Nanomaterials contaminating soil, food crops?
August 22nd, 2012 - 2:20 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, Aug 22 (IANS) Man-made nanomaterials (MNMs), used in popular cosmetic products such as shampoos, gels, hair dyes and sunscreens, may also be contaminating the quality and yield of food ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Probe agriculture ministry’s role in clearing Bt Cotton: Parliament panel
August 12th, 2012 - 2:40 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) A parliamentary panel has called for an in-depth probe into the agriculture ministry's role in the government's decision to approve the commercial release of Bt ... Read more...
Posted in Uncategorized |
Cuba tests biofuel vehicle
July 23rd, 2012 - 12:11 pm ICT by IANS
Havana, July 23 (IANS/EFE) Cuba has for the first time tested in a vehicle biofuel from the jatropha plant produced in a new factory on the island, state-run media reported ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Warming threatens Southeast Asia’s cassava industry
April 15th, 2012 - 5:45 pm ICT by IANS
Bangkok, April 15 (IANS) Rising temperatures are triggering severe outbreaks of new, invasive pests that could threaten Southeast Asia's multi-billion dollar cassava industry and the livelihoods of thousands of small ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Ancient rice gene could protect crop from global warming
January 5th, 2012 - 4:29 pm ICT by IANS
Sydney, Jan 5 (IANS) An ancient rice gene can save food crops from the devastating effects of global warming, reveals a study.The genetic diversity found by scientists is seen as ... Read more...
Posted in Uncategorized |
Snails rode over birds to cross continents?
September 15th, 2011 - 4:30 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, Sep 15 (IANS) Like humans use aeroplanes for flying, snails may have ridden over shorebirds or stuck to their legs to cross Central America twice in the past million ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Belarus to test reusability of land near Chernobyl
August 5th, 2011 - 7:34 am ICT by IANS
Minsk, Aug 5 (IANS) Belarus will examine the possibility of reusing thousands of hectares of lands near the disaster-hit Chernobyl nuclear plant, an official said."Over the 25 years that have ... Read more...
Posted in World |
Pregnant women may pass toxins in GM foods to babies
May 20th, 2011 - 5:59 pm ICT by IANS
London, May 20 (IANS) Pregnant women, beware! The milk you are drinking to nourish your unborn baby may be harmful.Toxic pesticides which are implanted into genetically modified (GM) food crops ... Read more...
Posted in World |
Prenatal pesticide exposure tied to lower IQ
April 21st, 2011 - 3:52 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, April 21 (IANS) Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, widely used on food crops, is related to lower intelligence scores at age seven.
Researchers from the School of Public Health, ... Read more...
Posted in Uncategorized |
PM asks Kerala to make better use of central schemes
February 11th, 2011 - 9:06 pm ICT by IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 (IANS) Ahead of upcoming assembly elections in Kerala, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday launched an attack on the state's ruling Left Democratic Front, saying it was not using ... Read more...
Posted in Business |
Plants adapt genetically to survive unfavourable environments
February 1st, 2011 - 6:02 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Feb 1 (ANI): A Purdue University study has discovered genetic evidence of how some plants adapt to live in unfavourable conditions.The findings could one day be used to help food crops ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
How science could make your treats even tastier
December 27th, 2010 - 4:03 pm ICT by IANS
London, Dec 27 (IANS) Scientists have unlocked the genetic code to some of our favourite treats in a breakthrough that could result in even tastier versions.
It brings them a step closer ... Read more...
Posted in Sci-Tech |
Chandrababu Naidu’s indefinite fast enters third day
December 19th, 2010 - 11:44 pm ICT by IANS
Hyderabad, Dec 19 (IANS) Demanding a relief package for farmers affected by recent rains, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu continued his indefinite fast for the third day Sunday.The ... Read more...
Posted in Politics |
Early settlers rapidly transformed Kiwi forests with fire
December 14th, 2010 - 3:38 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Dec 14 (ANI): A new research has indicated that the speed of early forest clearance following human colonisation of the South Island of New Zealand was a lot faster and intense ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Pawar favours introducing GM crops in India
December 4th, 2010 - 7:22 pm ICT by IANS
Chandigarh, Dec 4 (IANS) Ignoring criticism from various quarters, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Saturday strongly favoured the introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) food crops in the country to ensure food security.Pawar, who ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Global food import bill may top $1 trillion in 2010
November 17th, 2010 - 10:50 pm ICT by IANS
Rome, Nov 17 (IANS/AKI) The bill for international food imports could exceed $1 trillion this year amid a spike in most commodity prices, the UN said Wednesday.Food prices could reach even ... Read more...
Posted in Business |
Environmental activists supporting nuclear power and GM
November 1st, 2010 - 4:19 pm ICT by ANI
London, Nov 1 (ANI): After revolting against genetically modified foods and nuclear power for decades, leading environmental campaigners have performed a u-turn on the two key technologies.Opposing nuclear power meant encouraging use ... Read more...
