AgriTech Review

A greenhouse and field study shows that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shift the competitive balance between two co-invading plants depending on their proportional abundance, easing competition between species while intensifying it within species.

Plants—like people—come in all shapes and sizes. And just like scientists want to understand the components of the human body to treat disease and improve our lives, they also want to understand how plants thrive, develop disease, succumb or survive.

Dustin Volz / New York Times: The FBI says it worked with CrowdStrike to dismantle 40+ laptop farms across Texas used to help North Koreans get remote US tech jobs under stolen identities  —  F.B.I. investigators worked with the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to dismantle so-called laptop farms that steal American identities to earn cash for Pyongyang.

In the proposal, EPA is increasing renewable fuel targets in each of the next three years to 20.82 billion gallons in 2023, 21.87 billion gallons in 2024 and 22.68 billion gallons in 2025. Renewable Fuels Association’s Geoff Cooper says the proposal launches the Renewable Fuel Standard into a new era. “If the EPA put the RFS back […] The post EPA proposes increased biofuel blending requirements appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

A new innovation in soybean production is aiming to change the way farmers manage one of their most costly and persistent threats: soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Developed by BASF, Nemasphere represents the first genetic trait designed specifically to defend soybean plants against this yield-draining pest. Michael McCarville, Trait Technology Lead at BASF tells Brownfield, “Breeders […] The post New Trait Technology Targets Soybean Cyst Nematode, Helping Farmers Capture Lost Yield Potential appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

With the agricultural economy tighter than ever, farmers are looking for ways to get the most out of every acre without overspending. Croplan Seed is helping growers navigate that challenge with a focus on data, testing, and local knowledge. Jeff Osterhaus, Seed Portfolio Manager with Croplan, explained that while many companies offer strong products, Croplan […] The post Croplan Focuses on Smart, Data-Driven Seed Decisions for Growers appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

Labor shortages remain a challenge for many farms, and new technology from Massey Ferguson aims to help producers maintain efficiency and consistency in the field. At the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio, the company introduced Tractor Implement Management (TIM) as part of updates to the MF 9S Series tractor lineup. Derek Reusser, senior marketing […] The post Massey Ferguson Showcases TIM Technology and MF 9S Tractor Updates at Commodity Classic appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

Farmers attending Commodity Classic were highly engaged on the trade show floor, asking questions and searching for practical solutions to help manage tight margins. Reid Abbott, Great Plains Regional Agronomist for AgroLiquid, says the current ag economy is prompting many growers to rethink how they approach crop nutrition. That could include adjusting application methods, adopting […] The post Soil Testing and Balanced Nutrition Key as Farmers Seek Fertility Solutions at Commodity Classic appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

Farmers attending the 2026 Commodity Classic 2026 got their first look at a new combine designed to deliver high-capacity performance and advanced harvesting technology. Matthew Poling, Combine Product Sales Specialist with CLAAS of America, tells Brownfield the CLAAS LEXION 8500 combine made its North American debut at the show. The machine is part of the […] The post CLAAS Debuts LEXION 8500 Combine with Advanced Technology at Commodity Classic 2026 appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

A three-year study of 25 Brazilian dairy farms links rising temperatures to declining milk fat and rising bacterial counts, and reveals that quality-based payment schemes may fail to signal the microbiological risks of a warming climate.

Days after Ukrainian military drones took down several Russian data centers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the campaign had hurt Russia's disinformation efforts. "It suddenly became a little easier to breathe on many social platforms," Zelenskyy said Monday. "There was less hate, less division, and fewer provocations." Zelenskyy isn't the first to assert that the drone operation, which targeted data centers belonging to the Russian technology company Yandex, has cut down on spam and disinformation campaigns fomented by Russian bot farms. Social media users have claimed they've noticed less traffic on posts by MAGA-affiliated a … Read the full story at The Verge.

A controlled pot study shows that just one year of continuous cropping depletes potassium and nitrogen, suppresses soil dehydrogenase activity, and collapses beneficial Mortierella fungi while Fusarium pathogens surge nearly fivefold in the rhizosphere of the medicinal herb Pinellia ternata.

A new review argues that crop wild relatives hold vast untapped genetic diversity, but translating it into better cultivars requires confronting fundamental quantitative-genetic bottlenecks.

New research from Indonesia shows Rhizobium seed inoculation boosted mung bean yield and nodulation more consistently than increasing urea doses, pointing toward integrated biological and mineral nitrogen management.

