Ag Innovation
John LaRose Jr. John LaRose Jr.
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Corn/Maize, Soybeans, Sorghum, Young Farmers, Sustainability, Ag Innovation, Government / Policies, Ag Africa,

Young agri-entrepreneur shines in rural Zimbabwe

While agriculture forms an integral part of Zimbabwe’s economy, many young people still think of it as back-breaking labor that offers little economic benefit. However, things are slowly changing, …

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Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Agriculture US, Food/Nutrition, Ag Innovation,

Munsee Meats looks to disrupt the system as pandemic wreaks havoc on meat industry

In its 64th year, Munsee Meats has new owners and a new brand, geared toward going directly to consumers due to COVID-19.

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Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Corn/Maize, Fertilizer, Ag Innovation, Ag Startups & Financing,

Startup Joyn Bio aims to reduce pollution involved in large-scale agriculture

A startup is using the tools of synthetic biology to reduce the pollution involved in large-scale agriculture.The big picture: We face two major challenges around farming: how to feed a still-growing global population, and how to do so without ruining the environment. Advances in synthetic biology could help us do both.Support safe, smart, sane journalism. Sign up for Axios Newsletters here.How it works: Joyn Bio, a joint venture between synthetic biology leader Ginkgo Bioworks and life sciences giant Bayer, is experimenting with engineering microbes that could help replace the synthetic fertilizer and chemicals used in conventional farming. * The company is focusing first on developing custom microbes that could fix nitrogen in the soil to feed growing cereal crops like corn, what Joyn Bio CEO Michael Miille calls the "Holy Grail of agriculture."Background: Plants need nitrogen to grow efficiently, but there's not enough naturally in soil to support the crops needed to feed a global population of nearly 8 billion people. * The Haber-Bosch process to artificially fix nitrogen using fertilizer transformed agriculture — by one estimate only 4 billion people could be supported using natural fertilizer — but the energy intensity of the process contributes to climate change, while fertilizer runoff leads to water pollution and aquatic dead zones.Details: Joyn Bio identifies natural microbes in the soil that show promise in fixing nitrogen and then "engineers them to perform at an entirely different level," says Miille. * The company aims to engineer microbes that can fix nitrogen efficiently enough that synthetic fertilizer use could be cut by 30–50% without affecting crop yield. * Miille says that currently, Joyn Bio's engineered microbes are efficient enough to reduce fertilizer use by 10% or so, though the company still needs to overcome regulatory hurdles and consumer acceptance before it could reach the marketplace."Agriculture needs innovation to be successful. The status quo is not going to get us the...

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John LaRose Jr. John LaRose Jr.
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Dairy, Agriculture US, Economics, Ag Innovation,

New generation of Wisconsin dairy farmers look for a future that keeps them on the land, following their passion

They're questioning whether they should keep going when the next round of hard times, which\u00a0never seems far away, could force them out of business.

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Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Vegetables, Food/Nutrition, Ag Innovation, Urban Farming,

MIT Scientists Got Spinach to Send them an Email

You wouldn’t know it, but plants are constantly taking in information.  

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Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Agriculture Global, Trade (Commodities), Ag Innovation,

Top Ten Technologies That Will Change International Trade

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and services, which have kept international trade flowing even as the movement of people has been restricted. From IoT to digital payments, technologies are rapidly changing the trade ecosystem, yet few have studied the opportunities and challenges that come with these changes. Today, the World […]

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Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Water, Aquaculture/Fish Farming, Ag Innovation, Climate Change,

Such an innovative idea!

Hurricane Sandy battered NYC 8 years ago. Since then, how has the city shored up against future superstorms? Oyster castles.

An artificial oyster reef in upper Manhattan is part of the ongoing effort to use “green” infrastructure to mitigate rising sea levels and increased flood risks.

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John LaRose Jr. John LaRose Jr.
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Precision AG , Agriculture Global, Economics, Sustainability, Ag Innovation, World Hunger, World Population,

Women must be ‘at the heart of sustainability conversation’ in farming, says MEP

Women farmers must be at the forefront of the sustainable farming discussion, but they say there are still barriers in the way and a lack of support for their entry into the profession.

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