The rivers, lakes and ponds in cities – urban blue spaces also known as UBS – are increasingly recognised for their ecological and social roles. However, their contributions to sustainable food systems remains understudied. For this reason, an international research team led by Göttingen and Kassel Universities examined the extent and benefits of foraging for food in blue spaces across four major Indian cities. The items collected included fish, crabs, clams and plants as well as berries, mushrooms and flowers. The researchers found that bodies of water in cities played a critical role in food security and social inclusion. The results were published in the journal Nature Cities.

UC Davis researchers analyzed 1.4 million truckloads of tomatoes to find that California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry likely will be able to withstand higher temperatures and traffic congestion.

Nocturnal moths rely on hearing to escape predatory bats, yet how they respond to different bat calls has remained unclear. In a new study, researchers from Japan exposed moths to ultrasonic pulses simulating bat hunting stages and observed their flight and egg-laying behaviors. The study found that moths change how they fly and lay eggs depending on the level of danger, a finding that could help develop ultrasonic methods to protect crops from moth damage.

With USAID shuttered, SIL has gone from working in 31 countries to four: one of which is Malawi, where they’re leveraging new irrigation infrastructure to build up soybean in the region. This work was made possible by an anonymous $1 million donation. Now, SIL has secured another $1.5 million from the Gates Foundation to strengthen and expand testing of new seed products across sub-Saharan Africa.

A new study by researchers at Shinshu University highlights the essential role of gut microbiota in livestock health and productivity. The researchers show how probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can safely enhance growth and immunity, and balance the growth of intestinal microbes, offering practical alternatives to antibiotics. As global restrictions on antibiotic use intensify, the findings support sustainable livestock management and contribute to reducing antimicrobial resistance risks.