Mandy Bish with University of Missouri Extension says she’s looking forward to the Crop and Pest Management Field Day and Ag Innovation Showcase, scheduled for July 8, 2026. The post MU Extension and Missouri Soybeans Field Day to Feature Ag Research, Robotics and Precision Spraying appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

The post Bear Archery’s Ryan Shutts on Single-Cam Bows, Classic Compounds & Future Technology appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

Switch engineers its microbes to first compete with the native soil microbiome and establish themselves before a genetic switch turns on that triggers ammonia production. The post Switch Bio partners with Bayer to advance ‘switchable’ tech for biofertilizers appeared first on AgFunderNews.

Agriculture depends on a reliable supply of nutrients. Phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, for example, are indispensable for agricultural crop production. However, natural reserves are limited, vary greatly in regional availability or are very energy-intensive to extract.

Missouri Soybeans is inviting farmers and ag professionals to a full day of research, technology, and hands-on innovation at the Crop and Pest Management Field Day and Ag Innovation Showcase at MU’s Bradford Research Farm on July 8. The post Missouri Soybeans to Showcase Ag Innovation and Field Research appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

The post Bear Archery’s Ryan Shutts on Single-Cam Bows, Classic Compounds & Future Technology appeared first on Brownfield Ag News.

IIT Ropar’s ANNAM.AI, NIC Punjab and PSFC have signed an MoU to expand AI-powered agricultural advisory, helping Punjab farmers access reliable, multilingual guidance on crops, weather and farming practices.

Researchers report that airborne compounds from Streptomyces albidoflavus G1 directly inhibit the apple ring rot fungus, enrich Pseudomonas bacteria within lesion tissues, and reprogram apple defense genes, revealing a three-layered biocontrol mechanism.

A four-year study of 90 plots across 15 farms in southern Bahia links high cocoa yields to surface phosphorus, potassium, and zinc availability, while identifying subsurface aluminum toxicity as a hidden constraint on root growth and productivity.

'Countryfile' farmer Frank Carr, a fourth‑generation hill farmer from Malhamdale, dies aged 35 after highlighting the pressures facing Yorkshire hill farms.

A four-year field trial on China's Loess Plateau shows that replacing a quarter of chemical nitrogen with pig manure outperforms commercial organic fertilizer in yield, soil quality, and drought resilience for rainfed winter wheat.

A new opinion paper in Plant and Soil proposes that silicon fertilization reshapes paddy soil microbes to suppress methane emissions and should be recognized as a climate-smart tool in national climate policy.

From a humble mayonnaise-laden sandwich to an expensive piece of sashimi, tuna is a prized source of food for people around the world. Once an inexpensive, easily shipped canned protein source, today's bluefin tunas can fetch millions of dollars at auction. Millions of tons of tuna are harvested every year, supporting a global industry worth around $40 billion annually.

Researchers transformed waste tyre biochar with hydrogen peroxide into a material that removes 99 percent of phosphorus from wastewater and then acts as a slow-release fertiliser, nearly tripling maize biomass in nutrient-poor soil.

A recent satellite photo shows a patchwork of tens of thousands of size-restricted farms tightly crammed into Taiwan's Yunlin County, which grows a majority of the island's food.

During his appearance alongside Adam Henson, Frank Carr warned that British hill farmers faced an uncertain future despite describing agriculture as a rewarding profession.

A year-long field experiment in China shows that biochar stabilizes soil aggregates by raising readily oxidized and particulate organic carbon, which reshape surface electrochemistry to boost van der Waals attraction and curb electrostatic repulsion between particles.

A newly characterized Bacillus velezensis strain combines a rich arsenal of antifungal genes and metabolites with strong disease control and yield gains in potato fields.

A new review in Plant and Soil details how nanoscale biochar helps crops tolerate soil salinity through physiological, molecular, and rhizosphere microbiome mechanisms.

New funding will help establish manufacturing facilities for two automated technologies – robots that install solar panels, and robots that drive foundation piles. The post Solar robotics innovators win Arena funding to build manufacturing plants on Australian soil appeared first on Renew Economy.

A Florida man with no travel history developed pulmonary melioidosis from Burkholderia pseudomallei, a soil bacterium increasingly detected along the US Gulf Coast, and recovered fully after treatment with intravenous ceftazidime followed by oral doxycycline.

Researchers have built a machine learning framework with an interactive interface that estimates full unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity curves in milliseconds from basic soil properties, while acknowledging that saturated conductivity prediction and synthetic training data remain key limitations.

A multi-omics study of the stinkhorn fungus Phallus rugulosus reveals that its mycosphere selectively enriches anaerobic, element-cycling microbes whose functional genes mediate a hierarchical cascade linking soil chemistry to a distinctive chemical signature.

