Agritech startup offers bio-based alternatives to better yield and improve crop quality.

Agritech startup offers bio-based alternatives to better yield and improve crop quality. India is primarily an agrarian economy where the agriculture is highly dependent on rains. That’s why the choice of agric inputs plays an important role in the final produce of any farmer. Unfortunately, in most cases farmers don’t consider bio-based agri inputs and end up using harmful chemicals, which do not help the overall health and life of the soil and the quality of the crop. 48-year-old Santosh Nair, who has earlier worked with various banks and was the chief executive of Camson Bio, a listed biotech company, decided to start Miklens Bio. This agritech startup offers bio-based agri inputs that aid alternative, chemical-free farming. Explaining why he decided to start up in the agricultural space, Santosh says, “I have been a banker all my life, yet I always had a soft corner for agriculture. One important thing which compelled me to set up Miklens Bio was the power of microbes. I decided to harness this power to introduce revolutionary, clean technology-based products. This technology is the core of our product development known as Agri-Microbial Technology (AMT).” Agritech

Ogbe seeks collaboration between agric Universities and Ministry of Agriculture.

Ogbe seeks collaboration between agric Universities and Ministry of Agriculture. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday called for increased collaborations between Universities of Agriculture(UAs) and relevant agencies of the government as part of efforts to boost agriculture in Nigeria. Ogbe made the call in Abeokuta while delivering a lecture organised as part of activities for the 23rd, 24th and 25th combined Convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB) . Ogbe seeks collaboration between agric Universities and Ministry of Agriculture.

Spanish project seeks to improve climate change tolerance in tomatoes.

Spanish project seeks to improve climate change tolerance in tomatoes.More than 70 percent of the planet's fresh water is used for agriculture, and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) warns of a greater risk of droughts, which in certain regions may limit the local production of certain foods. The problem of water scarcity coincides with the pollution of water resources; fertilizers and pesticides are affecting its quality and the environmental cost to pay is very high. How can we meet this challenge? The slogan "more food per drop of water" is the challenge, but this goes beyond optimising irrigation systems; it requires an interdisciplinary approach. Obtaining drought-resistant plants is not easy; it entails a thorough understanding of their molecular and physiological processes, as well as the development of agronomic and crop precision techniques.Spanish project seeks to improve climate change tolerance in tomatoes.

Probiotics: Microbes poised to transform food production and health.

Microbes poised to transform food production and health. At Canada’s Food University, microbes are rapidly emerging as a star player in the quest to produce food safely and sustainably, and improve gut health in both food animals and consumers.

This is because microbes – ubiquitous yet virtually invisible to the naked eye – play essential but usually unsung roles across the food chain. 

 Some of these roles are well known; for example, microbes help cycle nutrients in soil, making them available for crop uptake and growth, and without microorganisms we wouldn’t have some of our favourite foods such as cheese, yoghurt, wine and beer. 

But other roles are just beginning to be understood, such as the ability of “good” microbes to suppress harmful pathogens in soil, plants, food products and the gut. Microbes poised to transform food production and health.

Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions.

Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions. New research at the University of Guelph has found a way to safely extract the free-radical fighting properties of Ontario-grown onions, creating new opportunities for Ontario farmers and the nutraceutical and food production industries. In the not-so-distant future, you could be enjoying the healthy properties of onions through supplements, additives and creams. Scientist have long known that onions carry the highest content of quercetin (an antioxidant flavonoid) of nearly 40 different fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids like quercetin attract and neutralize free radicals – the naturally-occurring molecules in human tissue that can lead to cancerous cells. Researchers extract cancer-fighting properties from Ontario grown onions.

AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases.

AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases. A New app diagnoses crop diseases and notifies farmers. A team of scientists has developed a mobile phone application which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately identify crop diseases in the field. The app also delivers the latest advice to manage all major diseases and pests that affect root, tuber and banana crops, and helps African farmers identify the nearest agricultural extension support for the farmers. AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases.The project which is being implemented by a global network of scientists is part of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research’s (CGIAR) research programme on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB). “As smartphones become more common in rural Africa, they also become handy in agricultural productivity.” AGRIBUSINESS: New app diagnoses crop diseases. “Smallholder farmers or extension officials having basic smartphones with a camera can download the application free of charge, run it up and point the camera at a leaf that has disease indications. They will then get an immediate diagnosis of the disease affecting the plant.” said Dr James Legg, a researcher at the IITA, in Tanzania, who heads the project alongside Dr David Hughes of Penn State University. New app diagnoses crop diseases and notifies farmers.

World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.

World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.Grown by gardener Chris Qualley of Minnesota, Canada the 22.44 pound carrot looks like an entire ecosystem of smaller carrots.Verified by Guinness World Records, the organisation says that the entire weight of the vegetable did not include any sticks, dirt or stones. The previous record, held by Peter Glazebrook from the United Kingdom, topped out at just over 20 pounds. World record breaking carrot weighs in at 23 pounds.