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FAO State of the World Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

First-ever global report on the state of biodiversity that underpins our food system

Biodiversity that supports agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture is vital for humanity’s growing need for food, feed, fibre and fuel. Plants, animals and micro-organisms (such as fungi and bacteria) keep soils fertile, pollinate…

Deforestation Photo by Pok Rie from Pexels

Politics, trade, and forest conservation

The president of Brazil ushers in a new era of deforestation in the sad saga of Brazil’s land conflicts. As consumers we should not be complicit in his agenda, says Jaboury Ghazoul, professor for Ecosystem Management at ETH Zurich and…

wheat field ©sylviamartinez

Wheat blast: from its origins in South America to its emergence as a global threat

Wheat blast was first reported in Brazil in 1985. It spread rapidly across the wheat cropping areas of Brazil to become the most important biotic constraint on wheat production in the region. The alarming appearance of wheat blast in…

agriculture cereals

Organic farming drives sustainable agriculture

Organic production is not a silver bullet, argues Adrian Müller, but it can play an important role in sustainable food systems with the right set of policy interventions. SourceETH Zurich Sustainability Blog by Dr. Adrian Müller …

blur bottle chemistry pexel

Call for projects: Microbials – Direct Use of Micro-Organisms

With its initiative, Gebert Rüf Stiftung seeks to generate a significant impact by exploiting the potential and widespread use of microbial resources in health and technology. The program supports innovative and applied projects dealing…

Fulbright Grant Program for Student and Scholars

"The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs, and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship." – J.…

SEM germinating seed © Sylvain Loubery Univ Geneva

Seeds inherit memories from their mother

University of Geneva researchers demonstrate that maternal and environmental control of seed dormancy is regulated by novel epigenetic mechanisms. Seeds remain in a dormant state – a temporary blockage of their germination – as long as…

Sylvain Bischof – New Swiss Plant Science Web member

The Swiss Plant Science Web welcomes its new member Prof. Sylvain Bischof. Visit his personal SPSW research portfolio Epigenetic control of gene expression and genome stability. Sylvain Bischof chairs the group on Epigenetics and Chromatin…

Brassica and bumblebee Florian Schiestl UZH

Interplay of Pollinators and Pests Influences Plant Evolution

Brassica rapa plants pollinated by bumblebees evolve more attractive flowers. But this evolution is compromised if caterpillars attack the plant at the same time. With the bees pollinating them less effectively, the plants increasingly…

Heilsam kleidsam wundersam Buch cover

Heilsam, kleidsam, wundersam – Pflanzen im Alltag der Steinzeitmenschen

Heilsam, kleidsam, wundersam – Pflanzen im Alltag der SteinzeitmenschenSabine Karg, Ewald Weber2019. 112 S. mit 173 farb. Abb., 21 x 28 cm, geb. wbg Theiss, Darmstadt. …

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