Posted in World |
Oz native rice could help buffer world’s rice crop
October 16th, 2010 - 4:31 pm ICT by ANI
Melbourne, Oct 16 (ANI): In August, a research warned that rice yields are expected to decline over the coming decades as global temperatures rise. It highlighted the need for heat tolerant strains ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Genetically altered trees could reduce global warming
October 2nd, 2010 - 2:05 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Oct 2 (ANI): A new study has revealed that forests of genetically altered flora could sequester several billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year and thus, could help reduce ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
PM’s trade panel to come up with report to boost agriculture output
July 31st, 2010 - 1:56 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, July 31 (ANI): A sub-committee of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry on agriculture held its first meeting here on Friday.The designated members discussed issues related with ... Read more...
Posted in National |
Mechanism behind success of disease-causing microbes identified
July 23rd, 2010 - 4:58 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, July 23 (ANI): Researchers have identified the mechanism used by several types of common, virulent microbes to infect plants and cause devastating blights.Microbes using this infection mechanism include fungi that ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Proteins in unroasted coffee beans pave way for new insecticides
May 21st, 2010 - 4:37 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, May 21 (ANI): Scientists in Brazil have found that unroasted coffee beans contain proteins that can kill insects, a finding that may lead to new insecticides for protecting food crops.The ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Opposition to GM crops forced government rethink: Scientist
May 16th, 2010 - 1:02 am ICT by IANS
Chandigarh, May 15 (IANS) Eminent scientist P.M. Bhargava Saturday said the majority of the people in the country are against genetically modified (GM) food crops and this forced the government to ... Read more...
Posted in Business |
Plastic made from algae ensures a greener environment
May 2nd, 2010 - 11:16 am ICT by ANI
Washington, May 2 (ANI): The world around us would have been a lot more greener if all the plastic- like car parts, bottles, containers, and even keyboards-were made from algae.And now ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Mushroom roots can make stronger packages
March 1st, 2010 - 2:44 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, March 1 (ANI): A company in the US is using mushroom roots to design packages because they are much more stronger.According to a report in Discovery News, the company in question ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
New sugar-based polymer to help compost plastic items at home
February 18th, 2010 - 4:27 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Feb 18 (ANI): Scientists are developing a new sugar-based polymer that would make it possible to compost food packaging and other disposable plastic items at home, along with organic waste.The degradable ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
India plans to build seed reserves for hard times
February 12th, 2010 - 9:47 pm ICT by IANS
Bangalore, Feb 12 (IANS) India plans to build seed reserves to ensure national food and income security to millions of its farmers, reeling under the impact of a deficit monsoon and a ... Read more...
Posted in Business |
Sweeping changes in agriculture needed as world warms and grows
February 12th, 2010 - 3:45 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Feb 12 (ANI): A group of prestigious scientists has warned that the looming threats of global climate change and population growth call for sweeping changes in agriculture.The research team, led by ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
New genome sequence will speed research on improved food and biofuel crops
February 11th, 2010 - 1:58 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Feb 11 (ANI): In a global initiative, scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of the wild grass Brachypodium distachyon, which will serve as a model to speed research on improved varieties ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Farmers, green groups welcome moratorium on Bt Brinjal
February 9th, 2010 - 8:38 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Farmers' groups and environmental activists around the country Tuesday welcomed the moratorium on Bt Brinjal announced by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Environmental activist group Greenpeace, which headed vociferous ... Read more...
Posted in Environment |
Greenpeace says moratorium on Bt Brinjal not a long-term solution
February 9th, 2010 - 7:15 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Feb.9 (ANI): Pro-environnment group Greenpeace on Tuesday welcomed Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh's decision not to allow commercialisation of Bt Brinjal.In a statement issued in response ... Read more...
Posted in National |
Trees, grass can be used to generate renewable energy
January 27th, 2010 - 6:03 pm ICT by ANI
Southampton (UK), Jan.27 (ANI): A unique 1.1 million pound research project is investigating how coppiced trees and grass crops can be used both to generate renewable energy and to trap carbon in ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Wastewater may solve eco hurdles in algae-based biofuel production
January 24th, 2010 - 4:12 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, January 24 (ANI): A team of engineers from the University of Virginia's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has proposed using wastewater as a solution to some of the environmental hurdles ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Sunflower genome to pave way for sustainable agriculture
January 13th, 2010 - 2:30 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Jan 13 (ANI): Researchers are creating a reference genome for the sunflower family that would enable the breeding of crops better suited to their growing environment and consumers tastes.The sunflower family ... Read more...
Posted in Health Science |
Much of Fiji blacked out, 4,000 homeless after cyclone
December 16th, 2009 - 12:25 pm ICT by IANS
Wellington, Dec 16 (DPA) More than 80 percent of Fiji was without electricity and nearly 4,000 people remained in evacuation centres Wednesday in the wake of Cyclone Mick, according to reports from ... Read more...
Posted in World |