Scientific World

A new, simple and reliable germination test can now make seed bank management easier.
Plant breeding

Since seed patterns have to be regularly tested for germinability, seed bank management is complicated. Now scientists at the University of Osnabrück/Germany have developed an efficient germination test.

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cultivating drought and salt tolerant barley variety
Plant breeding

A new line of barley achieves good crop yields even under poor environmental conditions. A research team at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), Germany, crossed a common variety with various types of wild…

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The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens)
Livestock

Research on Black Soldier Fly larvae in Kenya shows their huge potential for reducing the ecological and economic footprint of livestock feed in Africa.

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Trade

Fairtrade certification benefits the employees of agricultural cooperatives but do not necessarily improve income of farm workers, say researchers who investigated the situation in smallholder farming in Côte d’Ivoire.

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Aerial view of a forest
Forestry

Global temperatures could rise 1.5° C above industrial levels by as early as 2030 if current trends continue, but trees could help stem this climate crisis. A new analysis finds that adding nearly one billion additional…

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The African whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, on cassava leaves
Plant protection

As part of efforts to control the spread of the two viral diseases attacking cassava in Africa, cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), scientists have announced a breakthrough whole genome…

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A variety of fruits and vegetables symbolising agrobiodiversity.
Biodiversity

The first Agrobiodiversity Index Report brings together data on dimensions of agrobiodiversity in ten countries to measure food system sustainability and resilience.

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Environment

Excessive nitrate in lakes, seas and rivers can increase algae growth that may lead to toxic blue-green blooms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has developed an innovative method to trace the origin of…

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Genetically modified fungus to fight malaria
Health

A fungus genetically engineered to produce spider toxin can crush populations of malaria-spreading mosquitoes, according to a study hailed as a breakthrough by international scientists battling to combat the disease.

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Food safety programme tackling food fraud
Food safety

To safeguard the quality and geographic denomination of high-value foods, the IAEA and the FAO have developed the so-called stable isotope analysis to test for authenticity of high-quality food products.

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