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food production

04/18/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Canadian farmer converts his 40,000-acre farm to all-organic

Consumers have been voting with their wallets in recent years, shying away from toxin-laced conventional produce and shelling out for organic varieties instead. Some observers might have initially dismissed this as a trend that would eventually fade, but it’s clear that a desire for good health and environmental friendliness is not going out of fashion […]

04/05/2018 / By David Williams

New Jersey indoor farm can grow plants all year long while using 95 percent less water than outdoor farms, with no pesticides at all

There’s something special about a new farm in Kearny, New Jersey. Headed by a former techie turned farmer, Bowery Farming is uniquely poised to serve as the blueprint for future farms with a focus on sustainability and reliability. More specifically, by applying clever new methods, the CEO and founder of Bowery Farming, Irving Fain, has created […]

04/03/2018 / By Ralph Flores

What is the right amount of nitrogen in agriculture? Not enough contributes to hunger, too much damages the environment

Nitrogen is essential in crop production, but it comes with a caveat: Use too much of it, and you risk polluting the environment; use too little, and you risk limiting your crop yield. This was also the focus of an article that appeared in the journal Nutrient Cycling in Agrosystems. The paper, led by researchers from […]

03/25/2018 / By Tracey Watson

Working with nature to reduce pesticide use: Farmers around the world are rediscovering the increased yields offered by biodiversity

The face of agriculture has changed dramatically over the past century. Instead of working with what nature has provided, encouraging biodiversity and companion planting to ward off pests, farmers have been encouraged to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with disastrous results. Despite being promised greater crop protection and increased yields, the results have been low-yielding […]

03/06/2018 / By Jessica Dolores

Vertical gardens reduce air pollution and improve energy efficiency in buildings

Imagine hurrying on your way to work, huffing and puffing as you stride towards your office building, and inhaling all the pollutants from vehicle emissions, industrial waste, and other sources of pollution. Imagine taking your little son/daughter, or nephew, out for a walk on your rest day, and wanting to cover his/her nose because of […]

02/13/2018 / By David Williams

More proof biodiversity reduces the need for chemicals: Leaving strips of wildflowers across fields of crops reduces pesticide use

It’s a well-established fact that pesticides can have many adverse effects not just to humans but to the very crops that they are supposed to protect as well. And as far as current efforts to reduce pesticide use go, one of the known ways to do so involves planting wildflowers right around the perimeter of […]

02/05/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Upcycled: Wastewater from olive mills can be transformed from a pollutant into a biofuel and bio-fertilizer

Researchers have developed an environment-friendly process to convert wastewater from producing olive oils into biofuel and fertilizer, as published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The study, led by researchers from the Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse and RITTMO Agroenvironment in France and the Water Research and Technologies Centre and the Higher Institute of Sciences and Technology for […]

01/20/2018 / By Russel Davis

Repurposing food supply “waste” has many benefits: Farmers in Turkey are using the husks of hazelnuts as mulch, preserving water and reducing labor

Hazelnut husks showed efficacy as mulching materials in nurseries and gardening applications of ornamental plants, according to a study published in the Journal of International Scientific Publications. The study, carried out by a researcher at the Düzce University in Turkey, took advantage of the large amounts of hazelnut husks produced in the Duzce region in the northwestern part of Turkey during […]

01/18/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Farming for conservation: Big Ag focuses on one crop while smaller farms integrate crops and livestock, which is healthier for the environment

In any endeavor, there’s the easy way, and then there’s the right way, and when it comes to farming, there is a steep price to pay in the long run for choosing the path of least resistance. Researchers from Iowa State University decided to carry out an economic analysis of various farming approaches to determine […]

01/09/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Technology for plants: Engineers have developed sensors for leaves, enabling farmers to capture more detailed data about their crops

The future of science and technology is looking up — and it’s not just for man and machine. Plants are also getting in on the action, thanks to innovations like the “low-cost, easily produced, graphene-based, sensors-on-tape.” Despite the long description, this wearable sensor tape can be easily stuck to a plant, which, in turn, will allow data […]

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