The humble amino acid glycine—the simplest of all amino acids—is everywhere. The human body produces it, and it helps make up our skin, bones and ligaments. It's found in meats like beef and has even been discovered in comets returned from outer space.

The 2026 California legislative session is over and the deadline for Governor Newsom to sign bills has passed. Here at CalCAN,... The post 2026 Legislative Session Highlights: $60 M for Farmland Conservation, $70 M for Climate Smart Ag and Local Food Systems, and Goat Grazing Contractors Protected appeared first on CalCAN - California Climate & Agriculture Network.

A Bacillus strain isolated from licorice roots produces a cell-free supernatant that kills MRSA, dismantles over 90 percent of established biofilms, suppresses biofilm-associated genes, and shows antioxidant activity with low toxicity to human skin cells.

Researchers in India have developed a hierarchical feature fusion transformer that identifies seventeen jute pest species with 98.43 percent accuracy, outperforming all previously published methods.

Researchers have unveiled an explainable deep learning framework that detects insect crop pests in real time with up to 98 percent precision while visually revealing which image regions drove each prediction.

Researchers report that adding trace aluminum, manganese and copper to a high-magnesium zinc alloy produces a homogeneous fine-grained microstructure that simultaneously boosts strength, ductility, wear resistance and antibacterial performance, with promising results in 24-week rabbit bone implantation.

Yara takes a minority stake in nitrogen intelligence company Stenon with the second close of the latter's Series B. The post Exclusive: Yara Growth Ventures backs soil-sensing startup Stenon as fertilizer prices surge appeared first on AgFunderNews.

Oryza rufipogon is an ordinary-looking wild grass found today in parts of China, India and Southeast Asia. More than 8,000 years ago, people living in the Lower Yangtze Valley began cultivating it.

A new review in Microbial Ecology details how combining biochar with Pseudomonas bacteria boosts crop growth and pollutant breakdown, while warning that success depends on feedstock, pyrolysis temperature and soil conditions.

A two-season Egyptian field trial found that sugar beet residue at 24 tonnes per hectare outperformed molybdenum oxide nanoparticles and proline sprays in sustaining soybean and faba bean yields, water productivity, and profitability under deficit irrigation on calcareous soil.

Indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi isolated from Thai rice fields boost growth, drought tolerance, and antioxidant grain quality in purple Maled Phai rice, with Gigaspora margarita delivering the strongest benefits.

A prospective study of 447 food-allergic infants reports a cost-sensitive ensemble model that predicts school-age asthma with an AUC of 0.886 and zero missed cases using routine clinical data collected before age two.

Researchers in China show that a moderate rolling speed of 1024 mm/s gives a biodegradable Mg–2Zn–0.4Ca alloy its finest grains, lowest dislocation density, and best biocorrosion resistance for implant applications.

A multi-site study of Indonesian sugarcane plantations shows that available phosphorus, mycorrhizal colonization and soil physical quality shift in coordinated ways across the ratoon crop cycle, generating testable hypotheses about fertiliser timing.

Chinese researchers have created a hollow bowl-like MXene/FeNi3 heterostructure that absorbs electromagnetic waves with record-setting efficiency while simultaneously converting sunlight into heat and electricity.

arXiv:2610.13688v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Harvesting technologies have evolved from conventional mechanized systems based on bulk mechanical interaction toward increasingly automated and robotic systems capable of perception, decision-making, and localized actuation. This evolution has also created a classification problem, as harvesting systems are commonly described according to crop type, mechanical removal principle, sensing technology, robotic architecture, or degree of automation, making direct comparison difficult. This paper proposes a unified taxonomy for agricultural harvesting technologies based on two primary classification axes: the physical principle governing plant-machine interaction and the level of automation incorporated into the harvesting process. Selectivity is treated as an emergent functional attribute that expresses the biological and spatial scale at which perception and decision-making influence physical actuation. Conventional mechanized methods,

Researchers have combined structure-guided protein design with cis-regulatory enhancer insertion to create rice and wheat plants that tolerate herbicide doses up to four times field rates without yield penalties.

Researchers at AGH University of Krakow used cyclic extrusion–compression to tune the microstructure of biodegradable zinc–magnesium alloys, achieving an enhanced strength–ductility balance for temporary medical implants.

A new analysis in Plant and Soil shows that herbaceous plants that respond strongly to mycorrhizal fungi enjoy more favorable plant-soil feedbacks than less responsive species, a mechanism that may help stabilize diverse grassland communities.

