All Food Security & Safety articles
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NewsDrone index tracks wheat mildew
A new study addresses the need for rapid, field-scale monitoring of wheat powdery mildew in smallholder farms, where disease spread can be spatially uneven and difficult to capture through manual scouting alone.
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NewsMicrobe–fertilizer pair cuts greenhouse soil emissions
A new study shows that inoculating organic fertilizers with denitrifying bacterium, especially when paired with mushroom residue organic manure, reduces N₂O emissions by reshaping the soil microbiome.
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NewsBreakthrough for aquaculture: Oral vaccine protects fish from fatal nervous necrosis virus
A novel oral vaccine, that can be mixed into fish feed, provides an effective, practical and cost-effective method to protect fish from the highly deadly nervous necrosis virus.
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NewsBiochar helps paddy soils lock away carbon by reshaping microbial life underground
A new study reveals that straw and biochar both increase soil organic carbon, but biochar stores carbon more efficiently by guiding soil microbes toward stable carbon formation.
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NewsBiofilm “scaffolds” protect bacterium responsible for food poisoning from antibiotics
Bacillus cereus, which is responsible for human infections and food poisoning, builds organized communities that act as a ‘shield’ against antibiotics, a new study reveals.
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NewsSoil pH regulates the symbiosis between stink bugs and gut bacteria
A new study shows soil pH regulates the symbiosis between stink bugs and gut bacteria, revealing alternative strategies to pesticides in agricultural pest control.
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NewsThe miracle microbes that could save crops from impact of rising sea levels
A new study reveals a previously unknown mechanism by which microbes help plants – including maize, tomato and rapeseed - survive in harsh environments, with major implications for agriculture worldwide.
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NewsHow H5N1 bird flu hid unrecognized for weeks in dairy cattle
A new study reveals why H5N1 influenza infection looked so different in dairy cows, offering a framework for spotting new host species quickly. Instead of affecting the lungs, it caused severe infection in the cows’ udders, largely sparing the lungs.
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NewsCows vs plants: which milk delivers the greatest health benefits?
New research suggests that cow’s milk has the edge over plant-based alternatives when it comes to bone strength and nutrient absorption.
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NewsGlobal map of mycorrhizal fungi reveals true scale of underground networks
Researchers have produced the first global maps visualising the distribution and mass of the Earth’s arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks, revealing the true scale of this underground fungal infrastructure.
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NewsFish freshness easily monitored with a new sensor
Researchers have developed a simple, effective electronic device that quickly measures a compound that forms when decomposition starts. The prototype sensor can determine how fresh a fish is in less than two minutes.
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NewsDangerous E. coli strain blocks gut’s defense mechanism to spread infection
When harmful bacteria invade through the digestive tract, gut cells usually fight back by pushing infected cells out of the body to stop the infection from spreading. Scientists have discovered that a dangerous strain of E. coli can block gut this defense, allowing the bacteria to spread more easily.
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OpinionCould livestock-originated probiotics replace synthetic antibiotics for livestock?
In many developing countries, the use of antibiotics in both humans and animals is often indiscriminate and poorly regulated. Could livestock-originated probiotics be a suitable replacement?
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NewsBacterial genomes hold clues for creating personalized probiotics
A new study demonstrates the ability to predict the nutritional adaptations of Bifidobacterium strains by analyzing the distribution of hundreds of metabolic genes in thousands of Bifidobacterium genomes.
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FeaturesFrom barnyard to bench: what sequencing reveals about microbial life across the farm-scape
We understand the water cycle and the flow of nutrients in ecological systems, but might microbial life also follow a cyclical, interconnected pattern, and how does that look with regards to food production?
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NewsResearchers reveal the cellular network behind oral tolerance
A new study has resolved a long-standing paradox surrounding oral tolerance and revealed the cellular network responsible. These findings may clarify this network’s malfunctions, which underlie food allergies and sensitivities and disorders such as celiac disease.
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NewsUnderestimated risk: Germs in the kitchen
In the most recent BfR consumer monitor, only 17 per cent of respondents said they were concerned about kitchen hygiene. The level of concern about microplastics (68 per cent) and residues of plant protection products in food (52 per cent) is significantly higher.
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FeaturesNature’s pesticides: unleashing the potential of microbial interactions
Discover how scientists leverage knowledge of the microbial interactions that impact plant and animal health.
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NewsBad bacteria can trigger painful gut contractions; new research shows how
After a meal of questionable seafood or a few sips of contaminated water, bad bacteria can send your digestive tract into overdrive. Your intestines spasm and contract, efficiently expelling everything in the gut. Source: Parthasarathy Lab and Guillemin Lab Immune cells (magenta) and cells expressing a reporter of ...
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FeaturesMicrobiological concerns faced in cheese-making environments
Delve into the multi-facteted world of cheese production, discovering some of the major microbes, risks, and strategies for mitigation.