Agriculture

The latest on what's growing and what's faltering across the world's farms—and the resources they use to keep running.

Latest in Agriculture

Stealthy ways to make your diet more plant-based

DIY

Stealthy ways to make your diet more plant-based Stealthy ways to make your diet more plant-based

By Sara Kiley Watson

Environment

Why is it so expensive to eat sustainably? Why is it so expensive to eat sustainably?

By Philip Kiefer

Death Valley desert, California, USA

Environment

Mini desalination plants could refresh the parched West Mini desalination plants could refresh the parched West

Oil containers with fruits and vegetables in kitchen.

Environment

Which veggie oil is most sustainable? It’s complicated. Which veggie oil is most sustainable? It’s complicated.

By Carla Delgado

Man tending to sheep in a drought on Australian farm.

Environment

Climate change is blowing our predictions out of the water, says the IPCC Climate change is blowing our predictions out of the water, says the IPCC

By Sara Kiley Watson

Thale cress plant leaf shown with defenses and regeneration against a black background

Science

A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster

Museum collections tag for Indigenous seeds from the University of Michigan

Environment

Indigenous farmers are ‘rematriating’ centuries-old seeds to plant a movement Indigenous farmers are ‘rematriating’ centuries-old seeds to plant a movement

By Kalen Goodluck

Crops grown in NASA's Advanced Plant Habitat.

Science

NASA has big plans for space farms NASA has big plans for space farms

By Tatyana Woodall

This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why

Environment

This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why This Roundup ingredient is riddled with controversy—here’s why

By Isobel Whitcomb

Female house sparrow and brown-headed cowbird, both potential vectors for bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses, feeding on birdseed on the ground

Environment

These bird species are most likely to contaminate our fruits and veggies These bird species are most likely to contaminate our fruits and veggies

a bushel of lychee, a red, prickly skinned spherical fruit with white, glossy edible flesh surrounding a dark oval shaped seed. two of the lychees' skin is peeled to reveal the white flesh

Environment

Good news for lychee lovers: There may be a way to grow the fruits year-round Good news for lychee lovers: There may be a way to grow the fruits year-round

Farmer picking potatoes.

Health

Is it ok to eat GMO foods? Scientists say ‘yes.’ Is it ok to eat GMO foods? Scientists say ‘yes.’

By Charlotte Hu

Environment

Turkey and chicken poop have untapped energy potential Turkey and chicken poop have untapped energy potential

By Lina Zeldovich

dirty hands spray green plants with a plastic bottle

Environment

Pesticides leave a lasting mark on pollinating bees Pesticides leave a lasting mark on pollinating bees

By Kate Baggaley

Trays of basil under purple UV lights at a vertical farm

Environment

Vertical farms are finally branching out Vertical farms are finally branching out

By Teake Zuidema/Nexus Media News

Young women at a climate protest

Environment

Gender equity and climate change are intertwined Gender equity and climate change are intertwined

By Angely Mercado

Ships and scenery on the Yangtze river in China

Environment

Our meat habit is causing pollution issues—by way of our poops Our meat habit is causing pollution issues—by way of our poops

By Angely Mercado

tomato and ketchup

Science

Heinz’s new ‘Marz’ ketchup is kinda sorta made from Martian tomatoes Heinz’s new ‘Marz’ ketchup is kinda sorta made from Martian tomatoes

By Elana Spivack

Environment

Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas—and it’s time to pay attention to it Nitrous oxide is a powerful greenhouse gas—and it’s time to pay attention to it

By Angely Mercado

Cotton plants on a regenerative farming plot against the blue sky

Environment

If you want sustainable clothes, focus on the farms If you want sustainable clothes, focus on the farms

By Sara Kiley Watson

Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains

Environment

Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains Minnesota’s Line 3 pipeline threatens one of North America’s only native grains

By Angely Mercado

banana operation

Technology

Can this fruit be saved? Can this fruit be saved?

person's hands holding tiny plant growing out of soil

Environment

You have no idea how much you need these bacteria You have no idea how much you need these bacteria

By Erin Fennessy

Sustainable diet of salad on a pink and purple background

Environment

How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods

By Sara Kiley Watson

Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security

Environment

Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security Rerouting billions in agriculture subsidies could boost global food security

By Angely Mercado

Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet

Environment

Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet Potty-trained cows could seriously help the planet

By Sara Kiley Watson

Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever

Environment

Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever Humans are pushing into animals’ homes, but nature is as rebellious as ever

By Sara Kiley Watson

Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future

Environment

Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future Maggots and algae could be the sustainable snacks of the future

By Shaena Montanari

Assorted fruits, mushrooms, vegetables and other food spread out on table

Environment

11 percent of food waste comes from our homes 11 percent of food waste comes from our homes

By Sara Kiley Watson

Lake Mead low water levels on the Colorado River

Environment

Why we all have to heed the Colorado River water cuts Why we all have to heed the Colorado River water cuts

By Robert Glennon/The Conversation

Mountains and body of water in Queenstown, New Zealand

Environment

You can’t escape climate change by moving to New Zealand You can’t escape climate change by moving to New Zealand

By Sara Kiley Watson

Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought

Environment

Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought Pesticides might be worse for bees than we thought

The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More

Technology

The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More The Week In Drones: Google Delivery, Reaper Gods, And More