Egyptian researchers have built a MATLAB simulation framework combining LSTM-based water demand prediction with solar energy management, achieving simulated water savings of 28.57 percent and motor energy reductions of 74.74 percent for irrigation in Egypt's New Delta region.

Four hundred years after monks transformed a patch of marshlands in northwest Italy into rice fields, farmer Alice Cerutti has restored a third to their natural state, prioritizing biodiversity over crop yield.

A new study shows that corn straw, straw–manure compost and straw-derived biochar significantly improve the pore structure and water-holding capacity of degraded black soil in Northeast China.

Two strains of the beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum reduced red pepper Phytophthora blight incidence by 90.9 percent while promoting plant growth by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity and reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome.

Researchers show that timing paddy drainage to rice's peak cadmium uptake periods boosts metal extraction nearly eightfold, achieving 37.50 percent actual remediation efficiency in contaminated fields.

A study of Polish pine forests shows that hazel, buckthorn, and rowan shrubs each leave distinct biochemical fingerprints on soil carbon storage, nutrient leaching, and enzyme activity, revealing the understory as an active regulator of forest biogeochemistry.

A two-year Indian field trial shows that cyhalofop plus penoxsulam delivers near-complete weed control in direct-seeded rice, while foliar nano urea adds a numerical but statistically unproven yield boost and a cautionary lesson about NDVI sensors being fooled by weeds.

Researchers discovered that a phosphate-dissolving Penicillium fungus and soil phosphorus availability explain why the medicinal herb Amomum villosum from China's Yangchun region accumulates far more of its prized therapeutic terpenoids than plants grown elsewhere.

A sixteen-year Chinese field experiment shows that returning both wheat and maize straw to lime concretion black soil each year boosts soil nutrients, leaf photosynthesis, and maize grain yield.

A controlled pot study shows that cover crops, especially legumes and oat, can raise apparent phosphorus fertilizer recovery by a following durum wheat crop two- to sixfold depending on soil chemistry.

Bioengineered honeybee silk films have been shown to be safe, biodegradable and compatible with wound healing, paving the way for smart dressings that could sense infection and release drugs.

A new critical review finds that combining biochar with compost can improve soil health, but claims of synergistic climate benefits remain largely unproven and highly context-dependent.

CHICAGO — Rural internet providers are confronting a new reality as farms rapidly adopt smart technology for precision agriculture. The growing reliance on data from sensors, drones and automated equipment has elevated connectivity from a simple convenience to a core utility essential for daily operations. This technological shift creates an urgent demand for providers to […] The post Smart Farms Need Smart Support: How Rural Internet Providers Are Adapting to Precision Agriculture appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State University Agriculture is leading a four-year, United States Department of Agriculture-funded project to develop new selection methods and tools to breed bermudagrass varieties with improved winter hardiness. These tools could significantly shorten the breeding and field-testing process while helping reduce management costs for the turfgrass industry. OSU has partnered with […] The post OSU Ag Scientists Exploring Winter-Hardy Bermudagrass, Safer Wastewater and Oklahoma’s Black Bear Populations appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

ONLINE — Growing San Pedro successfully is less about following a rigid formula and more about understanding how the plant responds to light, moisture, soil, and seasonal changes. Material from mature plants is sometimes prepared as San Pedro powder, yet healthy cultivation of the living cactus remains the essential foundation. The San Pedro cactus is […] The post How San Pedro Powder Plants Grow: Soil, Light, Propagation, and Plant Health appeared first on Morning Ag Clips.

A comprehensive review shows that millets have rapidly acquired the full toolkit of modern crop genomics and CRISPR editing, positioning them as climate-resilient, nutrient-dense cereals for a warming world.

The open-access journal Biological Diversity has launched a call for papers for a special issue on the evolutionary mechanisms that form, change, and maintain biodiversity, with submissions due by 31 August 2027 and article processing charges waived.

A randomized trial at Kenyan agro-dealer shops shows that a simple chart of farmer-reported hybrid yields nearly tripled demand for top-performing maize varieties, pointing to independent performance data as a missing link in Africa's slow seed turnover.

Whole-genome sequencing of Nigerian schistosomes shows that the ITS and cox1 markers long used to identify hybridization and zoonotic infection between human and livestock parasites produce misleading results.

Researchers isolated phosphate-solubilizing fungi from an abandoned phosphate mine in China and showed that a three-strain synthetic community boosts forage biomass by up to 85 percent while raising crude protein and mobilizing phosphorus locked in acidic soils.

