Seed Daily - Land Seed Water Food

October 11, 2016

Madagascar hillsides stripped bare as locals seek land
Ranomafana, Madagascar (AFP) Oct 9, 2016
"Last time, I burnt a section about that big," says Mihareta Laivoa, pointing to a parcel of land about the size of a football field, as the farmer admitted to having destroyed forest to make way for his crops. "I don't own a piece of land in the valley, so I have no choice," explains the 41-year-old father in a remote corner of Madagascar. "Without this, I wouldn't be able to survive." But the impact of deforestation on this south-eastern region of the African island nation has been devasta ... read more

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As arable land disappears, here come the vertical farmers As cities expand, eating up swathes of countryside in the process, agricultural pioneers are finding new ways to grow the fresh produce we need, in containers, empty buildings and any other spare space they can find to create new vertical farms. ... more		Australian-Chinese bid for massive cattle estate Australia's richest woman and a Chinese property developer joined forces Sunday to bid for one of the world's largest cattle estates, despite Canberra's rejection of previous foreign offers. ... more		Large animals most vulnerable to impact of human expansion Some of the most iconic giants of the animal kingdom, such as the imperious African elephant, are most vulnerable to the detrimental impact of human expansion, new research has shown. A team o ... more
				Flower attracts pollinating flies by mimicking smell of attacked bee When a honeybee succumbs to a spider, it releases a scent revealing its distress. Flies know the smell well. To them, the smell works like a dinner bell. The kleptoparasites track the smell to the defeated bee and gather to steal a meal from the triumphant spider. ... more		Brothers behind Ubisoft locked in real-life battle for control Nothing in the farming background of the Guillemot brothers, who hail from the remote Brittany region, destined them to one day do battle with France's most feared corporate raider. ... more

A terrible rift When Doug Wiens approached Minnesota farmers to ask permission to install a seismometer on their land, he often got a puzzled look. "You could tell they were thinking 'Why are you putting a seismome ... more		Which cropping system is best for the environment Early sown winter wheat, where the straw is removed every second year and used in biorefining, is the best of six different cereal cropping systems with regard to total environmental impact. W ... more		One billion Africans being harmed by cooking pollution US reaches civil nuclear cooperation accord with Bahrain American firms flag hit from US export controls targeting China		Invasive insects cause tens of billions in damage: study Invasive insects cause at least $77 billion (69 billion euros) in damage every year, according to a study released Tuesday that says this figure is "grossly underestimated" because it covers only a fraction of the globe. ... more
				Foreign farms increase the risk of conflicts in Africa For the first time, researchers point to areas in Africa where foreign agricultural companies' choice of crops and management of fresh water are partly responsible for the increased water shortages ... more		Microbes help plants survive in severe drought With California in its fifth year of severe drought and many western states experiencing another year of unusually dry conditions, plants are stressed. Agricultural crops, grasses and garden plants ... more

6th Annual Modular Construction Summit for Oil and Gas Agenda - December 7-9 - Houston

Nuclear Plant Digitalization Conference - Nov 15-16 - Charlotte NC USA

Salt's secret success in ancient Chaco Canyon A team of University of Cincinnati researchers had to go deep to uncover brand new knowledge that they say will "shake up" the archaeological field in the southwestern United States. Various s ... more		Soil management may help stabilize maize yield in the face of climate change How will we feed our growing population in the face of an increasingly extreme climate? Many experts suggest the answer lies in breeding novel crop varieties that can withstand the increases in drou ... more		China, India should work towards 'win-win' cooperation: Chinese FM US delays Patriot arms deliveries to Switzerland in switch to Ukraine US 'moving at haste' to get Ukraine weapons: envoy		World's deepest flooded cave found in Czech Republic A Czech-Polish team said Friday it had discovered the world's deepest underwater cave in the eastern Czech Republic. ... more
Can Africa's mobile money revolution reduce poverty? When farmer Isaac Tondo fell on lean times in Liberia's long rainy season, his brother in the capital sent 8,000 Liberian dollars (US$87) to his Lonestar mobile money account, ensuring his children's school fees would still be paid. ... more		Chinese giant turns to France to meet soaring demand for baby formula China's third largest baby formula producer on Wednesday opened a vast plant in France's Brittany region, whose prized dairy cows are set to contribute 100,000 tons of powdered milk a year to a growing Chinese market that mistrusts domestic production. ... more		Thirsty megacities poisoning rural groundwater A massive drawdown of water beneath delta-based megacities across the world may be pulling surface pollution deeper into the ground, risking contamination and health problems for local populations, a new study said Tuesday. ... more		Taking the environmental bite out of salmon farming In a peaceful bay off Norway's Hitra island, massive nets teem with salmon destined for dinner tables worldwide - an export boon for the Nordic nation that comes with a long list of environmental side-effects. ... more

	Review of studies finds genetically engineered crops are safe Genetically engineered (GE) crops are no different from conventional crops in terms of their risks to human health and the environment, according to a report published in May 2016 by the U.S. Nation ... more		China removes 13-year-old ban on some US beef products China has removed an almost 13-year-old ban on some US beef products, its quality inspection regulator said Thursday. ... more

Chinese researchers craft high fidelity Mars soil simulant to support future missions

Ancient river systems reveal Mars was wetter than we thought

NASA's Parker Solar Probe Snaps Closest-Ever Images to Sun

Two million people without water in Syria's Aleppo: UN		China removes 13-year-old ban on some US beef products		Amazon forest fire threatens natives, wildlife in Peru		French firms to gauge impact of Nile dam project		How plant roots sense and react to soil flooding
In Uruguay, green school 'plants seeds' for planet		Tunisia water shortages spark 'thirst uprising' warning		Nitrates poison water in California's Central Valley		Study quantifies enviromental impact of genetically modified crops		Spain's Donana wetlands going dry, WWF warns

Sri Lanka to shift farmers from elephant corridors

After Strong El Nino Winter, NASA Model Sees Return to Normal

Full circle: space algae fighting malnutrition in Congo

Bayer sets $66 bn deal for Monsanto after lengthy pursuit

US challenges $100 bn in China rice, cereal subsidies

Rutgers researchers debunk 'five-second rule'

Protests over water supplies hit India's tech hub

Study suggests cover crop mixtures increase agroecosystem services

Waste-besieged Easter Island slowly learns to recycle

Fruit flies help explain why humans yearn for protein

Farming adaptations needed to combat climate change to impact crop yields in 2050

Future drought will offset benefits of higher CO2 on soybean yields

Experts warn booming seaweed industry

Predictive tool vital to sustainable environmental futures

Helpers for energy acquisition from plants

During drought, dry air can stress plants more than dry soil

Sorghum: A Super Plant to Save the World

Russia probes river turning bright red

Can humans learn from the farming prowess of ambrosia beetles?

Early-onset spring models may indicate 'nightmare' for ag

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