https://phys.org/biology-news/agriculture/ en-us Agriculture, livestock, farming and food processing news Scientists at VIB and Ghent University have produced the first high-resolution, cell-by-cell map of how tomato roots respond to colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These ancient fungal partners help plants absorb nutrients from the soil. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-tomato-roots-reveal-hidden-million.html Ecology Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:00:02 EDT news706263781 New research into seafood consumption and production in Brazil highlights how one of the world's most populous countries could build healthier and more sustainable food systems by encouraging people to eat more seafood, developing sustainable and nutritionally diverse aquaculture, and better managing fisheries. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-brazil-vast-coastline-food-insecurity.html Ecology Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:10:01 EDT news706204141 A new study underscores the importance of studying microbes in their natural setting rather than relying solely on laboratory research. Researchers found that a set of corn root bacteria behaved completely differently when grown on the plant rather than in a lab, with thousands of proteins changing when placed in their natural habitat. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-microbes-drastically-behavior-lab.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:02 EDT news706186142 Researchers at the University of Maryland and their collaborators have cloned a gene that makes wheat resistant to feeding by Hessian fly larvae and demonstrated its direct interaction with a protein produced by the insect. The research breaks through a longstanding barrier to understanding and engineering pest resistance in wheat. It is described in a research paper published Aug. 14, 2026, in the journal Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-wheat-gene-hessian-fly-resistance.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:20:04 EDT news705936181 The United States could exhaust its domestic phosphorus supply within 40 years. Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia already depend on imports from China and Morocco to meet their needs. Without phosphorus, crops cannot grow—and without a reliable supply of the mineral, the world's food supply is at risk. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-exhaust-domestic-phosphorus-years-reserves.html Agriculture Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:40:04 EDT news705924241 ETH researchers have used a sustainability program for cocoa cultivation in Côte d'Ivoire to demonstrate that, in one in four cases, data was manipulated to meet the program's requirements. If the auditor were aware of the required target values, data manipulation increased significantly. Where these values were unknown, the frequency of fraudulent alterations halved. The findings provide important insights for companies, public authorities and certification bodies to ensure sustainable supply chains and the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-cocoa-farm-sustainability.html Agriculture Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:40:04 EDT news705839264 Every tomato begins with a flower. But before a fruit can grow, an intricate sequence of events must happen in perfect order. The flower's male and female organs must develop together, pollen must be released at exactly the right time, and fertilization must occur. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-weather.html Biotechnology Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:10:01 EDT news705767641 University of Bristol–led researchers have identified a naturally occurring gut molecule that could strengthen chickens' immune response against a wide range of bacterial infections. This development, published today, Aug. 12, in The Journal of Immunology, offers a major step forward in sustainable farming and the global fight against antibiotic resistance. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-immune-reprogramming-poultry-deadly-diseases.html Veterinary medicine Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:20:01 EDT news705747624 In the Midwestern summer, humans and plants have to breathe through the heat and humidity. Researchers hope that a retooled crop plant—one with an improved ventilation system within its leaves—could thrive while avoiding drought stress by reducing "crop sweat." Thanks to next-generation imaging technology powered by Argonne National Laboratory's particle collider beamline, a team of scientists now has precise schematics of the leaf's interior and can refine approaches to breeding hardier crop plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ray-analysis-reveals-life-advancing.html Biotechnology Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:50:01 EDT news705684001 Scientists from the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) at Murdoch University have participated in a landmark proof-of-concept research project demonstrating how pangenome-guided breeding strategies can reunite two traits that usually involve trade-offs: stress tolerance and yield. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-himalayan-grain-potential-pangenome-higher.html Plants & Animals Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:30:01 EDT news705683822 A new study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scientists reveals critically low genetic variation in one of the country's primary breeding stocks for corn. The finding relates specifically to grain yield in intermediate-maturity hybrids, which dominate commercial production in the U.S. and represent nearly a third of the world's corn production. The researchers say it's a crisis waiting to happen. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-major-genetic-weakness-threatens-future.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:04 EDT news705670021 A new archaeobotanical study by researchers from the University of Oxford and Kiel University (CAU) has revealed that increases in cereal grain size at the dawn of agriculture, more than 11,000 years ago, were initially driven by plants' plastic responses to favorable growing conditions, rather than by genetic selection under cultivation as previously thought. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-early-farmers-larger-grains-rainfall.html Evolution Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:40:05 EDT news705669182 Engineers have developed a strain of a common bacterial species that can feed exclusively on the three major sugars present in corn stalks. While the new multiple-sugar-consuming strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas putida is interesting in its own right, a new paper published in Nature Communications on July 29, 2026, outlines the broader implications of this project for the future of biomanufacturing. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-corn-stalk-sugars-bacterial-strain.html Biotechnology Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:20:04 EDT news705573361 An international research team led by plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, the MiBiNet Collaborative Research Center and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences has identified the region of the genome in the pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae responsible for producing a specific protein that the pathogen secretes during infection. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-mobile-fungal-starship-protein-triggers.