corn crop News
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Earthworms decompose GM maize
Pest-resistant genetically modified (GM) maize makes up an increasing proportion of maize grown commercially in the EU. A new study shows that earthworms may help break down the toxins produced by GM maize. GM maize (Bt-maize) plants are engineered to produce 'cry' proteins that are toxic to the European corn borer, a major insect pest responsible for corn crop losses. Recent studies have shown ...
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Increasing diversity through crop rotation boosts soil microbial biodiversity and productivity
Planting a variety of crop species in rotation in agricultural fields increases the diversity of soil microbes below ground, recent research has found. This in turn positively affects soil organic matter, soil structure and aids the healthy functioning of the soil. The researchers say that rotational diversity can help farmers to grow crops in a more sustainable way that promotes soil stability. ...
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Patents fail to boost crop yields
Policies that secure intellectual property rights (IPRs) for agricultural innovations often fail to encourage technology transfer to developing countries or increase crop yields, a study shows. “Intellectual property rights are not all they are cracked up to be,” says David Spielman, a co-author of the study and researcher at the International Food Policy Research Institute, based in ...
By SciDev.Net
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GM maize contaminates non-GM crops in Uruguay
Contamination of traditional maize crops planted near genetically modified (GM) maize fields may be common in Uruguay, where the cultivation of GM maize has been permitted since 2003, scientists have said. A study published in Environmental Biosafety Research (25 March) has found GM seedlings in three traditional maize fields. It is said to be the first report of cross-fertilisation between GM ...
By SciDev.Net
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Lifeasible Offers One-stop Services in GWAS Plant Breeding
Lifeasible, a plant biotechnology company offering a wide array of molecular breeding services, with the goal to help plant breeders identify and introduce desirable traits into plant varieties with high efficiency, now provides worldwide customers with specialized and customized one-stop services in GWAS plant breeding. Due to the decreasing cost of DNA sequencing, whole genome sequencing is ...
By Lifeasible
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Global wild seed hunt begins
An international project to collect seeds from the wild relatives of 23 of the world's major food crops including maize, rice, wheat and potato, has received its first funding. Last week (10 December) Norway, home to the world's largest seed bank, in Svalbard in the Arctic, pledged US$50 million towards the collection, which is expected to take ten years to complete. Research and planning will ...
By SciDev.Net
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International crop breeding programme needed for African farming
Climate change poses a large threat to African agriculture, but there is little research on how to respond. A recent study indicates that traditional adaptation methods are not enough and international collaboration is needed in 'planned adaptation' by collecting and conserving certain crops for the future. A large proportion of the African population - mainly the poor - depend on agriculture ...
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New Discovery Will Enhance Yield and Quality of Cereal and Bioenergy Crops
A team of scientists led by Thomas Brutnell, Ph.D., director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have developed a new way of identifying genes that are important for photosynthesis in maize, and in rice. Their research helps to prioritize candidate genes that can be used for crop improvement and revealed new pathways and ...
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MAJOR Presents New Retro-fit Slurry Spreaders at LAMMA 2020
Major Equipment’s new low emission Dribble Bar and Trailing Shoe applicators offer a solution to the growing challenges of tighter regulations while maximising the benefit of slurry. The MAJOR applicators are designed to apply slurry to the soil surface as accurately as possible while minimising nutrient loss and ammonia emissions. Both are available in 7.5m working widths and have 30 ...
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BioConsortia Finalist in Agrow Crop Science Award for Best R & D Pipeline
BioConsortia, Inc., innovator of microbial solutions for natural plant trait enhancement and yield improvement, has been named a “Finalist” in the coveted Agrow Crop Science Awards 2020 in the category of “Best R & D Pipeline”. Over 100 entries were received for the 13 categories being run this year. Each application was scored by Agrow’s panel of 10 judges, ...
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Scientists Develop Fast-Growing Sorghum for Biofuel
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, October 9, 2007 (ENS) - American cars and trucks may soon be fueled with sorghum. Not used widely as a food grain in the United States, sorghum is one of the five top cereal crops in the world, along with wheat, oats, corn, and barley. It was cultivated in Egypt in ancient times, and Africa still is the largest producer of sorghum today. Now, energy crop company Ceres, ...
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New research reveals challenges in genetically engineered crop regulatory process
Experts are available for interviews on this topic! A new innovation can completely reshape an industry-- inspiring both optimism and debate. The development of genetically engineered (GE) crops in the 1980's ignited a buzz in the agricultural community with the potential for higher crop yields and better nutritional content, along with the reduction of herbicide and pesticide use. GE crops ...
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Decision could boost use of popular weed killer
Faced with tougher and more resistant weeds, corn and soybean farmers are anxiously awaiting government decisions on a new version of a popular herbicide - and on genetically modified seeds to grow crops designed to resist it. Critics say more study is needed on the effects of the herbicide and they are concerned it could endanger public health. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected ...
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Cover Crops Add to Farm Sustainability
A potentially record-setting U.S. corn harvest is underway. Many farmers can attribute the use of cover crops as one of multiple best management practices (BMPs) that help them increase yield year after year. Combined with BMPs of The Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship program that promotes the application of nutrients at the right source, right rate, right time and right place, ...
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