The Latest Breaking News on Agriculture

Japan turns rice waste into organic ethanol for cosmetics and household products

Japan is finding new uses for rice that would otherwise be left behind, turning unused or unwanted rice into organic ethanol for cosmetics and everyday household products. Fermenstation, a Japanese company working with fermentation technology, has developed a process that ferments and distills rice into ethanol while also making use…

The Times of India · Sep 15

Grevillea trees boosted Kenyan farms but competed with maize for water

Farmers across Kenya have long planted Grevillea trees alongside maize, hoping the tall, fast-growing species would add timber, shade and income without hurting the crop underneath. A long-term field trial in semi-arid Kenya put that idea to the test over 4.5 years and nine growing seasons, tracking maize and cowpea…

The Times of India · Sep 15

Bangladesh's discarded banana stems could yield 37,778 tonnes of fibre and $94M in exports

Discarded banana stems in Bangladesh hold potential for a substantial export market. Researchers estimate this waste could yield nearly thirty-seven thousand tonnes of banana fibre annually. This fibre can be processed into textiles, packaging, and paper products for global demand. Developing this industry requires investment in processing and international marketing…

The Times of India · Sep 15

In 1990, Tennessee siblings planted 240 acres of former fields and pastures with loblolly pine...

In a significant conservation move, The Land Trust for Tennessee has permanently protected an expansive 852-acre estate. Siblings Mary Ann and John Sugg dedicated years to revitalizing farmland into lush forest. Their generous donation guarantees the landscape's preservation from future commercial development. Employing contemporary forestry techniques, the land trust oversees…

The Times of India · Sep 14

Earliest ever harvest for English wine maker after record hot weather

This year’s hot weather means a small number of grapes can be picked at Nyetimber vineyards across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.

Evening Standard · Sep 14

Prickly Pear Tamed: settlers’ hedge became vast invasive pest; insects cut spread in South Africa

Prickly pear, brought to South Africa by European settlers in the 18th century, originally served multiple purposes, including as food and a protective barrier. However, by the 20th century, it had become a major agricultural pest. Through biological control using specific insects, its invasive spread was curtailed, leading to the…

The Times of India · Sep 14

Weed Spread Via Soybean Trade: Studies track Palmer amaranth in China; USDA tightens biosecurity

Palmer amaranth, an invasive weed indigenous to the Americas, made its way to China through U.S. soybean imports. Research indicates that it first appeared in soybean shipments around 1985. Since then, its seeds have proliferated from grain storage facilities into the agricultural sectors of China. Despite efforts to enhance biosecurity…

The Times of India · Sep 14

Farmland Legacy Programme 2025: Skagit pays to preserve 270 acres; farmers choose ploughed over paved

Skagit County's Farmland Legacy Programme is dedicated to safeguarding crucial agricultural terrain. Through conservation easements, this initiative ensures that fertile soil remains untouched by development. Recently, four families contributed 270 acres to the permanently safeguarded farmland. This program stands in stark contrast to the troubling trend of farmland depletion statewide,…

The Times of India · Sep 14

Japan’s biomass energy boom threatens further deforestation in Indonesia

Expanding deforestation in Indonesia caused by the country’s wood pellet and chip industry is putting further pressure on tropical forests, Key Biodiversity Areas, and Indigenous territories in the archipelago, according to new satellite analysis from Indonesia-based nongovernmental organizations

The Independent UK · Sep 14

How soybeans took over the American diet

Most people don’t think of themselves as soybean consumers, but it's in much of our food supply

Salon · Sep 13