The recent development of nanoscience has led to the design of new materials of unprecedented properties. Agronomists Huang et al. review the applications of nanotechnologies for agriculture and food production. Examples include improvement of seed quality and plant growth, longer preservation of fruits and vegetables, livestock production, water disinfection, decrease of pesticide cost, and better fertilisation.
Crop protection under a changing climate
Global warming is changing the geographical distribution of pests with, for instance, new insect pests appearing in previously uncontaminated areas. Scientists Lamichhane et al. propose seven recommendations to improve plant protection under a changing climate.
Innovative Swiss agroforestry
Conventional monoculture systems are failing in the long run because they have been designed solely for higher yields and economic benefits, thus neglecting pollution, biodiversity loss and non-traded social benefits. Agroforestry appears as a solution. However, farmers are often reluctant to adopt tree-based systems despite incentives to do so. To understand why, Sereke et al. have studied agroforestry in Switzerland using collaborative research and bioeconomic assessment of farmer agroforestry innovations.
Urban vegetable for food security
Urban agriculture will increase because more than 50% of the world population actually lives in cities, and local production is both socially and economically more efficient. Agronomists Eigenbrod and Gruda reviewed various urban agriculture systems. They found that growing vegetables in cities is particularly beneficial.
Sorghum biochar increases wheat yield and decreases global warming
Natural biochars are alternative fertilisers that could solve three major world issues : the increasing cost of mineral fertilisers, water pollution by excessive use of mineral fertilisers, and the global warming due to carbon transfer from soils to atmospheric CO2. Biochars and carbon-rich solids formed by pyrolysis of biomass such as crop residues. Biochar can be used for soil fertilization, carbon sequestration and improvement of soil structure. Sigua et al. reported that addition of sorghum biochars increased total biomass of winter wheat by about 31% over the control plants. Their findings suggest that pyrolytic transformation of sorghum residues into sorghum biochars is a better strategy for both environmental and crop productivity improvement.
Cover crops and mulching decrease greenhouse gas emissions of fruit tree orchards
Fruit tree orchards should be climate friendly because atmospheric carbon is stored during long periods of time in trees. Orchards also produce woody renewable energy. However orchard soils, which store carbon, are often eroded under the Mediterranean climate. Agronomists Aguilera et al. show that organig farming techniques such as cover cropping and pruning mulching should offset greenhouse gas emissions, thus leading to carbon neutral crop products.
Organic farming of herbaceous crops produces less greenhouse gas emissions
Organic farming recycles local plant residues and compost to fertilize soils, whereas conventional agriculture uses mineral fertilizers that are mined then transported over long-distances. Therefore organic farming should emit less greenhouse gases. However the lower yields of organic farming may compromise the emission balance on a product basis. Agronomists Aguilera et al. observed that emissions from herbaceous crops in Spain were lower under organic farming both on an area basis and on a product basis, with the exception of rice due to higher methane emissions.
Polysaccharides as safer release systems for agrochemicals
Agrochemicals such as pesticides are used to protect crops and ensure food production. However, conventional formulations of agrochemicals contaminate the environment due to a lack of efficiency. Alternatively, polymers such as polysaccharides can be used to coat the active substance, thus decreasing its toxicity and delaying its release over several days. Moreover, when added to the soil, polysaccharides form hydrogels that improve soil structure, and store water and plant nutrients. The use of polysaccharides are reviewed by Campos et al.
Why medicinal and spice plants produce more active substances under drought ?
Medicinal plants grown under drought stress produce much higher amounts of active substances thas the same plant species cultivated with sufficient water. This phenomenon was so far poorly understood. In a literature review, plant scientists Kleinwächter and Selmar deduce for the first time that a modification of the photosynthetic apparatus under drought stress is responsible for higher yields of medicinal substances. Such knowledge can be applied to enhance the production of spice and medicinal plants by applying moderate drought stress during cultivation.
Homeopathic drugs to protect sisal plants
Sisal is a major economic crop in the Bahia state of Brazil. Sisal production is decreased by the infection of the red rot disease caused by Aspergillus niger (picture). Current control methods are not effective, and there is a need to invent sustainable treatments as alternatives to toxic pesticides. Gama et al. tested homeopathic drugs to control red rot. Homeopathic drugs are substances used at very low levels, similar to human disease treatments. Results show that homeopathic drugs reduced disease severity.