Researchers have developed a machine learning model using hyperspectral imaging to assess pre-harvest tomato quality. The study introduces a cost-effective, non-destructive method to predict key quality parameters, including weight, firmness, and lycopene (a natural antioxidant) content. This innovative approach enables farmers to monitor fruit development in real-time, optimizing harvest timing and improving crop quality. The research demonstrates a significant leap forward in precision agriculture and sustainable food production.

The recently launched EU-funded FORSAID project seeks to uncover new horizons in pest control across Europe's forests. The research consortium behind this vision is comprised of 17 organisations from 10 countries. It intends to harness recent innovations in satellite observation, drone surveillance, robotics and artificial intelligence in pursuit of a new paradigm for the early detection and identification of numerous harmful species.

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has developed GenEditScan, a simple k-mer analysis tool and is available for free on GitHub website. k-mer analysis is used for detecting foreign DNA in genome-edited crops using next-generation sequencers. The publication of GenEditScan is expected to accelerate the research on genome-edited crops.

The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has announced $5 million in funding to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and partner institutions to develop a new variety of corn called NSave that will reduce nitrogen fertilizer use and greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining crop yield.

Smaller poops from smaller birds carry very low risk of foodborne pathogens on farms, finds a UC Davis study. 

CABBI scientists have developed a lab-to-field pipeline to deliver sorghum that’s high in TAG. The researchers engineered sorghum to accumulate up to 5.5% dry weight TAG in its leaves and 3.5% dry weight in its stems under field conditions — 78 times and 58 times more than unmodified sorghum, respectively. This level of production could provide about 1.4 times more oil per hectare than soybeans, making this a promising new feedstock for renewable fuels.