Food security
Millions of people are undernourished globally and with the population growing, food security is a major concern. Food security is multifaceted, requiring advancements in food safety, ensuring products have a good shelf life, reducing spoilage and providing dietary additions to improve the nutrient intake of the population. The application of microbiology is far reaching, and new approaches are required to maintain food security. Through an improved understanding of plant-microbe interactions, it is possible to forecast and mitigate food shortages.
News
Brewing protein from greenhouse gases: A greener, more profitable alternative to farming
Engineers prove that feeding methane to bacteria outperforms traditional soy and fish meal in both ecological savings and financial returns.
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NewsBiosensor detects early fungal outbreaks, advances plant biotechnology
A new biosensor detects the emerging presence of fungus on plants at the molecular level, paving the way for next-generation crop protection and the development of stress-tolerant plants.
NewsSelenium nanoparticles and glutathione synergistically enhance soybean salt tolerance by activating the JA pathway and arbutin-mediated rhizosphere microbiota
Researchers addressing soil salinity have developed a novel nano-biostimulant, a synergistic composite offering a new paradigm for enhancing salt tolerance by coordinating the plant’s endogenous signaling pathways with the functions of its rhizosphere microbial community.
NewsBiochar particle size found to shape disease control in crops
Researchers have discovered that the particle size of biochar determines how effectively and how long it can suppress soil-borne pathogens, offering new insights for sustainable agriculture.
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Food scientists develop new antimicrobial for cleaning and sanitizing dry-food processing equipment
New research describes a novel chemical mixture for sanitation in low-moisture environments. Scientists found that a formulation containing cyclomethicone combined with vinegar-based acetic acid was the most effective against Salmonella and Cronobacter bacteria.
NewsA newly identified disease of corn and sorghum may be mistaken for iron deficiency
A newly identified bacterial disease affecting corn and sorghum can closely resemble iron deficiency, potentially leading farmers to apply costly nutrient treatments that do not address the underlying problem.
NewsFantastic fungi found with ability to freeze water
An international group of researchers has discovered the identity of fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures. One potential application of this discovery could be to engineer weather.
NewsTrace levels of food pathogen do not always translate to health risk, says study
Ultra-sensitive food safety tests may drive food waste and unavailability with limited public health benefit, according to a study. These food safety measures and ultra-sensitive tests may drive edible food being thrown away, excessive packaging, and extra costs for consumers.
NewsStudy identifies causes of potato dry rot in Colorado
Researchers have identified multiple fungal species causing dry rot in Colorado. By analyzing structural and molecular features, plant pathologists identified four Fusarium species associated with potato dry rot – including one that hadn’t previously been found in the U.S.
NewsNew gel-based system allows bacteria to act as bioelectrical sensors
Researchers have developed a safe bioelectronic sensor that allows for effective electronic communication even in liquid environments. The system uses the naturally occurring polymer chitosan, acting as a kind of shell to keep the bacteria from escaping.
NewsEveryday foods could hide fungal risks for mothers and children
A collaborative, multi-institutional project will examine how exposure to zearalenone – a mycoestrogen produced by mold with estrogen-like activity – may affect pregnancy outcomes and children’s growth.
NewsScientists trace crop viruses back to the last Ice Age
Long before humans cultivated crops or sailed between continents, a group of plant viruses was already evolving among wild plants in Eurasia. Tthe ancestors of modern tymoviruses likely emerged before the last Ice Age, a new study reveals.
NewsSoybeans recruit beneficial soil microbes to defend against major pest
Researchers report that resistant soybean varieties actively recruit beneficial soil microorganisms that help suppress soybean cyst nematode. Even more striking, those protective microbes can be transferred to soil to help defend susceptible soybean plants.
NewsScientists successfully harvest chickpeas from ‘moon dirt’
Scientists have successfully grown and harvested chickpeas using simulated “moon dirt,” the first instance of this crop produced in this medium. They added vermicompost and coated the chickpeas with the fungi arbuscular mycorrhizae before planting.
NewsNew study reveals how hygienic honey bees show unique advantages in fighting infectious pathogens in adult bees
For the first time, research shows that a key social trait in honey bees is linked to measurable physiological advantages that can improve colony survival. The study uncovers how hygienic honey bee colonies mount stronger individual immune defenses against Nosema ceranae.
NewsPig farm ammonia pollution may indirectly accelerate climate warming, new study finds
A new study shows that ammonia released from intensive livestock farms can significantly increase nearby soil emissions of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and ozone depletion.
NewsNitrous oxide, a product of fertilizer use, may harm some soil bacteria
While some nitrous oxide is produced naturally at the plant root, agricultural practices can increase its levels. While it has long been believed that nitrous oxide doesn’t meaningfully interact with living organisms, a new paper shows that it may in fact shape microbial communities.
NewsEditing for timing, not overdrive: A new genetic route to fire blight resistance in apple
Fire blight remains one of the most destructive bacterial diseases threatening global apple production. A new study identifies a family of inducible lectin genes, MdAGGs, as critical components of apple immune defense and demonstrates that their precise activation timing is key to effective resistance.
NewsPeriphyton closes the nitrogen budget gap in rice paddies
Scientists identify a previously overlooked microbial N sink in rice paddies. Periphyton, a thin microbial community that develops at the soil–water interface, is composed of algae, bacteria, and extracellular polymeric substances, forming a dense microhabitat with strong capacities for nutrient uptake, transformation, and temporary storage.
NewsEpigenetic rewiring fuels potato susceptibility to late blight
Scientists performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA sequencing on the widely cultivated potato cultivar Qingshu No.9 following Phytophthora infestans infection, uncovering dynamic DNA methylation shifts that correlate with large-scale transcriptional reprogramming and immune suppression.
NewsWorld’s first rum brewed with high ginjo-aroma–producing fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicusponicus
Researchers at Kumamoto University have announced the world’s first rum produced using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, marking a breakthrough in fermentation science and craft spirits innovation. The new product, “JAPONICUS RHUM AGRICOLE,” goes on sale February 27, 2026.
NewsFungi could transform leftovers into lifelines
A new paper outlines an ’emerging circular fungal biorefinery’ – a system in which low-value agricultural byproducts are converted through fungal fermentation into high-protein, nutrient-rich foods.
NewsNanoplastics can interact with Salmonella to affect food safety, study shows
Researchers investigating what happens when nanoplastics (polystyrene) interact with Salmonella discovered an increased expression of virulence-related genes. The bacteria also formed thicker biofilms, which indicates they are becoming more virulent.