Remotely

At CES 2024, IRIDESENSE is unveiling the first 3D Multispectral LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor capable of analyzing plant health and soil humidity levels remotely in real-time.

19 Jan 2024

The Role of Temperature and Land Cover in Shaping Arthropod Biodiversity

People rarely pay much attention to spiders and insects other than when humans swat them away. But as a hard exoskeleton and jointed legs identify arthropods, they are vital to maintaining the ecosystems upon which humans depend. Arthropods comprise an astounding 84% of all known animal species.

16 Jan 2024