science wire

Agronomy / Food Science - Environment - 01.01.2017

New Stanford project will study development of Iran’s economy
The Iranian Studies Program at Stanford launched a new initiative, called Stanford Iran 2040 Project, that will produce research and analyses on Iran's economy.

History / Archeology - Agronomy / Food Science - 19.12.2016

The history of Christmas turkeys
Professor Rebecca Earle, food historian at the University of Warwick has been investigating the traditional Christmas turkey, in order to find out how this north American bird has become a mainstay of festive food.

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 15.12.2016

Road planning ’trade off’ could boost food production while helping protect tropical forests
Scientists hope a new approach to planning road infrastructure that could increase crop yield in the Greater Mekong region while limiting environmental destruction will open dialogues between developers and the conservation community.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 15.12.2016

Obesity in adolescents increases risk of heart disease
Obesity in adolescents significantly increases their risk of heart disease regardless of ethnicity A new study published today in BMJ Open has found a link between obesity in adolescents and their risk of developing heart disease in early adulthood, regardless of ethnicity. People of South Asian or Black African descent are known to have a four and three-fold higher risk of diabetes compared with White Europeans.

Agronomy / Food Science - 14.12.2016

Seven vegetable calories to one calorie of animal origin
Many people think that a vegan lifestyle is all about renunciation and asceticism. A group of TUM students is trying to work against this prejudgment and to inspire fellow vegetarians and vegans at the same time.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 13.12.2016

’Win-win’ for wildlife, African farmers stems from partnership
Namibian farmer Robin Lyonga was hoping to sell his cattle to an accredited slaughterhouse that exported meat for a good price.

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 11.12.2016

Methane from food production could be wildcard in combating climate change, Stanford scientist says
Reports co-authored by Stanford Earth scientist show concentrations of methane approaching an internationally recognized worst-case scenario and highlight opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and fossil fuel use.

Agronomy / Food Science - Economics / Business - 09.12.2016

N.Y. brewers, growers bet the farm on fickle grain
Malting barley is an essential ingredient for brewing beer. And since its very recent reintroduction to New York agriculture after several decades of prohibition and disease-induced dormancy, it has also been very challenging to grow to market grade.

Agronomy / Food Science - 08.12.2016

Life onboard the research boat
What are Vanessa, Julia and Jim doing in the Amazon? Read their first blog post to find out! "It's manioc," declared André, our Brazilian colleague, over our first breakfast aboard the boat.

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 07.12.2016

Conservation effort spreads seeds of destruction across the Midwest
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 05.12.2016

Tanzania partners with Cornell-affiliated NextGen Cassava
Tanzania recently became a partner of the Cornell-based Next Generation Cassava Breeding project (NextGen), joining Nigeria and Uganda in the global effort to improve cassava breeding in Africa.

Economics / Business - Agronomy / Food Science - 05.12.2016

Gatton Gold Medallist recognised for advancing rural and regional communities

Agronomy / Food Science - 28.11.2016

Administration - Agronomy / Food Science - 25.11.2016

Three rising stars join ARC College of Experts
Three University of Queensland professors have been appointed to the Australian Research Council College of Experts for 2017.

Administration - Agronomy / Food Science - 25.11.2016

Three UQ rising stars join ARC College of Experts
Three University of Queensland professors have been appointed to the Australian Research Council College of Experts for 2017.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 23.11.2016

Team receives research grant to improve infant health and development
A research team at the University of Oxford has received a $2.8million research grant from the Swiss-based Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, to improve health and development of preterm infants around the world. A global research project that aims to improve the health, nutritional status and development of preterm infants has been awarded a $2.8million grant from the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation (FLRF).

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 23.11.2016

$10m research project seeks ’superfoods’ to keep us healthy
Fruit, vegetables and nuts with particular health-giving benefits will be the focus of a $10 million research project at The University of Queensland. Horticulture Innovation Australia will co-fund scientists at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation - a strategic joint-initiative between UQ and the Queensland Government - to work with their AgriScience colleagues at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to investigate potential 'superfoods'.

Agronomy / Food Science - Event - 22.11.2016

Undergrad researchers make pitches at CURBx
At CURBx - Cornell's version of TEDx Talks - seven undergraduate students each explained their humanities and STEM research in a five-minute presentation.