By Kelsey D. Atherton

What Are You Doing For Thanksgiving?: Tara Whitsitt

Environment

What Are You Doing For Thanksgiving?: Tara Whitsitt What Are You Doing For Thanksgiving?: Tara Whitsitt

The Science of Swine

Environment

The Science of Swine The Science of Swine

Young soybean crows in tilled soil

Environment

A huge chunk of the EU’s food imports will be at risk of drought by 2050 A huge chunk of the EU’s food imports will be at risk of drought by 2050

By Sara Kiley Watson

From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms

Technology

From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms From space sprouts to landmine legumes, here are the world’s weirdest farms

By Eleanor Cummins

patagonia provisions long root ale

Environment

What To Drink While You Wait For Perennial Grains To Revolutionize Agriculture What To Drink While You Wait For Perennial Grains To Revolutionize Agriculture

DJI’s commercial drones can now carry more sensors into dangerous situations

Technology

DJI’s commercial drones can now carry more sensors into dangerous situations DJI’s commercial drones can now carry more sensors into dangerous situations

By Stan Horaczek

Patrick Leger illustration

Environment

The secret to curbing farm emissions is buried in the Stone Age The secret to curbing farm emissions is buried in the Stone Age

Environment

Plant pandemics are on the rise, and we need a plan to stop them Plant pandemics are on the rise, and we need a plan to stop them

By Philip Kiefer

pineapple in a field

Environment

Popular foods that grow in somewhat startling ways Popular foods that grow in somewhat startling ways

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Environment

A chemical meant to save plants is actually killing them—and it’s spreading A chemical meant to save plants is actually killing them—and it’s spreading

By Kendra Pierre-Louis

Can industrial farming be a force for good?

Environment

Can industrial farming be a force for good? Can industrial farming be a force for good?

By Ted Genoways

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

Environment

It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too It’s not just methane—meat production fills the air with noxious particulate matter too

By Shaena Montanari

agricultural field

Environment

The main ingredient in RoundUp doesn’t just kill plants. It harms beetles, too. The main ingredient in RoundUp doesn’t just kill plants. It harms beetles, too.

By Philip Kiefer

Wheat farm and blue sky

Environment

Understanding plant biological clocks could boost future agriculture Understanding plant biological clocks could boost future agriculture

By Sara Kiley Watson

The real story behind the Biden burger-ban rumor

Environment

The real story behind the Biden burger-ban rumor The real story behind the Biden burger-ban rumor

By Sara Kiley Watson

aerial view of ts'msyen forest garden

Environment

‘Forest gardens’ planted by Canada’s Indigenous people before the 1800s still benefit ecosystems today ‘Forest gardens’ planted by Canada’s Indigenous people before the 1800s still benefit ecosystems today

By Philip Kiefer

A quarter of new invasive species were spotted by everyday citizen-scientists

Environment

A quarter of new invasive species were spotted by everyday citizen-scientists A quarter of new invasive species were spotted by everyday citizen-scientists

By Shaena Montanari

Shovel digging into soil.

Health

Compost can help protect us from food poisoning Compost can help protect us from food poisoning

By Shaena Montanari

Wine being poired into glasses overlooking natural landscape.

Environment

Is your wine really sustainable? Here’s how to tell. Is your wine really sustainable? Here’s how to tell.

By Shaena Montanari

Brown cow at a mountain farm.

Environment

Putting cows on a seaweed diet helps curb their methane burps Putting cows on a seaweed diet helps curb their methane burps

By Shaena Montanari

How much more would you pay for a chocolate bar made without child labor?

Environment

How much more would you pay for a chocolate bar made without child labor? How much more would you pay for a chocolate bar made without child labor?

By Donavyn Coffey

Chick sitting on woodchips in a wire pen

Environment

US egg producers could save billions of chicks a year. So why aren’t they? US egg producers could save billions of chicks a year. So why aren’t they?

By Jonathan Moens/Undark

A mature cacao tree with the unripe fruits that are used to make chocolate

Environment

Cacao growers are bugging out about our chocolate supply Cacao growers are bugging out about our chocolate supply

By DeWayne Shoemaker/The Conversation

honeycomb in a plastic bag

Environment

Bee theft is almost a perfect crime—but there’s a new sheriff in town Bee theft is almost a perfect crime—but there’s a new sheriff in town

By Andrew Zaleski

A pack of llamas on top of a canyon in Peru

Environment

Llamas are hotter than ever. Here’s why. Llamas are hotter than ever. Here’s why.

By Emily Wakild/The Conversation

Environment

Your pee could be the golden ticket to a greener world Your pee could be the golden ticket to a greener world

Matt Wadiak, co-founder and CEO of Cooks Venture, at the operation’s 800-acre farm in Decatur, Arkansas sitting under tree with chickens.

Environment

These chickens earned a healthier label from the USDA These chickens earned a healthier label from the USDA

By Monica Michael Willis/Saveur

Tim Robinson illustration

Environment

Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer

By Emily Cataneo/Undark

cows in a pasture

Health

Gene-edited cows could make meat more sustainable. But would people eat it? Gene-edited cows could make meat more sustainable. But would people eat it?

By Dyllan Furness/Undark

Environment

What not to do with the mysterious seeds you received in the mail recently What not to do with the mysterious seeds you received in the mail recently

By Sara Kiley Watson

Pesticide-killed locusts

Environment

An unprecedented locust swarm is creating unlikely allies An unprecedented locust swarm is creating unlikely allies

By Lou Del Bello/Undark