Researchers have engineered yeast to efficiently convert methanol into D-lactic acid, a key compound for biodegradable plastics and pharmaceuticals. By optimizing gene and promoter combinations, they achieved the highest reported yield to date, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based production. Their findings advance eco-friendly chemical manufacturing.

UC Davis researchers have generated the most high-quality map of the DNA of the pistachio, allowing breeders to develop better varieties. 

A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that Australia's cool temperate rainforests are more disturbance-resilient than previously thought. Researchers found that Nothofagus moorei thrives under higher disturbance intensities through basal coppicing. 60% of species can resprout after disturbance, with N. moorei showing faster growth and better recruitment in response to canopy removal. These findings suggest that conservation strategies should not completely exclude disturbance but instead use controlled burning and selective logging to maintain ecological diversity.A study in Forest Ecosystems reveals that Australia's cool temperate rainforests are more disturbance-resilient than previously thought. Researchers found that Nothofagus moorei thrives under higher disturbance intensities through basal coppicing. 60% of species can resprout after disturbance, with N. moorei showing faster growth and better recruitment in response to canopy removal. These findings suggest that conservation strategies should not completely exclude disturbance but instead use controlled burning and selective logging to maintain ecological diversity.

A recent study has unveiled a novel strategy to boost the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in agriculture, offering a solution to longstanding challenges. By integrating the Greylag Goose Optimization (GGO) algorithm with a seven-level inverter, the research team has achieved impressive advancements in maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and significantly reduced total harmonic distortion (THD). This innovation ensures more reliable and stable power for agricultural machinery, while also cutting operational costs and extending the lifespan of equipment.

Kyushu University researchers have developed a new model that can predict sunlight patterns under different weather conditions. By categorizing sunlight into five groups based on intensity and quality, the model reveals that cloudy days can help plant growth by scattering light more evenly to lower leaves. The research can potentially help farmers optimize greenhouse conditions and planting schedules throughout the season to improve agricultural productivity, and enhance our understanding of how climate change affects photosynthesis.

New RNA-based active agents reliably protect plants against the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. They were developed by researchers at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The active ingredients have a broad spectrum effect; a series of RNA molecules support the plant's immune system in combating the virus. In laboratory experiments, 80 to 100 per cent of the treated plants survived an infection with a high viral load, as the team reports in "Nucleic Acids Research". Their paper has been selected as a "breakthrough article" by the journal. The researchers are now working on transferring the idea from the laboratory into practice.

Livestock agriculture is bearing the cost of extreme weather events. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how heat stress affects U.S. dairy production, finding that high heat and humidity lead to a 1% decline in annual milk yield. Small farms are hit harder than large farms, which may be able to mitigate some of the effects through management strategies.