Researchers from the University of Maine and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, have developed a faster, more accurate way to detect a toxic species of algae known as Pseudo-nitzschia australis (P. australis). It's a test that uses a quantitative version of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) to pinpoint P. australis in environmental DNA (eDNA) samples using a unique genetic marker. By being faster and more accurate, this test can help the shellfish industry better track and respond to harmful algae blooms. 
 

Using satellite imagery and government data, researchers measured a 5 percent increase in voluntary, or non-subsidized, cover crop adoption by Arkansas farmers. Using data from 2013-2019, agricultural economists with the experiment station showed that cover crop adoption in Arkansas had the greatest association with a soybean-to-soybean cash crop rotation. The finding came out of research seeking to pinpoint how farmers were using cover crops and where, to help policymakers develop more targeted incentives for using cover crops.  

An experimental pain-relieving drug delivery method for farm animals using biodegradable microneedle patches was conducted by researchers with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station to alleviate some pain after procedures like castrations and tail docking and decrease labor for farmers. While the drugs administered through the experimental microneedle pain patches on pigs did show up in the animals’ system, the drug concentrations were not sufficient.

Despite the limited performance, the project remains a proof of concept that pig skin can absorb medication delivered through a dissolvable microneedle patch. The research team also found that the patches work better on the neck than the ear. No adverse responses were observed at application sites, highlighting the safety and tolerability of the patches. Additionally, a new approach is being developed using the microneedle patch technology as a way to incorporate tattoos for animal tagging.

Environmental pollutants such as ozone can damage the internal structure of plants and impair their growth and productivity. Conventional assessments requiring sample processing may not accurately reflect internal damage. A new study highlights the application of a novel ‘optical coherence tomography’ scanner for the non-invasive temporal assessment of live plants exposed to ozone. The technique can aid the timely detection of deficiencies and stress-induced damage, thereby supporting better plant management and improving crop productivity.  

The rapid expansion of high-throughput sequencing technologies has generated unprecedented amounts of multi-omics data, essential to advancing research in biodiversity, evolution, agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. 

A major new University of Stirling led study aiming to address one of the biggest issues in UK aquaculture has been awarded more than £1.4m in funding.