Nancy Kavazanjian Nancy Kavazanjian
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Agriculture US, Economics, USDA,

America’s rural crisis triggers calls for Biden to name rural czar

President Joe Biden's platform lays out ambitious goals for rural regions.

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

With renewed focus on prevention, insurers begin covering food as way to improve health

Food has become a bigger focus for health insurers as they look to expand their coverage beyond just the care that happens in a doctor's office.

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John LaRose Jr. John LaRose Jr.
shared this article 4 years ago
Topics: Economics, Sustainability, Ag Europe, Government / Policies, World Population, Renewable Energy (Solar/Wind),

Renewables overtook fossil fuels as EU’s main power source in 2020

Renewables generated 38% of the EU’s electricity in 2020, overtaking coal and gas to become the main source of electricity for the first time ever in Europe, according to fresh data released on Monday (25 January).

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TOPIC(S): USDA, Government / Policies,

01/25/2021 SOURCE: www.progressivecattle.com

What a blue Congress could mean for ag

The January special elections for Georgia Senate seats have ended in a narrow victory for Democrats.

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TOPIC(S): Dairy, Coronavirus/COVID, Ag North America,

01/25/2021 SOURCE: ca.style.yahoo.com

Police clear customers buying milk from farm shop vending machine with 'COVID fines warning'

Police officers visit the site every day, its owners said.

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TOPIC(S): Dairy, Beef Cattle, Renewable Energy (Solar/Wind),

01/25/2021 SOURCE: www.progressivedairy.com

Methane from manure: An income stream to consider

Partnering with a management company, a Vermont dairy looks to feed a digester for financial and environmental gains.

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TOPIC(S): Beef Cattle, Ranching,

01/25/2021 SOURCE: norfolkdailynews.com

Important to have tools readily available during calving

LINCOLN - Farmers and ranchers are getting ready for the upcoming calving season.

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TOPIC(S): GMO's, CRISPR/Gene Editing, Ag Europe,

01/25/2021 SOURCE: www.potatonewstoday.com

France backs non-GMO regulation for crop gene-editing in EU

According to a Reuters report, France sees crops developed using gene-editing techniques as different to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and opposes a European Union court decision to put the…

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TOPIC(S): Agriculture US, Government / Policies,

01/25/2021 SOURCE: www.politico.com

America’s rural crisis triggers calls for Biden to name rural czar

President Joe Biden's platform lays out ambitious goals for rural regions.

Read More

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