A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist will use a $200,000 grant from the Florida Department of Health to improve tests for the detection of Zika virus. In 2016, Florida saw 1,272 cases of Zika, which is usually associated with mild symptoms, although severe symptoms may also occur, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and birth defects in babies, …
New ARS Food and Nutrition Research Briefs Issued
By Kim Kaplan, Agricultural Research Service Research showing a higher dose of vitamin D may benefit pregnant women by reducing inflammation is among the new nutrition and health findings in the latest issue of the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Food and Nutrition Research Briefs.
Scientists Give Old Elm Tree a High-Tech Helping Hand
By Jan Suszkiw, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) In front of the city hall building in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, there’s a weathered old elm tree that’s seen more than 200 years of American history. Throughout those centuries, it has withstood bouts of Dutch elm disease and poundings from brutal storms like 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. This winter, U.S. Department of Agriculture …
ARS Genetics Researcher Named Fairchild Medal Recipient
by Dennis O’Brien, Agricultural Research Service Alan W. Meerow, a research geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has been awarded the 2017 David Fairchild Medal for Plant Exploration by the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). This not-for-profit, non-governmental organization is based in Kaua’i, Hawaii and is dedicated to tropical plant conservation, research and education. It …
Funding for Plant and Animal Phenomics and Microbiome Projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 11 grants totaling $3 million for Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) projects focused on plant and animal phenomics and microbiomes. The grants are funded through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Food Security Program, authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.
State Money Going to Universities for Zika Research
From: The News Service of Florida Researchers at eight universities, Moffitt Cancer Center and The Scripps Research Institute will share $25 million in grants as the state looks to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus, Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced Wednesday. More than half of the money — $13.17 million — will go for projects at the University of Miami.
Common Crop Chemical Leaves Bees Susceptible to Deadly Viruses
By Sara LaJeunesse, Penn State University A chemical that is thought to be safe and is, therefore, widely used on crops — such as almonds, wine grapes and tree fruits — to boost the performance of pesticides, makes honey bee larvae significantly more susceptible to a deadly virus, according to researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Progress in Peanut Allergy Research
Thanks to the groundbreaking LEAP Study released last year, the guidelines for early introduction of peanuts to infants are changing. And pediatricians appear to be getting, and embracing, the message that starting children on peanut products as early as four months may help prevent allergy development. Download Audio
Temperature Impacts on Global Wheat Yield
A recent study shows that increases in temperature decrease wheat production globally. With wheat being the third largest crop produced in the world, the effects of climate change could cause a substantial impact on the human food source. Research by the University of Florida’s Senthold Asseng, a professor of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, conceded that increasing temperatures will …