Ants help reveal why sourcing different plants for eco fuels is crucial for biodiversity
From Frontiers 02/02/24 Despite being a renewable energy source, the use of biofuel is controversial, as growing few, highly productive crops for fuel can lead to biodiversity loss in the cropping systems where biomass is produced. A cropping system refers to the crops, their sequence, and the management practices on a given field. Now, researchers […]
Coffee and cocoa plants at risk from pollinator loss
From University College London 06/11/23 Tropical crops such as coffee, cocoa, watermelon and mango may be at risk due to the loss of insect pollinators, finds a new study led by UCL and Natural History Museum researchers. Published in Science Advances, the study explores the intricate interplay between climate change, land use change, and their […]
Are you a grow-bot? AI drones to help farmers optimise vegetable harvests
From University of Tokyo 09/10/23 For reasons of food security and economic incentive, farmers continuously seek to maximize their marketable crop yields. As plants grow inconsistently, at the time of harvesting, there will inevitably be variations in quality and size of individual crops. Finding the optimal time to harvest is therefore a priority for farmers. […]