Photosynthesis and Photovoltaics—Together at Last
A farmer’s land is used to grow food—period. Once seeds are in the ground, roots take hold, and shoots emerge, that piece of real estate is spoken for until harvest […]
Colombian “Big Data” Start-Up Connects Smallholder Farmers to Customers
Colombia’s farming is dominated by smallholders working plots five hectares in size or less, who are often disconnected from markets by poor transportation and communications. Middlemen create costs and delays […]
The Incredible Edible Nettle
Stinging nettles are a family of plants known for their tiny, distinctive spikes on stems and leaves that can sting and irritate the skin. But science is increasingly discovering how […]
Aphid-Ranching Ants Threaten China’s Farms
A tiny but potentially serious invader is spreading into China’s farming communities, threatening crops. Can innovation put a stop to this infestation before it gets out of control? Earlier this […]
New Seed Banks Launched in Morocco and Lebanon
Seed banking is an old idea that’s quickly gaining popularity as agricultural scientists fret about the impacts of climate change on future food supplies. Kept in the right conditions, seeds […]
Protecting Livestock from Lions: New Clues from South Africa
Many years ago, this author traveled to Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya to meet with Maasai village elders and residents. The trip wasn’t for tourism, although this particular Maasai […]
Can Geomapping Technology Convince Banks to Lend to Smallholder Farmers?
Banks have money to lend and are always on the lookout for new customers. Smallholder farmers need financing to improve their yields and incomes. A perfect match? Unfortunately, no. Even […]
And the 2022 Winner Is…
A pioneering climatologist famous for modeling global warming’s impact on worldwide agriculture is this year’s recipient of the World Food Prize. Cynthia E. Rosenzweig, a former farmer who’s now a […]
Dry But Important: Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa has a long history of drought and climate vulnerability, but also of innovations in agriculture. Today, the region is particularly dependent on food imports, […]
Simple but Effective Soil and Water Conservation in Ethiopia’s Highlands
Farmers face an array of threats to their crops and livelihood. Arguably the greatest threat of all is soil degradation and dessication. Nothing will grow in soil that’s too thin, […]