A single-season field trial in Tamil Nadu shows that moderate phosphorus combined with 0.5 percent foliar zinc-EDTA raised blackgram seed yield by 73.3 percent while improving seed zinc concentration and its potential bioavailability.

A new review synthesizes evidence that fungi living inside salt-tolerant halophyte plants can boost crop yields, confer salinity and drought tolerance, suppress pathogens, remediate polluted soils, and yield industrially valuable enzymes and bioactive compounds.

A comprehensive metabolomic study shows that the growth stage and cultivation environment of Gnaphalium affine strongly shape its phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity.

A two-year field trial in saline farmland found that combining mid-range organic fertilizer with a 500-fold foliar biostimulant cut root-zone salinity by up to 38.6 percent and raised maize grain yields by up to 30.4 percent.

Researchers have built a multilingual transformer-based AI system that diagnoses crop diseases, generates farming advice, and delivers market intelligence while sustaining 10,000 concurrent users at 0.35 seconds per query.

A multi-omics study reveals that the bacterial symbiont Wolbachia supplies riboflavin to virulent brown planthopper biotypes, underpinning their adaptation to resistant rice varieties.

A four-decade modeling study shows that soil temperature drives carbon sequestration on the Tibetan Plateau in spring and autumn while soil moisture dominates in summer, with distinct responses among grasslands, shrublands, and forests.

Prince Harry has said he is pleased to be back in the UK ahead of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, while he and Meghan Markle are expected to undertake a reported Nottingham visit.

A probiotic strain isolated from free-grazing yaks measurably altered the volatile aroma profile and lipid composition of meat from confined yaks on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, according to an integrated electronic nose, flavoromics, and lipidomics study.

A new metabolomic and microbiomic study of Rheum tanguticum reveals that tissue identity outweighs seasonal timing in shaping the plant's chemistry, and that key endophytic microbes correlate strongly with the accumulation of medicinal anthraquinones in its roots.

Scientists used leaf-extract-derived silver oxide nanoparticles to convert non-edible Madhuca longifolia seed oil into ASTM-compliant biodiesel with a 92 percent yield and a reusable catalyst.

A comprehensive review argues that sustainable rice production depends on integrating microbiome engineering, synthetic microbial communities, precision agriculture, renewable energy and climate-smart policy into a single coordinated system.

A two-year field study in Xinjiang shows that moderate, multi-stage drip leaching nearly doubled cotton lint yield on saline-alkali soil by reshaping root architecture and extending nitrogen uptake, rather than simply flushing out salts.

Researchers at the University of Sydney have converted a commercial petrol two-wheel tractor into an electric platform with smart weeding sensors, offering a reproducible pathway for low-emission smallholder mechanisation.

A three-year field study in the North China Plain identifies optimal irrigation and nitrogen ranges that simultaneously raise grain yield, resource use efficiency, and soil quality.

DNA sequencing of soybean rhizosphere soils in South Africa reveals that cattle dung and poultry waste fertilizers shape distinct fungal communities with different ecological functions.

A field-scale trial shows that barley fertilised with Chlorella vulgaris biomass matches mineral fertiliser in yield and nearly all malt quality indicators, opening a path to circular, algae-based crop nutrition for the brewing and distilling industry.

Researchers combined long-read shotgun metagenomics with culture-based screening to map the rhizosphere bacteria of Thailand's Sangyod rice and identify compatible plant growth-promoting strains for sustainable biofertilizer development.

A systematic review finds that blockchain, IoT and artificial intelligence are transforming food supply chains, with integrated digital frameworks offering the best hope for cutting waste, fraud and emissions.

A two-year Chinese field trial shows that partially replacing chemical fertilizers with peanut shells and mushroom residue boosts soil organic carbon, enzyme activity, and beneficial microbes in carrot monoculture soil.

An experimental field study in Hungary found that ultra-low volume deltamethrin spraying reduced mosquito abundance by about 47 percent but also caused declines exceeding 40 percent in non-target flying insects, including pollinators.

A new multi-omics study shows that ultrafiltration reshapes microbial metabolism and flavor chemistry in cheese, boosting umami amino acids and creamy, fruity aroma compounds while eliminating whey waste.

A co-designed women-centered farming boot tested in rural Rwanda encouraged consistent footwear use, eased podoconiosis symptoms, and fostered empowerment among female farmers despite persistent gender norms and stigma.

Researchers have shown that real-time mass spectrometry and electronic noses can detect the chemical distress signals maize plants emit when attacked by caterpillars or fungal pathogens, achieving up to 96 percent accuracy in open-air tests and a first encouraging field demonstration.