Tag: agriculture
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Alliance to Build Photonic Mosquito Control Device
3 March 2015. A collaboration between a social enterprise and lighting technology company aims to develop a laser device to control disease-carrying mosquitoes without pesticides. Financial details of the partnership between Global Good and Lighting Science Group, a designer of advanced industrial and residential lighting systems, were not disclosed. Global Good brings together government, business,…
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Organic Farming Narrows Yield Gap With Conventional Methods
10 December 2014. An analysis of research studies comparing organic to conventional farming shows conventional techniques have greater yields, but by a smaller margin than previously thought. The team led by environmental scientist Claire Kremen at University of California in Berkeley published its findings in today’s issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society…
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Natural Product Can Boost Animal Immune Health
31 October 2014. Tests by Avivagen Inc. show an ability of beta-carotene to spontaneously oxidize that offers a natural alternative to antibiotics added to livestock feed to reduce illness and gain weight. The researchers from Avivagen, an animal health products company in Ottawa, Canada and National Research Council of Canada published their findings in today’s…
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Biotech, McGill Univ Partner on Soil Enhancement Microbes
23 October 2014. Inocucor Technologies Inc. and McGill University are collaborating on development of new types of microbes that improve soil for greater yields of large-scale crops such as corn and soybeans. Financial details of the research and licensing agreement between the company and university, both in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, were not disclosed. Inocucor Technologies…
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Genes Identified to Boost Vitamin A in Corn
6 October 2014. Agricultural researchers at Purdue University identified a few key genes that can increase ingredients in corn for building vitamin A in humans. And because these genes are already found in some corn varieties, say the authors, new types of corn can be developed without transferring genes from other species. The team led…
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Coffee Genome Sequenced, Caffeine Enzymes Analyzed
5 September 2014. An international team of researchers sequenced the genome of a major type of coffee that revealed the evolutionary pathway of this popular drink, and more details about caffeine, a main attraction of coffee. The team was led by Institute of Research for Development and National Sequencing Center, both in France, and University…
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Genetically Engineered Medflies Found to Control Wild Types
13 August 2014. Researchers at the biotechnology company Oxitec Ltd. in Oxford and University of East Anglia in Norwich, both in the U.K., created a modified form of the Mediterranean fruit fly that tests show can reduce the population of this pest responsible for extensive crop damage in many parts of the world. Results of…
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Zero-Gravity, Tropical Institute Partner on Food Security
24 July 2014. Zero Gravity Solutions Inc. and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) are collaborating on implementing technologies originally developed for the U.S. space program to improve food security in Africa and other tropical regions. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. IITA, in Ibadan, Nigeria, conducts research on agricultural plant health and…
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Farm Survey Drone System Seeks Crowdfunding Support
21 July 2014. A system that combines an aerial drone with Android tablet and software designed to survey a grower’s crop fields is seeking crowdfunding contributors. The StitchCam system by San Diego start-up SNAP Vision Technologies LLC is the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, but needs to raise more than $92,000 of its $100,000 goal…
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U.S. Energy, Ag Depts Fund Genomic Research for Biofuels
18 July 2014. The U.S. energy and agriculture departments are funding 10 new studies that aim to improve plant feedstocks for biofuels and other bio-based products. Department of Energy (DoE) is contributing $10.6 million in 2014, while Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adding $2 million. The studies run for 3 years. The joint DoE/USDA Plant…