Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Latest Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Coastal protection provided by coral reefs will erode by end of century

According to a new study, the coastal protection presently provided by coral reefs will begin to deteriorate toward the end of the century, as the oceans acidify.

7 Dec 2020

Researchers use wheat starch hydrogels to produce food by 3D printing

It is already possible to produce food with a 3D printer, potentially delivering products that suit consumer preferences regarding taste, texture, cost, convenience, and nutrition.

4 Dec 2020

New model predicts potential outcomes for plants’ “investment” in roots

You might have observed plants competing for sunlight -- the way they stretch upwards and outwards to block each other's access to the sun's rays -- but out of sight, another type of competition is happening underground.

4 Dec 2020

Plant amyloids could improve nutritional value of plant seeds, reduce allergenicity of legume seeds

Thanks to this work, as the journal Trends in Plant Science recently noted, it is now known that functional amyloids serve biological functions in representatives of almost all large groups of living organisms: bacteria, archaea, animals, fungi, and plants.

3 Dec 2020

Researchers design living plant-based sensor to track arsenic levels

For the first time, researchers from SMART have engineered a living plant-based sensor for the detection of arsenic in the belowground environment

3 Dec 2020

Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key SARS-Cov-2 enzyme

Chemical compounds in foods or beverages like green tea and dark chocolate can bind to and block the function of an enzyme in SARS-CoV-2.

3 Dec 2020

Researchers create high-quality reference genome to improve traits in tomato

Thousands of years ago, people in South America began domesticating Solanum pimpinellifolium, a weedy plant with small, intensely flavored fruit. Over time, the plant evolved into S. Lycopersicum - the modern cultivated tomato.

3 Dec 2020

New polymer-based transistor can more sensitively detect weed killer in drinking water

A new polymer-based, solid-state transistor can more sensitively detect a weed killer in drinking water than existing hydrogel-based fluorescence sensor chips.

3 Dec 2020

Researchers develop new method to select the best microalgae for biodiesel production

Microalgae are a promising source of energy to replace fossil fuels, as they have several advantages over conventional crops used for commercial biodiesel.

2 Dec 2020

Gene editing technology can introduce diversity, improve nutrition of tomatoes

Whether tomatoes are fresh, cooked, juiced, or sun-dried, they are arguably one of the most multipurpose fruits on Earth.

2 Dec 2020

Researchers develop new hydrogel for agriculture

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University, in cooperation with Czech colleagues, have developed a new hydrogel for agriculture. It is meant to retain moisture and fertilizers in the soil.

1 Dec 2020

Researchers compile new taxonomic list of vascular plants

A group of scientists have compiled the most extensive list of familiar plant species in the world.

30 Nov 2020

Scientists unlock new genetic variation in wheat and barley

An international research collaboration, including scientists from the University of Adelaide's Waite Research Institute, has unlocked new genetic variation in wheat and barley - a major boost for the global effort in breeding higher-yielding wheat and barley varieties.

27 Nov 2020

International 10+ Genome Project provides an invaluable resource to improve wheat production

In a paper published Wednesday, Nov. 25, in Nature, Kansas State University researchers, in collaboration with the international 10+ Genome Project led by the University of Saskatchewan.

26 Nov 2020

Multiple genomes reveal the diversity and adaptability of wheat

A variety of bread wheat that flourishes across Switzerland would remain just a poorly growing grass in India.

26 Nov 2020

New modified wheat variety increases grain production

Researchers at the University of York have created a new modified wheat variety that increases grain production by up to 12%.

26 Nov 2020

Research provides the most comprehensive atlas of wheat genome sequences

In a landmark discovery for global wheat production, a University of Saskatchewan-led international team has sequenced the genomes for 15 wheat varieties representing breeding programs around the world.

26 Nov 2020

Microbes could make phosphorus trapped in soils more accessible to crops

Phosphorus is a necessary nutrient for plants to grow. But when it's applied to plants as part of a chemical fertilizer, phosphorus can react strongly with minerals in the soil, forming complexes with iron, aluminum and calcium.

25 Nov 2020

Research reveals a gene responsible for anthraquinone synthesis in plants

Anthraquinones are a class of naturally occurring compounds prized for their medicinal properties, as well as for other applications, including ecologically friendly dyes. Despite wide interest, the mechanism by which plants produce them has remained shrouded in mystery until now.

25 Nov 2020

COVID-19 pandemic has considerably affected the U.S. seafood industry, shows study

The United States' seafood industry declined precipitously in the months following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and research shows that targeted federal assistance will be necessary to bring it back.

24 Nov 2020