Agronomy / Food Science - Administration - 18.11.2016

Nutrition revolution "FoodConnects" flies under TU Munich flag
Research news It was a resounding success at the European level: The European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) has announced the winner of the competitive, large-scale project EIT Food, which has an endowment of 400 million euros.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 18.11.2016

Does where you live affect what you weigh?
Adult obesity rates in the United States have reached epidemic proportions, with one in four people considered obese. Yet, obesity rates vary considerably across states and counties. In a new study, researchers at the Yale Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI) explored community-level factors that may be associated with reduced adult obesity rates in counties within states that have a high adult obesity rate.

Agronomy / Food Science - Economics / Business - 17.11.2016

Digital agriculture report looks to data-driven future
Cornell experts issued a report this week outlining the opportunities and challenges facing New York state's farmers and food producers as emerging digital technologies shape the agriculture industry.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 17.11.2016

Plant breeders take cues from consumers to improve kale
Hannah Swegarden, right, and technician Matt Wavrick transplant a kale cultivar from a research field at the Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm in Freeville, New York.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 16.11.2016

Fish oil supplements may improve muscle function in older women
Taking omega-3 supplements could improve muscle function in older women, potentially increasing their quality of life into old age and preventing unnecessary falls and loss of independence. In a new study led by the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen and published today in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , scientists have found that supplementing the diet of older women with 3g of fish oil results in greater increases (when compared to a 3g of safflower oil placebo) in their muscle function when combined with resistance exercise training over 18 weeks.

Life Sciences - Agronomy / Food Science - 16.11.2016

Way to boost rice crop yield -- they’ll walk on the wild side
To help stave off global hunger, Cornell University plant breeders - on a treasure hunt armed with genome maps - have discovered genes in wild rice species that may help boost production of some of the world's major agricultural crops. "We've gone back and found wild species that contain genes that may help us boost production," said Steven D. Tanksley, Cornell's Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Plant Breeding and Biometry.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 15.11.2016

Sugar content of fizzy drinks alarmingly high
The sugar content in carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages was found to be up to 52.8 grams per 330 mL can, or 12 teaspoons, according to a study by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 14.11.2016

‘Probiotics’ on salad greens could make them safer, healthier
Friendly bacteria may be introduced to bagged salad leaves to help ward off the possibility of salmonella and listeria outbreaks.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 11.11.2016

Pest control: Wicked weeds may be agricultural angels
Farmers looking to reduce reliance on pesticides, herbicides and other pest management tools may want to heed the advice of Cornell agricultural scientists: Let nature be nature - to a degree.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 10.11.2016

Vacancies on Agroscope Executive Board all filled: Alain Gaume as Head of ‘Plant Pro-tection’
Bern, 10.11.2016 - Dr. Alain Gaume will be the new Head of Agroscope's 'Plant Protection' Strategic Research Division.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 10.11.2016

Vacancies on Agroscope Executive Board all filled: Alain Gaume as Head of ‘Plant Protection’
Bern, 10.11.2016 - Dr. Alain Gaume will be the new Head of Agroscope's 'Plant Protection' Strategic Research Division.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 02.11.2016

Soda prices may only partly bubble up if taxes pass
Four cities will be voting Nov. 8 on whether to tax soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages. Some proponents say the taxes would raise prices by exactly the amount of the tax, encouraging consumers to cut down on soda and improve their health. But research shows that prices might rise by only half that amount - or even less, says a Cornell economist who studied a similar tax imposed in Berkeley, California.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 02.11.2016

Trimming the spare tire: Canola oil may cut belly fat
NEW ORLEANS - Including canola oil in a healthy diet may help reduce abdominal fat in as little as four weeks, according to health researchers.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 28.10.2016

Gene that determines floral sex may be key to new hybrid seeds
A Yale University-led team of scientists has discovered a key gene in that controls the sex of maize flowers - a discovery that could open the door to creation of highly productive hybrid seed in many agricultural plants the authors say.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 25.10.2016

UCLA dietitians weigh in on whether a soda tax would help curb obesity
iStock.com/Stephanie Phillips Soda not only is made up empty calories, but it also provides no beneficial nutrient intake whatsoever, said UCLA's Dana Hunnes.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 25.10.2016

Cornell leads effort to train farmers on new produce safety rules
Cornell is leading a national alliance aimed at improving the safety of fresh produce and helping fruit and vegetable growers meet new regulatory requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 25.10.2016

