Science

Recycling trees onsite can sequester carbon, save water and increase crop yields, making it a climate-smart practice for California’s irrigated almond orchards, finds a study from the University of California, Davis. Whole orchard recycling is when old orchard trees are ground, chipped and turned back into the soil before new almond trees are planted. The study, published...

Continuing their research into potential ingredients for human-safe pesticides, Drexel University researchers recently found an artificial sweetener that, while harmless for male fruit flies, proved particularly lethal for females. Past research conducted by Drexel College of Arts and Sciences' Sean O'Donnell, PhD, professor and associate department head of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science (BEES) and Daniel Marenda, PhD, an...

The nashi pear, also known for their crisp, water content, grainy textures and its use for tenderizing meat. Researcher's from CISRO, the Australian government's scientific research organisation, found out that this fruit contains mega anti- inflammatory agents that can help you manage the damage done by a hangover. They discovered that drinkers who took nashi pear 5 hours before drinking...

The award ceremony of the “FERRERO HAZELNUT AWARD CONTEST” took place at EXPO Milan 2015: an award that is focused on financing and improving research and innovation in the hazelnut sector. The award was launched by the Ferrero Hazelnut Company, which - as explained by Managing Director Lucio Gomiero – “aims at developing the hazelnut industry on a worldwide...

DAVIS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: RKDA), an agricultural technology company, announced that the European Patent Office has granted a key patent for its Water Use Efficiency (WUE) trait. The patent covers the use of Arcadia’s WUE trait to develop drought resistant and water efficient plants, which will help growers produce higher yields per unit of available water. The...

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RF Biocidics’ state-of-the-art food safety equipment has been validated by the Almond Board of California Technical Expert Review Panel (TERP). The decision confirms third-party test results that show RF Biocidics’ chemical-free process in use at Madera-based Ready Roast Nut Company effectively eliminates pathogens like Salmonella from almonds, making them safe to eat. “We are proud to be a...

Valued at $4.82 billion in 2014, the seed treatment market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8 percent by 2020, according to a recently released report from research firm, MarketsandMarkets. The “Seed Treatment Market - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020" report said North America led the global seed treatment market in 2014, with the...

Accumulation of nitrate and oxalate is a concern in the production and marketing of leafy vegetables. High nitrate levels can be related to fertilization regime, light conditions and plant factors. Plant factors are of major importance for oxalate content. Plant breeding has been reported as one way of reducing the content of nitrate and oxalate. In this study we...

Radio frequency (RF) heating is considered as a potential postharvest technology for disinfesting agricultural products. Heating uniformity is one of the most important problems in practical applications. In this study, three different comparison experiments were conducted to evaluate the heating uniformity in a 6 kW, 27.12 MHz parallel plate RF heating system with a free-running oscillator. The three sample...

Dow CEO Andrew Liveris recently said the company has both the curiosity and the capacity to acquire Syngenta's seed business if Monsanto were to acquire its Swiss rival in a hostile takeover. Syngenta rejected a recent takeover bid by Monsanto, saying it was not in the best interest for the company, its shareholders or other stakeholders. Following Syngenta's rejection of a deal,...