News & Events
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, today appealed for an urgent scale-up of Africa's Great Green Wall initiative to restore degraded land, create jobs and address climate change.
Insects constitute the vast majority of known animal species and are ubiquitous across terrestrial ecosystems, playing key ecological roles. As prey, they are critical to the survival of countless other species, including the majority of bats, birds, and freshwater fishes. As herbivores, predators, and parasites, they are major determinants of the distribution and abundance of innumerable plants and animals. The majority of flowering plants, the dominant component of most terrestrial ecosystems, depend on insects for pollination and hence reproduction.
Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) store energy in the form of esterified fatty acids. Mobilization of those fatty acids can occur through cytosolic lipases that traffic to droplets, through lipophagy, or likely through LD contact sites with other organelles. Lipophagy, the degradation of LDs by lysosomes, has two forms: macrolipophagy, involving formation of autophagosomes, trapping LDs, that then fuse with lysosomes; and microlipophagy,
Starting out the year 2021 by looking back at the year 2020 might seem like an exercise in masochism, given the horrific loss of life, the untold economic hardships, the resurgence of white supremacy across the country, and the rampant (and at times utterly incomprehensible) political chaos packed into those 12 months. There were, however, many redeeming aspects of the year, not least of which was a panoply of breathtaking scientific achievements.
Soil salinity is a major constraint on crop cultivability and productivity worldwide (Shabala, 2013). The ion toxicity caused by high salinity is alleviated by the adjustment of cellular Na+ and K+ homeostasis through the functions of ion transporters such as SOS1 (Salt Overly Sensitive 1) and HKT1 (High‐Affinity Potassium Transporter 1). SOS1 is a plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter mediating Na+ extrusion in root epidermal cells
In the village of Meru, in eastern Kenya, farmers are celebrating better potato harvests. In just the past two years, their harvests have increased from 10 tons per hectare to 28, bringing them close to the range of yields in most European countries (between 30-50 tons/ha). Farmers credit the increase to higher-quality seed combined with improved agronomic practices. In the past, farmers used potatoes from the previous season’s harvest as seed, but these lead to sub-optimal yields as the quality is usually low, leading to gradual declines.
An initiative to transform the Peruvian capital’s food system ahead of its 500th anniversary has won a $200,000 prize after being selected as a “Top Visionary” by the Rockefeller Foundation. Already the driest megacity on Earth, Lima’s food and water supplies have been further aggravated by an influx of rural migration since the second half of the 20th century. These informal settlements now house four million residents – around 40 per cent of the population – over half of whom lack access to water.
The export turnover of agriculture obtained $US 41.25 billion (2.6% increased); including agro-products ($18.49 B), husbandry products ($0.32 B), aqua-products ($8.38 B) and processed wood & furniture products ($13.17 B). The trade surplus in term of agriculture got $USD 10.29 billion. The conversion of rice cultivated areas with low economic efficiency into other crops, fishery, orchards, etc. was recognized as 128,000 ha, including 99,000 ha and 29,000 ha in South and North, respectively.
As a non-thermal processing method, the ultrasound treatment prior to the frying process has been demonstrated with great potential in reducing the oil absorption of fried food. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound pretreatment on starch properties, water status, pore characteristics, and the oil absorption of potato slices. Ultrasound probe set with two power (360 W and 600 W) at the frequency of 20 kHz for 60 min was applied to perform the pretreatments.
Mountains host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots and 30 percent of all Key Biodiversity Areas. Mountains are home to many endangered species. Many of the world's most important crops and livestock species originate in mountains. International Mountain Day 2020 is an opportunity to learn more about the importance of mountains, and to explore opportunities and challenges in mountain development through a selection of FAO publications.
In early December 2020, a group of UK scientists gathered virtually to report the spread of pandemic coronavirus. Their discussions funneled into the increasing cases in Kent, a county in southeastern England, while the rest of the country was managing the spread of the virus. This led to investigations of viral genomes from the region, which showed that half of the cases in Kent were caused by a variant labeled as B.1.1.7, which is more skillful in transmitting between humans
Silicon (Si), a major contributing constituent for plant resistance against abiotic stresses. In spite of this, the detailed mechanisms underlying the potential of Si in mitigating salt toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) are still poorly understood. The present study deals with the response of Si application on growth, gaseous exchange, ion homeostasis and antioxidant enzyme activities in two maize cultivars (P1574 and Hycorn 11) grown under saline conditions.