New insight into mechanism making Black Sigatoka fungus less sensitive to crop protection
An international team of scientists led by Wageningen University & Research has discovered a new genetic mechanism that makes the notorious Black Sigatoka fungus less sensitive to the main chemical crop protection products used against the disease. The discovery shines light on this increasingly reduced sensitivity and underlines the importance of developing banana varieties resistant […]
Moving beyond high yield as measure of success
Agri-Tech East and AHDB (the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) have announced a joint initiative to accelerate the adoption of innovation in the field. A new position of ‘Knowledge and Innovation Facilitator’ is being created to help deliver a programme of new projects. The announcement was made at Agri-Tech East’s REAP, the flagship conference for […]
Crops evolving ten millennia before experts thought
Professor Robin Allaby, in Warwick’s School of Life Sciences, has discovered that human crop gathering was so extensive as long ago as the last Ice Age, that it started to have an effect on the evolution of rice, wheat and barley – triggering the process which turned these plants from wild to domesticated. In Tell […]
Barley scientists discover path to improved grain quality
Scientists from the International Barley Hub have discovered a genetic pathway to improved barley grain size and uniformity, a finding which may help breeders develop future varieties suited to the needs of growers and distillers. In the latest issue of Nature Communications, cereal genetics researchers working with Professor Robbie Waugh and Dr Sarah McKim, at […]
Building sustainability and resilience in organic supply chains
Maintaining stability and confidence in supply chains could become increasingly complex in the face of an uncertain Brexit with potential changes in the way we trade with other nations. For an expanding organic market, a failure to understand and face these challenges could have consequences for future growth. With this in mind, Soil Association Certification […]
Organic food uses blockchain technology to further supply chain transparency this Organic September
This Organic September, Soil Association Certification has teamed up with start-up tech firm Provenance to pilot technology which tracks the journey of organic food from farm to shop shelf. From 6 September, shoppers will be able to tap their smartphones on packets of Eversfield Organics bacon on sale in select As Nature Intended stores, and […]
Brake calls for compulsory rural driving lessons for learners
Road safety charity Brake is today calling for compulsory lessons on rural roads for learner drivers, as part of a graduated licensing system, to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. In 2015, the last year for which statistics are available, 120 young drivers lost their lives in crashes – 80 per cent of these occurring on […]
Scottish seed exporters set to increase tonnage to Brazil and Kenya
Government representatives from Scotland and Brazil met in July to simplify the import classification requirements for seed potatoes. The game-changing meeting was organised and funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Brazil produces circa 3.6m tonnes of potatoes a year according to UN figures, however in terms of productivity yields are only two […]
Making room for pollinators need not harm farm productivity
Farmers attending two recent Campaign for the Farmed Environment events heard from experts that supporting pollinators and crop pest predators can help improve crop yields, delivering a win-win for farming and wildlife. The two events, held in Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire, were in partnership with Kings and Syngenta. Speakers shared their research as well as guidance […]