UCLA dietitians argue the case for soda taxes to help curb obesity
Several U.S. cities and other countries have enacted taxes on soda and sugar-sweetened beverages as a way to fight the worldwide rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Event - Agronomy / Food Science - 25.10.2016

Customs House is cream of the crop

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 24.10.2016

GP referral to weight loss programme is effective, welcomed and takes 30 seconds
Tackling obesity by offering the opportunity to attend a weight loss programme during a routine consultation is effective, welcomed by patients and takes 30 seconds of physicians' time, according to a new randomised trial of more than 1,800 people published in The Lancet . The findings should provide reassurance to doctors who rarely talk to patients about their weight for fear of causing offence, lack of time or belief that they are ineffective.

Life Sciences - Agronomy / Food Science - 24.10.2016

Parasitic plants may form weapons out of genes stolen from hosts
Claude dePamphilis, professor of biology in Penn State's Eberly College of Science, displays a broomrape, a parasitic plant growing from grindella, in a greenhouse adjacent to Buckhout Laboratory. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Sneaky parasitic weeds may be able to steal genes from the plants they are attacking and then use those genes against the host plant, according to a team of scientists.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 24.10.2016

Holiday Pounds’ Don’t Look for a Quick Fix. Do Your Research
The holidays are here and many people are thinking about food - lots and lots of delicious food. And when the holidays are over, many will be considering the vast array of dieting options available.

Agronomy / Food Science - Life Sciences - 19.10.2016

$1.2M grant to help Cornell eradicate potato pest
Michael Murphy '17, left; Kathryn Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; State Sen.

Chemistry - Agronomy / Food Science - 17.10.2016

Grant to help dairy farms avoid setbacks from extreme weather
Research technician Chris Pelzer drives graduate student Ann Bybee-Finley as she plants a mixture of forage crops at the Cornell Musgrave Research Farm.

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 14.10.2016

Small-scale agriculture threatens the rainforest
An extensive study led by a researcher at Lund University in Sweden has mapped the effects of small farmers on the rain forests of Southeast Asia for the first time. The findings are discouraging, with regard to environmental impact, biodiversity and the economy, over the long term. Until now, studies of this kind have always focused largely on large-scale palm oil producers and how they exploit the forest and soil.

Agronomy / Food Science - Health - 14.10.2016

Programs empower women farmers around the world
Nepal'Agricultural-Research'Council-scientist'Sunita-Adhikari?teaches wheat'farmers'near'Pokhara,'Nepal'about'rust'diseases'and new varieties of wheat they could be planting.

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 14.10.2016

Agricultural performance, food security, bioeconomy & innovation: INRA’s global strategy for the next ten years
Stabilise global warming, reduce food insecurity, ensure energy transitions, construct agricultural systems for the future, prepare Open Science and Big Data..

Environment - Agronomy / Food Science - 13.10.2016

Scientists call for urgent rethink of tropical peatland palm oil and drainage-based agriculture
An honorary associate professor at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) is among scientists campaigning to dispel the myth that palm oil and other drainage-based agriculture can be developed on tropical peat soils through current agricultural practices.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 13.10.2016

Researchers Mine Twitter for Cardiovascular Disease Research
A high-fat-diet-induced immune reaction causes inflammation leading to intestinal cancer in a mouse model - even among animals that are not obese - according to a new study from the Perelman School o

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 13.10.2016

Preventing child obesity in the next generation
Preventing child obesity in the next generation must start before conception The key to preventing obesity in future generations is to make (their) parents healthier before they conceive, leading health researchers suggest.

Agronomy / Food Science - 12.10.2016

Extension educators make ag development connections
Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Community Development program work team recently hosted a two-day workshop for CCE educators and other agriculture support entities.

Health - Agronomy / Food Science - 12.10.2016

What Babies and Older Kids Should and Should Not Drink
What to feed babies and older children is one of the most common topics parents ask pediatricians. We all want to do whatâ??s best for our children, but we also want a night of reasonably uninterrupted sleep, a happy child and a chance to enjoy mealtime with our family.

Agronomy / Food Science - Economics / Business - 11.10.2016

Livestock donation programs reduce poverty, improve food security and nutrition
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Two papers co-written by a pair of University of Illinois experts in agricultural policy and international development point to the wealth of positive effects that direct livestock-transfer programs have on impoverished communities in rural Africa.