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:40:01 EDT news705321153 A new genomic resource from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomics team is providing a powerful new foundation for faster, more precise turfgrass genetics and breeding. The team discovered a breakthrough genome that finally reveals the full genetic blueprint of zoysia grass. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-full-zoysia-grass-genetic-blueprint.html Biotechnology Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:20:01 EDT news705320702 In an effort to develop more environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides, researchers from Kyushu University have developed and tested a new insecticide made from compounds derived from garlic and spearmint. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-natural-insecticide-compound-garlic-spearmint.html Biotechnology Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:07 EDT news705317461 Agriculture covers more than 40% of Earth's habitable land and plays a central role in both climate change and biodiversity loss. Yet the impact of agriculture is far from evenly distributed across space. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-agricultural-accounts-thirds-global-impact.html Ecology Thu, 06 Aug 2026 17:40:05 EDT news705250742 Livestock farming requires valuable land to grow fodder, uses vast amounts of freshwater and contributes to global warming through methane and nitrous oxide emissions. And, for many consumers it is important to prevent animal suffering. For these reasons, the global market for meat alternatives is currently worth €6.7 billion to €8.1 billion per year and is projected to grow 8.1% to 12.3% each year over the next decade. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-powerhouses-fake-meat-muscle-protein.html Biotechnology Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:01 EDT news705158701 As climate change causes water scarcity and temperatures to rise, crops around the world are feeling the heat. How can we prevent severe crop losses in these relentlessly sweltering conditions? An international research team led by Tohoku University has identified a new class of small molecules that enhances plant drought tolerance without any major negative impact on plant growth. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-molecule-class-hardy-drought-tolerant.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:00:01 EDT news705143221 Symbioses between plants and fungi are essential for most plants. Fungal structures known as mycorrhizae extend the area from which plants can draw water and nutrients from the soil. In return, plants supply the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis. Although the importance of this symbiosis has been known for decades, researchers have not previously been able to study the underground network in its natural structure. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-underground-fungal-networks-3d-view.html Ecology Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:40:06 EDT news704987401 A highly contagious herpes virus causes Marek's disease, a deadly illness that mainly infects chickens. While it does not make people sick, the virus causes tumors and paralysis in chickens and, if unchecked, can spread rapidly through entire flocks. https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ten-viral-genome-regions-deadly.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:40:04 EDT news704979061 New York University researchers have pinpointed the molecular players responsible for plants "feeling full" once they've taken up enough nitrogen—a finding that could help scientists develop plants that absorb more nitrogen from the soil and allow farmers to reduce environmentally and economically costly fertilizer applications. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-newly-unearthed-mechanism-full-crops.html Molecular & Computational biology Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:00:01 EDT news704640939 Strict regulations have prevented continental U.S. beekeepers from participating in the lucrative organic honey market, but new research finds that bees' actual habits make certain rules too extreme. The findings potentially provide evidence for federal agencies to ease restrictions and open organic markets to U.S. producers. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-insights-bee-biology-ease-honey.html Ecology Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:01 EDT news704644013 Two plants that cause neurotoxicity and paralysis in the tiniest doses are also known to counter pain, malaria, cancer and pests. For the first time, researchers discovered a way to recreate these powerful compounds in the lab, helping lead the way to improved, naturally sourced therapeutics. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-deadly-blooms-genetic-blueprint-hard.html Agriculture Sat, 01 Aug 2026 07:00:06 EDT news704728495 An innovative formulation based on natural compounds could become a sustainable alternative for controlling moniliasis, one of the most devastating diseases affecting cocoa in Latin America. A new study shows that emulsions combining fengycin—a lipopeptide produced by bacteria of the genus Bacillus—with essential oils can significantly inhibit the growth of the fungus Moniliophthora roreri, responsible for losses that can exceed 70–80% of the harvest. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-natural-emulsion-fungus-threatens-cocoa.html Biotechnology Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:40:01 EDT news704643541 A new study on how rising temperatures will affect rice production in Science Advances compares 214 observations from field-warming experiments with seven crop models, revealing modeled estimates for yield reductions from 1°C of global warming were roughly half those of the real-world observed experiments (3.8% instead of 8.1%). The study was led by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research with contributions from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). https://phys.org/news/2026-07-global-threatens-rice-harvests-crop.html Agriculture Wed, 29 Jul 2026 14:00:16 EDT news704542021 Scientists have found a genetic switch that could shave years off avocado breeding by allowing researchers to identify one of a young tree's most important traits long before it flowers. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-gene-discovery-years-avocado.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:40:04 EDT news704532781 A study published in Royal Society Open Science reveals striking trade-offs when it comes to different methods of egg production. Using UK data, the study compared several possible scenarios for the egg industry, including shifts to barn, free-range and organic systems, while keeping egg output constant. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-free-range-egg-production-negative.html Ecology Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:10:01 EDT news704459522 Ants are known allies in the fight against coffee pests known as coffee berry borers. Now, a discovery made by Jonathan "Jonno" Morris while he was a University of Michigan graduate student has revealed there may be a new dimension to this protection. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-small-ants-evict-coffee-pests.html Ecology Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:20:02 EDT news704458620 University of Missouri researchers are turning a unique variety of corn into an effective natural alternative to artificial food dyes. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-purple-corn-stable-natural-alternative.html Biotechnology Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:40:01 EDT news704382541